Dismantling forks

[guest288]

How do I get the allen bolt out of the bottom of the fork? Allen keys only reach on the long side, so I cant get enough purchase on the key to turn it, and the bolt seems stuck fast...

[Jez F]

Hi, the cheap way is to cut the allen keys short arm off, best use an angle grinder, and then use the appropriate size socket to drive it with or if you are feeling flash buy a set of hex bits, but make sure they are long enough first,
Cheers Jez

[guest27]

And good enough so they do not snap.

if you put the short end of the hex key through the ring of a ring spanner with a bit of fiddling - cannot explain it properly - you can get good purchace on the key via the spanner - does not have to be the 'right' size spanner you are locking the length of the short arm across the diameter of the ring, not using the spanner as a spanner on the faces of the key.

Mud?

Have seen suggestions that an impact driver can work wonders too - zips the hex drive bolt out with out spinning the innards - mind this needs an impact driver and a hex bit to fit...

R

[OMEGAMAN]

 

Another alternative, (if you have a mounted vice?) is to put the long part of the allen key in the forks & then to clamp the shorter end in the vice, then you have plenty of bits on your forks to get hold of to turn with more force?

[guest27]

Another alternative, (if you have a mounted vice?) is to put the long part of the allen key in the forks & then to clamp the shorter end in the vice, then you have plenty of bits on your forks to get hold of to turn with more force?

A mounted vice - the mind is boggling..

R

[guest18]

I always use the ring spanner trick same as Rog, I would say though that unless your allen keys are good quality (and I do mean *good* quality!) best to wear gloves and some sort of eye protection, I have had them snap and even saw one splinter 
Decent keys though should manage it no problem 

[guest27]

Mmm I have shattered "Allen" and "Unbrako" keys in the past - mind that would have been whilst applying unsuitable amounts of hammer technology to them.

Another thinkg I have found, if the hex head is rounding or the key is slipping - they do round off, and cutting off the rounded portion does not work, carefully grind back an oversize key (not much over size is needed) to form a tapered key, hammer this into the hex head.  Seems to work for me.

R

[crackedhead]

Dave,

I use a Hex Bit set. Fit the hex bit onto a 10mm Impact Socket and attach that to your ratchet. Gives you much better leverage and usually doesn't damage the allen bolt.

Good luck!