My position has changed and I need to retrim the steerer on the fork a little bit. The problem is that the expander plug is jammed in the fork and I think the screw is seized in there too. So I was thinking that by cutting the steerer tube to the length I wanted would break the plug too and I can just pull out the remains.
That looks like the right part…it’s a 1" expander plug. What ‘doesn’t sound right’?
Some people will say you can just glue a starnut into your carbon steer tube. Some people will say any 'ole expander plug will do (like the one you have linked). Some people will say that you should ALWAYS use the expander plug that comes with the fork. Who is right…I have no idea. I stay away from carbon steertubes for just this reason.
If I were you, I’d just try again get the existing plug out of the fork. How much are you trimming it? If you’re not trimming to below where the plug is currently…you’re going to have to push the damned thing all the way down (less than optimal). If you are trimming it that much, you can just push it out of the (now) excess tube and use it.
Why do you need to remove the steerer plug? MY understanding is that it’s only needed when you are positioning things to retighten the headset via the stem bolts, after that it’s redundant. I assume you are using an Ahead stem and not a quill.
It currently sits at the top of the steerer tube and I need to trim about an inch down from the top of the steerer tube. So pretty much right where the middle of the thing is.
The expander is just stuck in there. It is a pressure fit and all you have to do is stick a bolt in there and tap it with a hammer to loosen up the middle part. It is a two part expander. The middle part is beveled so that when you tighted down the bolt it pinches against the outer sleeve.
I had three of the 1" easton forks for a while and currently have two. Ever time I would go to change out something they were stuck and if you do what I described above you will be fine. Tap it a little bit harder than you think you need and the beveled part will just fall into the fork. Remove the outer sleeve and the beveled part will just come right out. Might have to tilt the bike upside down to get it out but you will be fine.
The problem is that it’s the stock Felt one that actually slides inside of the steerer and then rests on top of the steerer. I’ve almost bent a 4mm T-Handle allen wrench trying to get it out. I about to try some channel locks and twist it out.