Steerer Tube Cut with a pipe cutter (beginner MTB Basics)

Bit more advanced this one but handy to know once you have dialed in on the stem and bar position.
I've used a Pipe cutter tool in this example but a hacksaw could also be used. I prefer the pipe cutter as it gives a clean and square cut but does take a little longer.
Again this has been put together to help the complete novice out so I've taken my time and tried to include everything a potential Spanner Monkey may need to know and show every part fully.
Music is my own
Daughter has the cameo narration for the intro
Trail dog cameo no doubt at some point

[@glenellyn2381]

Thanks for showing me how to use a pipe cutter. Great video!

[@jeffdickinson9819]

Nice hack with the socket used to seat the star nut. Will be using it myself shortly.

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

My refusal to buy stuff leads me to inventing stuff. Then the world benefits 😁

[@bojidar12345]

Great video, thank you!

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

Thanks

[@MsYablonsky]

Great vid, nice music (reminds me of Goodbye Horses, lol) and great intro narration. Only thing not too clear for me is the trick to push down the starnut without using the 5mm screw

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

For the star nut, the idea is the 5mm Allen bolt when tightened a little holds the socket in place in the centre. If you strike just the Allen key with no socket there, the core of the star nut can be driven out, breaking the assembly. The socket is driving against the threaded core and the star tabs equally. It also lets you set the star squarely as you can see the socket level easier than just the head of a bolt.

[@gibbo3783]

Exactly what I needed. Great video!

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

Thank you

[@samb2334]

BUT REMEMBER, MEASURE TWICE CUT ONCE!!!!!!

[@ianrice1778]

Very well done!! Thanks!

[@cykablyat8862]

i need to cut my bmx forks down, but im not sure that a pipe cutter will go through chromoly steer tube lol, what do you think?

[@lboris6365]

Will this work on carbon forks?

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

No, the carbon would cracked as the pipe cutter presses the cutting wheel into the tube which would fracture the carbon. A proper blade guide is needed or a very accurate cut by hand.

[@FoxFox-i1c]

Just ad a spacer on the top and the top cap will fit. Far more easy, faster and even reversable than cutting the fork.

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

Did you see how many spacers I had on it at the start?😂 A new steerer on a fork is normal extremely long and will always need cut down at least a little. Some like to have the stem flush with no spacers, some are happy with a tower above in spacers, each to there own. This is just a guide if you want/need to cut it down.

[@FoxFox-i1c]

@@TheBikingVikingDude true, the space(r) tower was already high enough. If I had a pipe cutter I would cut it too. Or I would look for a higher stem and cut even more.

[@golfkid333]

Spacers weigh like 3 grams, are you insane?

[@samb2334]

Thanks for subbing, I will create more videos when I get my triple b so don’t worry about lack of content😂😂😂, your my 40th subscriber

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

Thats alright, ill see the videos once you get going.

[@samb2334]

The Biking Viking yeah cool, cheers

[@scottmcdonald3545]

A pipe cutter is easier, but I think it flares the top off a bit. A hack saw is harder to make a straight cut without a jig or clamp, but it won't flare.

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

Yeah as mentioned in the video it will flair so a hand file is used, the flair isn't extreme so course sand paper could also be used.

[@pizzapet9325]

2:04 is 4mm ok? Or how long should I cut? 2:35 how long you had cut from the mark?

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

Yeah it was about 4-5mm under the line so the top cap can tighten down on the stem and stack. If you cut on the line the top cap will not tighten onto the stock and just tightens onto the steerer tube so you end up with play

[@pizzapet9325]

@@TheBikingVikingDude THX a lot

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

No worries bud, good luck.

[@pizzapet9325]

The Biking Viking A thx a lot I about to replace my suspension

[@nivek29]

Can you use the piper cutter on a threaded fork?

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

You could on the none threaded sections, using the cutter in the threaded section would stop it cutting square as the thread would make the cutting wheel deviate. The only reason I've ever cut threaded steerer in the past was part of a project which I repurposed the upper crown and steerer into something else. Not sure why you would look to cut a threaded steerer.

[@nivek29]

@@TheBikingVikingDude thanks for the response. I had to replace a bent fork for an old mountain bike. It's threaded. But you can't get replacement forks necessarily in the exact size. I may try this out on the old fork and see what happens.

[@AncientGreek]

I need to cut the steering tube only 1 or 2 milimeters, is the pipe cutter a good idea?

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

The pipe cutter is a good option if you have one already, a hacksaw works just well if you take your time.

[@nobodyshero200]

Halfords rachet? 30 years old? Tape on the bottom because the screw has fallen out? Snap

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

Good old Halfords😁

[@nobodyshero200]

@@TheBikingVikingDude unbelievably I had been carrying a bolt on my jacket for a year thinking one day it would come in useful. It fitted the ratchet!! A bit long but it's better than tape.

[@quaytinjackson9624]

I gotta cut my bike see tube

[@JerseyStyle7]

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@LinhTran-gf5yv]

Not for carbon fork

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

No I wouldn't use a metal pipe cutting tool on carbon steerers. This is just an example for metal.

[@user-ls9uf4yh5q]

@@TheBikingVikingDude ok may i know why?

[@user-ls9uf4yh5q]

also, can you recommend a not too expensive pipe cutter? thanks a lot

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

@@user-ls9uf4yh5q the cutting tool works by turning a dial at the back that pushes the cutting wheel into the wall of the tube, the steel isn't as brittle or thin as a carbon tube so the steel doesn't cracked. If you try this with a carbon steerer you will likely crush the tube when you tighten up the cutting wheel. A carbon steerer is much easier to cut though so a sharp hacksaw would do it, cutting it square using a nice fitting spare spacer

[@uobikeprogram5487]

Love this vid! thx bike fam