|   How do I remove the fork? | abox
Oct 18, 2002 8:49 PM | | My maintenance book says to remove the stem, which I did, and then "pull the fork out of the head tube, catching the bearing balls". The fork doesn't seem to want to just come out of the head tube, so am I missing a step, or do I just need to pull harder?
I'm posting this in a couple of forums so don't be alarmed. |
| do you have a threaded headset? | Tscheezy
Oct 18, 2002 9:50 PM | | There are two types of headsets, threaded and non-threaded ("aheadsets").
If the bike is new or just a few years old, then yes, chances are it has a non-threaded headset and you just have to pull harder. You have this type if when you removed the stem, you loosened one or two allen screws at the REAR of the stem, and took the single allen screw holding the top cap totally off, and slid the stem up and totally off the steerer tube of the fork. Looking down into the steerer tube you will see a thing called a "star fangled nut" which the bolt hanging down from the top cap threaded into to pull the stem down onto the headset. Now try tapping on the top of the steerer tube, which is sticking up out of the top of the headset, with a rubber mallet or a piece of wood to loosen it. Then it should side apart.
If the stem you removed had a long tube extending down INTO the steerer tube of the fork (no star fagled nut), and it was held there by a wedge bolt, you have an old style threaded headset and life is tougher. If this is the case, the upper part of the head set will have flattened surfaces where you would put a large wrench (it will look like a giant nut) and this part actually threads down onto the fork's steerer tube. You can't take it apart without those wrenches (usually 30 or 32mm or a big crescent). All the banging or pulling in the world won't take the fork off if you have a threaded headset, without unscrewing those adjustment cups. Whadya got? |
| do you have a threaded headset? | abox
Oct 19, 2002 8:03 AM | | It's a threadless. I tried the rubber mallet (having that in my camping supplies), but it didn't come out. I just ended up with round gouges in the face of the mallet. I'll have to find a wood block and try that. Thanks. |
| it don't wanna come out! | abox
Oct 19, 2002 8:55 AM | | I used a book as my block of wood, but tapping with a hammer or mallet didn't dislodge the fork. Is there something else I need to do, or just tap harder? I got to the point where I was banging it pretty hard, but still no luck. |
| it don't wanna come out! | Tscheezy
Oct 19, 2002 9:22 AM | | Some less expensive headsets use a conical ring as an expander wedge made out of plastic or aluminum which snugs between the steerer tube and the top cup of the head set. You will recognize this by seeing a gap or small space in the metal touching the steerer tube inside the top cup. It will look like a split in the material. These can get driven in quite hard, but the normal way to dislodge them is to tap on the steerer tube. Maybe try a light spray of WD-40 or Liquid Wrench to free the parts joined by corrosion?
What brand of bike and fork do you have and what brand is the headset? |
| it don't wanna come out! | abox
Oct 19, 2002 3:31 PM | | I'll try the WD-40.
The bike is a Trek 6500, and the fork is Rock Shox Indy C.
The headset says 'SAS/STS A HEADSET' on it. |
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