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Removing the allen bolt on front forks

  • Thread starter Thread starter ShirleySerious
  • Start date Start date
if you don't have an impact tool, quick raps with a hammer on a regular allen wrench will do the trick.
 
This seems more difficult than I thought it would be. I don't have an impact wrench, nor a blowtorch. When I go to the dealer to pick up my seals, I'll just see if they can loosen them for me. BTW, why are they called allen bolts? I know what an allen WRENCH is, but that looks like it has nothing to do with it. Just looks like a regular bolt.

As for cleaning out the inside, instead of kerosene, can I use Goo Gone? Kerosene is not available within 100 miles of me.
 
where do you live in Chicago? most home depot stores have kerosene and if not kerosene turpintine should work as well. or NON-clorinated brake cleaner would work too. I am over by the feild museum and have a impact wrench and torch, if you want to stop by, also a couple other guys that live in the burbs around here also have some tools to help you as well.

-ryan
 
Let me ask, is the torch really necessary? I would assume that if an impact wrench has enough force to loosen it, the torch wouldn't be needed.

I thought kerosene was only sold at gas stations in the sticks, but I will look at Home Depot tomorrow.
 
So.... does ANYONE have pictures of these WAY COOL (and supposedly EASY TO MAKE) tools they can share with us? I'm with Shirley and having trouble envisioning what this is... some say it is a BOLT on each end, some say it is two nuts screwed together.

What is the purpose? Should this not be a sort of socket wrench if the hex-head thingees are wierd sort of bolts?

Sorry, I'm dense too.:confused:

PICS PLEASE of the TOOL.
 
wharrah said:
So.... does ANYONE have pictures of these WAY COOL (and supposedly EASY TO MAKE) tools they can share with us? I'm with Shirley and having trouble envisioning what this is... some say it is a BOLT on each end, some say it is two nuts screwed together.

What is the purpose? Should this not be a sort of socket wrench if the hex-head thingees are wierd sort of bolts?

Sorry, I'm dense too.:confused:

PICS PLEASE of the TOOL.
Click to expand...






You will need to add enough extensions to stick out of the fork tube, then attach your ratchet. This is a Craftsman 5/8" spark plug socket. The opposite end is 19mm. Take the rubber boot out of the socket and install some extensions.

This set-up goes down the fork tube and holds the hex head while you remove the small hex bolt at the bottom of the fork.

Shirley, do you have the fork off the bike yet? The small single hex head bolt is on the bottom of the fork ABOVE the axle. The bolt is hidden by the axle... you have to remove it to see it.
 
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Ahh jeez, and all this time I thought those were the allen bolts. Yes I have both forks removed. I have two bolts on some kind of bracket below where the axle goes. Those are a bitch to remove, and now there's gonna be another bolt? Damn, I guess I better do this one step at a time. Anyone else having trouble removing these two bolts?
 
those two bolts hold the bracket that clamps the axle remove them then you will see the allen head bolt up in side. And yes heat would help. these allen bolts can be a bear and any little advantage you can use to get them out i strongly suggest it. like i said the impact wrench can be so strong that it strips the inside of the allen bolt so you can't loosen it at all. even a socket wrench can strip the allen bolt they are very soft. so do your self a favor add some heat to it as well as strike it like mentioned above.

i think once you get the bracket off it will be a little clearer to you.
 
Duhh, stupid me. Must be the beer. I didn't realize there was another set of pinch bolts. I put the axle back on and got those nuts loose. Now I see the allen bolt. And yes, it is still a bitch to get to. I couldn't find my hammer, so I couldn't try spchips' trick. I'll have to wait until I actually get the seals before I open it up.

As far as heat goes, would I be able to use a Bic lighter?:lol:
 
first timer said:
if you want to stop by, also a couple other guys that live in the burbs around here also have some tools to help you as well.
-ryan
Click to expand...

You're a classy guy, Ryan. Way to go.
icon14.gif
 
Gee thanks Jeff... learn from the classeist.

SS, While your at the Depot pick up a blow torch they are only like 10 bucks or so.
 
I took my shocks apart today and just gave them a little cleaning and purged the old oil. I'm not gonna put the new oil in until the seals come in (which was supposed to be yesterday, now it's Monday:mad:.)

