Cutting down a steerer tube...

When I've sorted out the stem I need to cut down the (steel) steerer tube. Is this a job for me or should I take it to a proper bike mechanic?

nah, mitre saw.

simple as, as long as its not threaded.

I did mine with a little hack saw.

did mine with half a hack saw, with a blunt blade with half its teeth.....come out ok tho.......

Were you really brave/foolish, doing it with the bike assembled? I am a little uneasy about headset refitting.

I'd take the fork out first, or you run the risk of getting swarf in the headset.

(I used a Dremel to cut my forks, and that worked fine)

i had the fork off the bike btw.
on a door step with me foot holding it down and one arm in plaster

And a pint balanced on your head..

Sorry for being a little new to bike maintenance - I stupidly relied on people like Evans hitherto - Once I've got the fork off and cut down is it easy to reassemble?

hippy And a pint balanced on your head..

no that was in the broken hand

AlexS Sorry for being a little new to bike maintenance - I stupidly relied on people like Evans hitherto - Once I've got the fork off and cut down is it easy to reassemble?

Very easy.

I just use one of these so I keep properly beerhydrated and have two hands free to beat sh1t out of bike with various incorrect tools..

sorry ........ 8^P

You found my old bike!

that rear wheel clearance is tighter than a gnat's chuff!

You should leave the lock ring on, below the point your sawing of. This way when you've finished sawing you can undo lock ring and clear threads that might have been damaged whilst sawing.

Hi, anybody out there know where I can get my forks with a 1inch steerer tube cut down and rethreaded- in fact I could do the cutting, I just need someone with a die big enough. Any workshops or mechanics who aren't gonna charge me silly money. Thanks

Sorry forgot to mention I'm in south London.

Have the threads been worn out or is it just threadless? do you want to use a quill stem over an ahead-style clamp on stem? Not sure about how much it'd cost to get it threaded unless someone on here happens to have a die/lathe lying around... it might be cheaper for you to use an ahead stem or buy threaded forks.. you could easily cut it down the right length with a pipe cutter (available from hardware stores) or just use a hacksaw.

follow asm's advice, or go to apex cycles in clapham, they will be able to fix it, but they dont open on monday. its on clapham high street, they will probably sort it out for beer money, or if its in the afternoon they may ask you to buy some ice cream, it depends on the weather.

I had this problem a while ago and asked on here. A W Cycles in south wimbledon sorted it out. the guys in there are awsome. old and very knowlagable. aparantly the tool isn;t widly available anymore. loads of places (shockingly - brixton cycles) were telling me it;s not possible etc... what the fuck do they know?! it is. I think it cost me either £10 or £20

Cheers for that chaps, it's actually a set of forks I've nicked from one bike to replace a pair on a frame I've stripped, re-painted, the existing forks are riduculously long and I can't get a brake caliper to go anywhere near the rims. Chucked the old brakes away-just in too bad a condition to refurb. The steerer tube on the new forks is way too long and only threaded at the top 1inch, so needs to be chopped to length and re-threaded. Will contact the two shops mentioned, but anymore advice keep it coming.

I also need similar job doing. I asked my LBS, and they said they might be able to thread it but dont have cutting tool. Didn't inspire me with confidence as the kid in the shop said they may not be able to cut the thread if its already partially threaded. Will try another LBS.

if your supper carful you can cut the thread your self, you just need to cut supper stright in the groove. i have done it, twice, but wouldnt go about it with out the proper tools again.