Steerer "Lengthening"

[pazaudi]

Afternoon all,

I've got a set of forks that has a short threaded steerer, or at least too short for what I need. Is it possible for it to be lengthened, or is this something that comes at great expense? I don't want to convert using an Aheadset adaptor as it wouldn't be right for my build.

Any advice or thoughts appreciated.

 

[mdvineng]

It may be possible to cut the stem and in insert a stepped sleeve to give you the length required. I've done this a few times in the past when I had my own oxy acetylene kit for silver brazing. Take it to a good engineering place or a frame builder.

 

[pete_mcc]

Certainly possible, there’s a great video of it being done by Paul Brodie

I had Dave Yates do one for me in the past. just remember, a quill stem will only fit an extended steerer if the join is low enough down otherwise the shim will foul the quill.

 

[danson67]

Yes, I've done plenty of then, both threaded/quill and ahead.
Cut down short, braze in internal sleeve, braze on top section.
Pretty straightforward, as long as you pay attention to the length of the internal butt, avoid putting the join right around the headset area, or too high for the quill stem (if threaded).



All the best,

 

[The History Man]

Yes, I've done plenty of then, both threaded/quill and ahead.
Cut down short, braze in internal sleeve, braze on top section.
Pretty straightforward, as long as you pay attention to the length of the internal butt, avoid putting the join right around the headset area, or too high for the quill stem (if threaded).

View attachment 545189

All the best,

I can thoroughly recommend Dan, He's done a couple for me. In fact is that one of them?

 

[velomaniac]

I cannot braze or weld but have had good results by a similar method. I have glued and pop riveted the inserted shim then filed down the external portion of the rivets. Not had any problems, all works fine but obviously not as refined as a welded or brazed version.

 

[danson67]

I can thoroughly recommend Dan, He's done a couple for me. In fact is that one of them?

Yes, that's your recent Overbury's Pioneer one..
Did you recognise the 'into the next county' length

All the best,

 

[Splatter Paint]

My Dad had the aluminium steerer on his forks lengthened.... it snapped. I'm not sure if there is a recommended method for alloy?

 

[danson67]

Yes, sadly, aluminium steerers are always a problem.

Happy to press fit a new one, but although I weld plenty of aluminium frames, not steerers.
Titanium and steel, where very little strength is lost after welding or brazing, are relatively easy.
For aluminium, it's pretty rare to even be able to confirm the specific alloy used (which is really important).
Then there's the matter of probably needing to post-weld heat treat, either simple or 2-stage, and the effect that might have on any finishes or bonded joints on the part.

As long as the current steerer reaches to within the headset, here are a couple of no-weld solutions such as press fitting or bonding internal sleeves, or very fine threaded plugs etc. so that the alloy temper and strength would not be affected.

Effectively these are just a permanently fitted version of the expanding or wedge steerer tube extenders that are around.

All the best,

 

[The History Man]

A question in light of the above:

For light trail use and gentle downhill is an expanding steerer extender in a threadless 1 1/8 steerer ok given you can't tighten headset using the star nut?