Star-Fangled nut for Carbon Steerer

[mzagorski]

I see that I've got to wait for that UltraStar to come from Italy which I presume isn't going to be as prontissimo as I'd like... Anyone got a spare they want to sell?

[Mr_Potatohead]

although now that I think about it, if you install the expander plug, tighten the stem, then remove the expander plug, you'll be losing some of the clamping load of your stem on the fork tube. Reason being when you tightened the clamp bolts, the fork had a nice stiff plug of metal in it to react the clamp load. Now you remove the plug, voila, you have a potentially dangerous condition in which you don't have enough clamp load to prevent the stem from slipping in an emergency. Plus you end up with more stress in the fork tube than you had with the plug in.

Not sure if the loss of the plug is enough to make the stem slip but considering it's your life on the line.

[popawheelie]

Mr. potatohead said
"you'll be losing some of the clamping load of your stem on the fork tube"
How about retorquing it again after you remove the plug? That might work.

[Mr_Potatohead]

yup, that would do it.

You'd still be stressing the fork tube more than if it were supported by the plug though.