The lower pinch bolt on one of the shocks is rusted on. The nuts and washers came off, but the bracket won't. I tried soaking it in mineral spirits to see if that'll loosen it. I'm just gonna give it some time. BTW, WD-40 didn't work.

So when it's actually time, what do I do? Do I just make that tool and stick it down the inner tube? What am I grabbing on to? Might as well just have the dealer do it because I don't have enough extensions. If I heat the allen bolt, do I just heat the head of the bolt?
 
8trackmind said:
#15 has to come out. It's an allen head bolt.

SU0090_036.gif
Click to expand...


The socket goes into the top of part #4. If it's really stuck heat would help but I've never had to use heat on mine. Make sure the allen wrench you use on the bolt is a good quality one and it's not worn or damaged. It will be really tight but it should come loose. Good Luck.
 
The damper rod looks round, which makes me think a socket will not be adequate. BTW, I finally got the bracket off. There was a ton of surface rust which came off pretty easy with some steel wool.

My friend has an air wrench at his school, so I'm gonna see if he can loosen it on Monday.
 
ShirleySerious said:
The damper rod looks round, which makes me think a socket will not be adequate. BTW, I finally got the bracket off. There was a ton of surface rust which came off pretty easy with some steel wool.

My friend has an air wrench at his school, so I'm gonna see if he can loosen it on Monday.
Click to expand...

What you're probably looking at is part #12. Take that out and you should seen the top of the damper rod. There will be an indent on it that would look the ring end of a 12 point 19mm combination wrench that's where the socket should go. Hang in there you've almost got it.
 
You sure it's not round? It looks like it in the pic. I'm guessing I have to compress the fork all the way to see it?
 
Damn. More issues with this bike. I got the oil seals today and I tried to pry the old ones off but just ended up tearing into them. I nearly sliced off my finger with a screwdriver. How do you get the old oil seals out? The drill trick didn't work.
 
Mine were "welded in" as well. I took a pair of wire cutters and cut the metal band on the inside of the seal. Then I bent it out a little and grabbed the bent piece with some pliars and "peeled" it out... like opening a sardine can. Make sure you don't let the wire cutters or pliars scrape the fork. You should only have to cut into the seal about half way.
 
Bruce,

Is Craftsman from Sears?

I have a 5/8 socket & I have checked those in Kragen, Pepboys & my local hardware joint & none of them break through on the square so even with the rubber removed it won't work the way you show it. You can't get any drive on the square from that direction. Sears is about 8 miles away so no big deal just be nice to know before I set off :)

Shirley - I picked up a set of 3 extensions from Kragen for 11 bucks. A 10", a 6" & a 3". That should be enough & everyone has at least one 3 " extension surely.... :D

By the way, if you can get one of the seals out near enough whole you should be able to use it to drive the new one back in.... I haven't tried it yet but it's worked for me before with auto seals & bearings. If not it's back to the store for a bit ass socket.

Got my seals from Dennis Kirk along with the springs.

Dan
 
salty_monk said:
Bruce,

Is Craftsman from Sears?

I have a 5/8 socket & I have checked those in Kragen, Pepboys & my local hardware joint & none of them break through on the square so even with the rubber removed it won't work the way you show it. You can't get any drive on the square from that direction. Sears is about 8 miles away so no big deal just be nice to know before I set off :)

Shirley - I picked up a set of 3 extensions from Kragen for 11 bucks. A 10", a 6" & a 3". That should be enough & everyone has at least one 3 " extension surely.... :D

By the way, if you can get one of the seals out near enough whole you should be able to use it to drive the new one back in.... I haven't tried it yet but it's worked for me before with auto seals & bearings. If not it's back to the store for a bit ass socket.

Got my seals from Dennis Kirk along with the springs.

Dan
Click to expand...

Dan,
Yes, Craftsman is at Sears. It's the 5/8" spark plug socket with 3/8" drive.

For installing the seal, I used a 2" piece of PVC pipe about 2 feet long. Slide it over the upper fork tube and tap down on it ..... like a slide hammer. Make sure the end of the PVC is good and flat.
 
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