Star Nut Conundrum

[cmb5286]

I recently picked up a used frameset and discovered that the owner used a star nut instead of a compression plug in the fork steerer. Does anyone here experience with removing one? I’ve read all sorts of ways to remove it.

So far drilling out the center and letting the nut collapse in on itself is my most feasible option. I don’t want to hammer it further down into the steerer. There’s no apparent cracks in the steerer.

[Old School]

Search my posts for a writeup on this.
In the meantime, I will try to find it.

found it, also other tips in the thread.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showp...57&postcount=4

[Dude]

Originally Posted by cmb5286

I recently picked up a used frameset and discovered that the owner used a star nut instead of a compression plug in the fork steerer. Does anyone here experience with removing one? I’ve read all sorts of ways to remove it.

So far drilling out the center and letting the nut collapse in on itself is my most feasible option. I don’t want to hammer it further down into the steerer. There’s no apparent cracks in the steerer.

1. Some carbon forks were designed to use star nuts. Before you go down this path make sure you actually need to do this.

2. If the fork is not designed for use with a star nut, get a new fork.

[wooger]

Originally Posted by cmb5286

I recently picked up a used frameset and discovered that the owner used a star nut instead of a compression plug in the fork steerer. Does anyone here experience with removing one? I’ve read all sorts of ways to remove it.

So far drilling out the center and letting the nut collapse in on itself is my most feasible option. I don’t want to hammer it further down into the steerer. There’s no apparent cracks in the steerer.

And it's a carbon steerer right?

Photos please.

I'd not want to ride any carbon steerer fork that's been ridden without a compression plug, ever.

[Wakatel_Luum]

Originally Posted by cmb5286

I recently picked up a used frameset and discovered that the owner used a star nut instead of a compression plug in the fork steerer. Does anyone here experience with removing one? I’ve read all sorts of ways to remove it.

So far drilling out the center and letting the nut collapse in on itself is my most feasible option. I don’t want to hammer it further down into the steerer. There’s no apparent cracks in the steerer.

I'd drill it out and then check the steerer after before ditching the fork.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by cmb5286

So far drilling out the center and letting the nut collapse in on itself is my most feasible option. I don’t want to hammer it further down into the steerer. There’s no apparent cracks in the steerer.

My thought was the opposite...Drilling the center would potentially cause that star nut to spin, with possible disastrous consequences. Pushing it further down seemed to be the least damaging to the interior of the steerer tube...

[Wunder]

Originally Posted by Dude

1. Some carbon forks were designed to use star nuts. Before you go down this path make sure you actually need to do this.

2. If the fork is not designed for use with a star nut, get a new fork.

Agreed, some carbon forks such as 3T or Cervelo have a alloy insert and are designed around a star nut. Although mine fell out when I had the steerer cut and I now use a compression plug.

[cmb5286]

Originally Posted by wooger

And it's a carbon steerer right?

Photos please.

I'd not want to ride any carbon steerer fork that's been ridden without a compression plug, ever.

[FriarQuade]

I would check with the fork manufacture on that one. While it looks like a fork that should use a compression plug, the install of the star nut looks pretty clean so maybe it's an approved install? Definitely not a common install and perhaps it's new fork time simply because a failure would be catastrophic.

[Nomadmax]

I wouldn't do anything.

It's not like you're running a stack of spacers and need the compression plug to add stability. Use the star nut to set the headset and call it good. That project looks a lot like some of the ones I got into because "it wasn't right". Halfway through, it went sideways and I would have kissed a genie's @ss to put it back the way it was before I started messing with it.

[JedB]

dremel with a carbon disc cutter.
get rid of the "leaves" and the centre should drop

[cmg]

Pushing further down in the steerer and use the compression nut. It likes it would be usable as is.

[bikinchris]

Originally Posted by Dude

1. Some carbon forks were designed to use star nuts. Before you go down this path make sure you actually need to do this.

2. If the fork is not designed for use with a star nut, get a new fork.

THIS is the correct answer.

[macaroon]

You could ride it as is.
I don't think the location of the star nut will compromise the strength of the steerer. However, fork manufacturers usually suggest that a long compression plug is used so the steerer is not crushed when the stem bolts are tightened.
I'd probably remove it and then use a compression plug.
Removal would depend on which tools are available to you.
The least risky method might be a set of needle files. They should be small enough to fit down the centre hole. You could then file a slot in the thread portion, and another slot directly opposite. Then tap it with a hammer/screwdriver, and it might release it. I have not tried this, but in my imagination it would work, and is not very risky.

[GregL]

This has been covered in multiple threads over the years. I once removed a star nut from a Cannondale carbon fork (which was approved for their specific star nut). The previous owner had pushed the star nut down into the steerer tube and used a compression plug instead. Before building up the bike, I decided to remove the star nut and carefully inspect the steerer tube.

I secured the fork so that it could not move, then drilled out the star nut very carefully. The key was to NOT have the drill bit become stuck, spinning the star nut and ruining the fork. I started with a drill bit that was just slightly larger in diameter than the threaded center hole in the star nut. I then used progressively larger drill bits until the star nut fell apart. The process was quick, easy, and effective. The fork served me well for years to come.

Greg