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Message started by 533clive on 03/13/14 at 14:11:14

Title: Upper fork plate
Post by 533clive on 03/13/14 at 14:11:14

Stripping my bike down completely, and everything is off, minus the steering stem!!!!!!

The Clymer says (after removing the forks, handlebars etc), remove the upper stem nut and washer (done), then remove the upper fork bridge.......................

............................this will NOT budge a mm!!!!

Anyone got any ideas, top tips to get this off. Tried heat, and BFH!!

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by SimeonC on 03/13/14 at 20:47:48

You need to get a standard screwdriver and make sure the joints that you took the bolts out of are actually releasing be wedge it in the gap and twist back and forth be careful not to scratch it though.. while you are doing this spray a penetrating fluid like "Nut Buster" into the gap and continue to work it...When you start to see signs of release of movement carefully go at it with a rubber mallet banging it upwards on all sides in a clockwise order until it slides off!! I had the same problem and this process is exactly what I did to remove mine and cause no damage to the fork assembly... 8-)

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by S-P on 03/13/14 at 21:16:52

6240474E4348444C5A111F1E1F290 wrote:

while you are doing this spray a penetrating fluid like "Nut Buster" into the gap and continue to work it...

A home made penetrating oil that works better than any off the shelf stuff is half acetone and half tranny fluid.

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by Dave on 03/14/14 at 04:46:45

1A383F363B303C342269676667510 wrote:

The upper yoke on the Savage does not have any gaps to shove a screwdriver into. It is just al aluminum plate with a hole where the steel stem slides through....whith a nut and washer on top.

I suppose there is corrosion of the steel and/or aluminum that has locked the two together. Penetrating oil and/or heat are probably your best approach.

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by 533clive on 03/15/14 at 09:24:50

Still not shifting!!!!

Tried heat, penetrating oil, and BFH to no avail. Think it's almost time for even more gratuitous violence, and then buy a new one!!!

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/16/14 at 10:19:45

Nothing delivers driving force like an impact,, that constant beating breaks stuff loose, & a BFH is just one slap,, BUT, a Panel Cutter with a hammer in it is an inicredible tool. Its a miniature jack hammer. IF you have air available, Get yerself a panel cutter. If ya buy a hammer to put in it instead of shaping another tool, be aware, you tilt it, it snaps off. But you can grind & shape the tools, you can grind a groove & make it seat on a bearing & drive them right out,, wear leather gloves.

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by 533clive on 03/19/14 at 14:41:30

Nothing delivers force like taking a run up, and smacking the handlebars you put back on it, with a 4lb lump hammer!! :) :) :) .........................

..................... It's off!! :)

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/19/14 at 17:33:13

cheater!

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by pgambr on 03/19/14 at 17:39:27

I haven't done it myself, but I hear electricity can break loose areas where aluminum and steel bond. :o

Go ahead Dave / Jog:

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by Dave on 03/19/14 at 17:43:45

3126202C2333410 wrote:

I haven't done it myself, but I hear electricity can break loose areas where aluminum and steel bond. :o

Go ahead Dave / Jog:

I know that applied electricity can make me let go of anything I might have a tight grip on! :o

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by pgambr on 03/19/14 at 17:50:14

A guy I know has an 01 Shadow VLX and it was time for a tire change. They couldn't get the front axle bolt to budge, so they pulled on a welder and and gave it a couple shocks. They said it worked. Also, that guy with the VLX said he estimates he has over 200K miles on it now.

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/19/14 at 18:18:20

I wonder if they had it on AC or DC & if it was DC, did they use the steel or the aluminum as the ground? Seems like one of those places in life a guy mite wanna have a clue what hes doin,,

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by pgambr on 03/19/14 at 18:48:29

203F393E23241525152D3F33784A0 wrote:

I wonder if they had it on AC or DC & if it was DC, did they use the steel or the aluminum as the ground? Seems like one of those places in life a guy mite wanna have a clue what hes doin,,

I'll ask my buddy next time I talk with him.

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/19/14 at 19:19:36

Thanks,, I have a welder, Id try that if I HAD to And I had a clue as to how to go about it & Not make the thing permanent,.,

Title: Re: Upper fork plate
Post by pgambr on 03/20/14 at 17:42:20

7166606C6373010 wrote:

[quote author=203F393E23241525152D3F33784A0 link=1394745074/0#11 date=1395278300]I wonder if they had it on AC or DC & if it was DC, did they use the steel or the aluminum as the ground? Seems like one of those places in life a guy mite wanna have a clue what hes doin,,

I'll ask my buddy next time I talk with him.
[/quote]

Ok JOG, you'll probably know more about this than me. I'm repeating stuff I don't know a whole lot about. He said he's done this to get the front axle of the front wheel to break lose when tools simple couldn't get it done. My buddy said to use DC current, one clamp on the bolt head, one clamp on the thread end, and the grounding clamp real close to where you want the current to go through. He mentioned be careful because it will leave a mark where the ground is. He said he used something that had maximum of 225 and used the lowest level of 40. Your not trying to burn it, weld it, just trying to get an electrical current to run through it. It's supposed to come off like butter.