Warning: Think twice before lengthening a fork steerer

[MintSauce]

whoopee, fork for sale? how long is the steerer?!

 

i assume it hasn't been ridden much either!

 

Hardly ridden. Really. I'm practically a roadie now, remember!

 

It is for sale if you're interested, Stevie. 180mm steerer...once I cut it back down to size cleanly.

[Grebel]

The problem lies in the fact that not all engineering shops have good welders.....

 

As mentioned already, if a proper weld prep had been done and the correct type of welding done, you would probably have had no issues.

 

I don't know how they welded that extension so I will reserve comment.

 

Glad you caught it though and nobody got hurt

[MintSauce]

The problem lies in the fact that not all engineering shops have good welders.....

 

As mentioned already, if a proper weld prep had been done and the correct type of welding done, you would probably have had no issues.

 

I don't know how they welded that extension so I will reserve comment.

 

Glad you caught it though and nobody got hurt

 

Ja, thanks. Got a fright when I found it.

 

The scary part is that this particular engineering shop has been around forever and has a very good reputation.

[Grebel]

Ja, thanks. Got a fright when I found it.

 

The scary part is that this particular engineering shop has been around forever and has a very good reputation.

 

Next time (but I doubt that there well be a next time   ), Let the engineering shop turn up the extension and then take it through to a specialist welder to do the welding. I would think the a decent weld prep and a nice TIG run would hold for years to come.

[Amberdrake]

I have seen welds done on struts for a crane with a 4 Ton load capacity. Specialist welded it up and still failed testing and had to be redone. Welding steerer can be done IMO but with correct method. Personally at the cost of these engineering endeavors one can almost justify a new uppers.

[camelman]

Here is my 2c worth. From the looks of it, the crack is in the new material not on the weld. Which makes me think that the machined solid piece could not handle the stress.

If it was me, I would get an old piece of steerer tube to make sure the tube can handle the stresses. Insert a separate tube inside to provide extra support and make sure the two tubes are aligned. Bevel the edges to make sure that there is enough room for the metal to fill in when MIG welding. Otherwise keep as is and TIG weld it. And don't grind of the welding except for a few blobs here and there. Also make sure that the welding metal if doing MIG is compatible with the steerer tube.

[GoLefty!!]

Next time (but I doubt that there well be a next time   ), Let the engineering shop turn up the extension and then take it through to a specialist welder to do the welding. I would think the a decent weld prep and a nice TIG run would hold for years to come.

 

The challenge with welding is that any weld joint should be kept away from an are where there is a lot of deflection. The stem clamping onto the welded section is enough to raise the stress on the joint. I don't care how good a welder the artisan is/was, I wouldn't trust that welded joint in any application least of all a super critical component like a steerer tube.

 

Just have them fit a new steerer tube.

[deanbean]

The challenge with welding is that any weld joint should be kept away from an are where there is a lot of deflection. The stem clamping onto the welded section is enough to raise the stress on the joint. I don't care how good a welder the artisan is/was, I wouldn't trust that welded joint in any application least of all a super critical component like a steerer tube.

 

Just have them fit a new steerer tube.

I agree with you here. How readily available are steerer tubes?

[GoLefty!!]

for most forks aluminium replacement steerers are available from the distributors. Often they'll try to sell you a whole steerer-crown-stanchion assembly but when pushed they will source the steerer.

 

Carbon steerers will require replace of the whole upper assembly

[BenReaper]

for most forks aluminium replacement steerers are available from the distributors. Often they'll try to sell you a whole steerer-crown-stanchion assembly but when pushed they will source the steerer.

 

Carbon steerers will require replace of the whole upper assembly

I had to replace a steerer recently and was told that they are not available seperatly and that I would have to replace the stanchion assembly,as you mentioned.

 

Luckely I have a good relationship with my LBS and thet gave me an old broken fork that I took to an engineering shop to have the steerer pressed out and pressed back into my fork.

 

I wouldnt even cosider having a part like a steerer welded to lengten it,would never trust it with all the stress it has to handle.

[GoLefty!!]

Distributors take a risk based approached with high stress parts so they recommend the replacement of the whole assembly. They don't really want the liability of failure if the steer was not pressed in cryo shrunk in place correctly.

But if you push them a little they will usually make a plan as long as you accept that the risk is with you.

 

I think with many unemployed lawyers since the big money meltdown, they're looking for libble cases to supplement ther income which seems to be the case in the USA

[Ampandy]

Very poor welding technique. I have lengthened many steerer tubes, lengthened cranks, shortened cranks and even shortened hollowtech axles without any issues at all.

[GoLefty!!]

good luck to your customers I hope they don't have failures

[Ampandy]

Ye have little faith GoLefty. FYI I have repaired many a 'crack and fail'

[Off_da_brakes]

In my books a steerer tube (along with the fork) is pretty much a life and limb component. Don't take short cuts. Is the couple of grand saved in lengthening a steerer worth the potential harm it may cause should it fail given that you could lose steering, balance and braking?

[Fire Engine]

Glad you still have your teeth ,as mentioned before there in noting wrong with welding something you just need the right materials with a well thought out plan and of course a good welder. After all you will be surprised what welds hold together out there .