Hed Doctor & star fangled washer

[.Adam.]

Hopefully going to build up my new frame tomorrow, have had a Hope headset fitted, but my forks have a star fangled washer fitted already, I assume I can just leave the Hed Doctor out and screw the bolt that came with the Hope headset into the star washer? Is there any advantage to the Hed Doctor apart from ease of fitting?

Edited by .Adam. on Saturday 23 May 20:06

[rhinochopig]

.Adam. said:

Hopefully going to build up my new frame tomorrow, have had a Hope headset fitted, but my forks have a star fangled washer fitted already, I assume I can just leave the Hed Doctor out and screw the bolt that came with the Hope headset into the star washer? Is there any advantage to the Hed Doctor apart from ease of fitting?

Edited by .Adam. on Saturday 23 May 20:06

Yes. But you'll need a top cap if you don't already have one.

[Paul1972]

I much prefer the Hed Doctor to the star washer myself - just find it much more secure personally. If you have bought it then why not fit it? The star washer will tap out of the bottom of your forks really easily.

[Beyond Rational]

It won't knock out the bottom easily if the steerer has an internal taper, so beware of this before you try.

I don't mind the SFN, it's only there to hold everything down whilst you tighten the stem bolts and the Hope product has more points of failure.

Edited by Beyond Rational on Saturday 23 May 22:57

[neil_bolton]

Beyond Rational said:

It won't knock out the bottom easily if the steerer has an internal taper, so beware of this before you try.

I don't mind the SFN, it's only there to hold everything down whilst you tighten the stem bolts and the Hope product has more points of failure.

Edited by Beyond Rational on Saturday 23 May 22:57

Theboymoon has had this happen (at my hamfisted hands no less) and I've never liked Hope Doctors for that reason. SFN's are utterly reliable once fitted correctly and straight.

Its for that reason (fitting) that the Hope Doctors are useful, as you don't need a tool to install (I say should, as in, you should use a tool to fit a SFN, rather than wang it in like I do whilst sucking through my teeth and hoping a bit...)

[rhinochopig]

neil_bolton said:

Beyond Rational said:

It won't knock out the bottom easily if the steerer has an internal taper, so beware of this before you try.

I don't mind the SFN, it's only there to hold everything down whilst you tighten the stem bolts and the Hope product has more points of failure.

Edited by Beyond Rational on Saturday 23 May 22:57

Theboymoon has had this happen (at my hamfisted hands no less) and I've never liked Hope Doctors for that reason. SFN's are utterly reliable once fitted correctly and straight.

Its for that reason (fitting) that the Hope Doctors are useful, as you don't need a tool to install (I say should, as in, you should use a tool to fit a SFN, rather than wang it in like I do whilst sucking through my teeth and hoping a bit...)

I've always put the head-doctor in the "solution for a problem that doesn't exist" category. SFK fitting tools cost next to nothing either.

[Mandog]

another star nut fan here too

[Beyond Rational]

SFN Anonymous

[snotrag]

Plus 1, the topcap/sfn is only there to tension the headset bearings on, and once the stem is tightened all its doing it keeping mud out. Does NOT have any part to play in holding your forks in.

SFN's are pennies, and dont go wrong.

[.Adam.]

Kept with the star washer as it was already fitted, seemed silly to make more work for myself!

[Sir HC]

Beyond Rational said:

I don't mind the SFN, it's only there to hold everything down whilst you tighten the stem bolts and the Hope product has more points of failure.

Edited by Beyond Rational on Saturday 23 May 22:57

More points of failure? I've never had one fall apart, much prefer them to SFN's as they dont score the steerer tube.

[neil_bolton]

Sir HC said:

Beyond Rational said:

I don't mind the SFN, it's only there to hold everything down whilst you tighten the stem bolts and the Hope product has more points of failure.

Edited by Beyond Rational on Saturday 23 May 22:57

More points of failure? I've never had one fall apart, much prefer them to SFN's as they dont score the steerer tube.

It's a 5mm thick steel/alloy tube? Hardly going to damage it!

On a carbon steerer, perhaps, but not on a steel/alloy steerer.

The reason why the HD's are pants is because they tend to fail when you least want them to, and they leave you with no way of tightening up your headset. They just look nice. They also add additional weight too (but nothing I'd particulary worry about...).

So, £50 for potential additional point of failure, and extra weight? Nah its alright

In all my years of spannering, I have never seen a failed SFN.

[Beyond Rational]

Sir HC said:

Beyond Rational said:

I don't mind the SFN, it's only there to hold everything down whilst you tighten the stem bolts and the Hope product has more points of failure.

Edited by Beyond Rational on Saturday 23 May 22:57

More points of failure? I've never had one fall apart, much prefer them to SFN's as they dont score the steerer tube.

Four parts, one additional thread and a piece of rubber versus one extremely simple nut which naturally stays in place.