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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Stripped bottom fork bolt. How to remove it?
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Message started by JayDuta on 02/19/14 at 01:18:37

Title: Stripped bottom fork bolt. How to remove it?
Post by JayDuta on 02/19/14 at 01:18:37

So I managed to strip the bolt at the bottom of one of my forks. I was able to remove the damper rod with the special tool from the top. The only problem now is that the bolt is stuck at the bottom and difficult to remove.

I tapped it with a hammer a few times prior to removing the damper rod with the special tool. I'm assuming that is the reason it is stuck. Are there still threads at the bottom of the fork with the damper rod removed? It doesn't seem to be screwed on to anything because it rotates freely in both directions now. I tried tapping it out form the inside of the fork tube, but it doesn't seem to work.

Has anyone had this issue before? And any suggestions on how to remove this bolt?

Title: Re: Stripped bottom fork bolt. How to remove it?
Post by Dave on 02/19/14 at 09:35:11

There are no threads in the fork leg and it should come out - but if it doesn't and you can still thread it back into the damper rod.......just leave it where it is and don't bother taking it out.

Title: Re: Stripped bottom fork bolt. How to remove it?
Post by verslagen1 on 02/19/14 at 10:08:26

0C373A2D3C302B2D363E332C5F0 wrote:

There are no threads in the fork leg and it should come out - but if it doesn't and you can still thread it back into the damper rod.......just leave it where it is and don't bother taking it out.

+1

and I believe there's a copper washer which you may have deformed during your hammering. That's what maybe holding the bolt in place.

If it don't leak... don't fix it.

Title: Re: Stripped bottom fork bolt. How to remove it?
Post by JayDuta on 02/19/14 at 19:41:27

Thanks guys, I feel as though I should try and replace this bolt but if I can screw it back in from the top tightly that might just have to do!

Title: Re: Stripped bottom fork bolt. How to remove it?
Post by JayDuta on 02/21/14 at 00:56:53

Follow up. Disassembled the fork tube and hammered out the bolt from the inside. I used some wrench extensions to get it far down enough to reach and tap it out. It indeed was the crush washer that expanded due to hammering it in from the bottom. Bolts and crush washer replaced.

This was a rather a difficult task, but I think with the right strategy it could be done fairly easy.