STEEM Cycle update: Fork correctly installed!
See that silver thing in my hand? It's a tool I needed to pound the crown race all the way down the steering column. I'll probably only ever use it once, but it set me back $40. What's a crown race, you ask? Have a gander at the picture below:
It's that disc that's stuck partway down the tube. However I hammered on it (hence the chip/dent) it simply wouldn't go any further. That's after a generous application of WD40, too. But with the tool, for some reason it became easy. I don't see why pounding on the tool made such a big difference over pounding it directly, but it did.
The parts outlined in red are what I still need in order to install the handlebars. They consist of the top cap, spacers, whatever that bracket that actually attaches the handlebars to the tube is called, and something called a "star nut" which you cannot see because it's inside the tube.
That thing above is the star nut. It lodges in the tube so you have something to screw the top cap into. Who knew you needed all this shit just to install handlebars? Not me. Everything's a different standard than the parts I used for my older bikes too, so basically none of the spare parts I had laying around would work.
I could have bought an ebike based on this frame for much less money, I just didn't realize it would work out that way at the time. I also began to build the ebike based on an existing bicycle only to learn the frame (which had no shock absorbers of any kind) wouldn't withstand the stress of the heavy battery, motor and high speeds.
It's been a learning experience, at least. I just wish it hadn't been such an expensive lesson. I still feel convinced it'll be so awesome as to have been worth the hassle when it's all put together and operational.
Btw, pardon the delay. There was a long power outage due to a powerful windstorm afflicting Oregon, California and Washington right now.
Aren't single use tools the best? Looks like you're putting together a great cycle.