If there is no wear below the root of the thread, you have not lost any strength in theory. I think a nice tight fitting stem with a long quill and a full insertion is a good idea. What you have sounds no worse than the typical French steerer!
Joe
At 10:35 AM 1/23/01 -0600, Ron Cooley wrote:
>Hi Gang
>
> I just pulled the fork from the Falcon I'm restoring, and discovered
>that the tab on the back of the brake cable hanger has worn away quite a
>but of material in the threaded section of the steerer tube.
>Specifically there's a smooth patch about 1 cm by 5 mm where the threads
>are completely worn away. What I'm wondering is how seriously this
>undermines the fork? I realize it's important to make sure the stem
>expander doesn't press against the weakened section, but if I use a stem
>with a cone-type expander (no localized pressure point) and keep it well
>inserted (no problem since the frame is on the large side for me) will
>it be OK? Or should I just bite the bullet and have the steerer
>replaced when I get the frame painted?
>
>
>Ron Cooley