Fork Removal Questions

[Mossyrocks13k]

Hello all,

This is my first time removing the forks and am learning a lot from the different forums. I have the front tire off and everything loosened but the forks don't want to move, currently have 25K on the forks and don't know if the PO ever took them off. The upper and lower pinch bolts are almost all the way out. Any suggestions on getting the forks out?

My original intend was to replace the fork oil, but after getting the front tire off I noticed a lot of oily dirt and oily marks, guess my port fork is leaking. So now once I have them free and clear I guess it's off to a shop for seal and bushing replacements (beyond my current mechanical abilities).

Thanks for any help

Glenn

 

[Fred W]

Hey Glenn,

If you have the pinch bolts fully loose (you want that) you should be able to just pull the fork upper tubes out, or rather they should drop out n their own weight.

What might be happening is that the upper and lower triple clamps could be slightly skewed putting some force on those upper tube legs. Try just turning the handlebars one way or another a bit while someone else is holding the fork legs and to catch them from hitting the pavement.

You might also devise a way to do this solo, but having a helper is a lot quicker.

 

[yamafitter]

Sometimes the triple clamps do not fully release the fork legs with the pinch bolts loose. You can free things up by gently prying the triple clamp open where it clamps the fork legs but be ready to stop the fork leg from completely dropping out.

 

[Mr Bill]

Thanks for any help

Glenn

Mr Glenn,

Make sure all the bolts are undone. I have two on the bottom and one on the top. Yours may have more.

Mr Bill

 

[wfooshee]

Mr Glenn,
Make sure all the bolts are undone. I have two on the bottom and one on the top. Yours may have more.

Mr Bill

This. There are two pinch bolts on the bottom, one right above the other.

 

[Mossyrocks13k]

Sometimes the triple clamps do not fully release the fork legs with the pinch bolts loose. You can free things up by gently prying the triple clamp open where it clamps the fork legs but be ready to stop the fork leg from completely dropping out.

Two on both sides top and bottom for total of eight screws. All fully loose. Will try the pry and a little more force tomm.

 

[TheZsdad]

If everything is loose try tapping the bottom of the one fork with a rubber mallet. From the bottom up

of course. Check the upper triple to see if the fork tube moved up. IIRC I used a wooden dowel and a mallet

on the fork cap to get them started (not the plastic adjuster). Beware what Fred and Bill said about

them hitting the floor.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Sometimes the triple clamps do not fully release the fork legs with the pinch bolts loose. You can free things up by gently prying the triple clamp open where it clamps the fork legs but be ready to stop the fork leg from completely dropping out.

Two on both sides top and bottom for total of eight screws. All fully loose. Will try the pry and a little more force tomm.

Ahhh, you have an aftermarket triple clamp. Points to Fred's comment that things could be skewed a little.

Mine easily slide in / out with a Heli clamp. A little convincing and they'll slide right out!

--G

 

[garyahouse]

I'm thinking... why not spray a little penetrating oil in there? Or perhaps loosening the stem bearing nut? I'm not a pro like many on this forum, but just a couple thoughts.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[LAF]

I'm thinking... why not spray a little penetrating oil in there? Or perhaps loosening the stem bearing nut? I'm not a pro like many on this forum, but just a couple thoughts.
Gary

darksider #44

Not thinking the stem bearing nut will do much.

Mine dropped right out when I did the MCL Riser and Traxxion 1.1 spring/buffer/oil change. That was at 0 Miles.

I would think the penetrating oil is a good thing. Also not knowing how "ham" fisted someone was on the bolts, the clamps may be sprung.

After trying to work the forks around with the oil in I would put the front axle in and tap with a rubber mallet in the center, up or down to see if they break loose.

It may just be corrosion and gunk and a good penetrating oil would help this, and light taps with a mallet should get it done. I mean even a wood block or dowel and you wont screw much up. Even a brass blunt punch would help. Just go slow and be ready when they break loose.

Let us know how it works our for you,

 

[Mossyrocks13k]

Good Day,

Thought about the skewed thing but without a micrometer really hard to tell. I did get them out, used a deep 15/16" socket and some gentle tapping on the top they came out. Now once i get them back have to come up with a gentle method to put them back.

Thanks for all the ideas, was just too afraid to get aggressive.

Glenn

 

[900gc]

Good Day,
Thought about the skewed thing but without a micrometer really hard to tell. I did get them out, used a deep 15/16" socket and some gentle tapping on the top they came out. Now once i get them back have to come up with a gentle method to put them back.

Thanks for all the ideas, was just too afraid to get aggressive.

Glenn

Now that they're out, a little twist and wiggle while pushing them back up should do it. Easy Peasy.

 

[TheZsdad]

Rubber mallet tapping from the bottom to get them back in once you have done the twist and wiggle thing.

 

[Fred W]

No need for a micrometer or other fancy measuring jig to determine if the top and bottom triple clamps are skewed to each other. Just loosen them up and let them self-align on the fork legs, which are (hopefully) very straight. The only thing holding the two triple clamps from pivoting in relation to each other is the steering stem nuts. Loosen them up a bit, get the fork legs installed, then reset your steering stem bearing torque.

By the way, if you (or someone else) installed an aftermarket upper triple clamp, you would have had to re-torque the steering stem bearings then. If the nuts were tightened while holding/pulling against the handlebars that might be when the two clamps got skewed, Instead, you want to allow the steering stem to flop over to the right side steering stop while torquing the nuts, that way the torque is being applied through the stem itself and not against the bars on the upper clamp.

 

[Mossyrocks13k]

Well everything went back on easily. No hard pushing or prodding. All reassembled and torqued down. Thanks for all the help.