Expansion plug?
Moderator: robbosmans
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Generally I would recommend the one that the manufacturer supplies with the fork. Each mfr has a reason for supplying it, either because it's considered "structural" like Colnago's long plug, or whatever other reason.
Having said that, the relatively cheap FSA expander with the alloy cap is very versatile, grips well and is pretty gentle on the inner steerer wall.
Having said that, the relatively cheap FSA expander with the alloy cap is very versatile, grips well and is pretty gentle on the inner steerer wall.
Most manufacturers recommend supporting the bottom stem bolt, which as Bigger Gear said makes the expander structural. It's very tempting to go with a tiny lightweight plug like a Extralite Ultrastar 3, being weigth weenies, who can blame you from wanting to take grams off your bike, and it's an area with a good weight to cost ratio, but I consider this item more for a hillclimb race bike than an everyday climbing bike. Even though there are very few or no reports of steerer failures I personally defer to the engineers that designed my bike and run the stock expander. If the original is a real boat anchor, I would replace it with one of similar dimensions.
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Good point on supporting the bottom of the stem, given the choice.
I always went with the “i am light, so i can get away with it”. Now i realized that i can put out decient watts, so it has me thinking...
I always went with the “i am light, so i can get away with it”. Now i realized that i can put out decient watts, so it has me thinking...
Thanks for the feedback.
I see that Deda has 2 expander plugs.
45 and 70mm!
http://www.dedaelementi.com/en/expander-45/
http://www.dedaelementi.com/en/expander-hss/
I see that Deda has 2 expander plugs.
45 and 70mm!
http://www.dedaelementi.com/en/expander-45/
http://www.dedaelementi.com/en/expander-hss/
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I think you mean if you expand the fork below the stem right? Like the expander sitting below the stem and pushing out the steerer wall a tiny fraction. I've never considered this, but any bike that I've wrenched on where the headset comes loose persistently I've had good luck with either carbon paste or gently sanding the inner wall of the steerer to hold the expander better.
1 1/4 makes a difference.
I used to have Canyon Ultimate slx years ago, I don't know what they use in their current bikes, but at that point there was only plastik ring you just simply stick on the top of steerer tube. More aesthetical than functional reason.
I also had a bike where I was experiencing what alcatraz described above.
Currently this is my second bike where I use Extralite expander, hard to argue with its weight and damn good functionality.
I used to have Canyon Ultimate slx years ago, I don't know what they use in their current bikes, but at that point there was only plastik ring you just simply stick on the top of steerer tube. More aesthetical than functional reason.
I also had a bike where I was experiencing what alcatraz described above.
Currently this is my second bike where I use Extralite expander, hard to argue with its weight and damn good functionality.
Measure inner diameter of the fork and see if it's compatible with the expander plugs u consider..TonyM wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2019 2:04 amThanks for the feedback.
I see that Deda has 2 expander plugs.
45 and 70mm!
http://www.dedaelementi.com/en/expander-45/
http://www.dedaelementi.com/en/expander-hss/
For example on my Cannondale CAAD12 i wanted to have long fork expander (to be able to use more spacers), so as first i considered Deda 70mm.. Then i realized is not compatible but fraction of mm...
At the end i order Colnago Fork Expander which match the fork inner diameter and also is longer then Deda..... Even it's not weight weenie part..
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Begin with a very light one and with this thread: viewtopic.php?t=151670 I change for a Specialized Swat, 40mm support and a chain breaker on it, both is lighter than a same size convetional expander and a chain breaker.