fork clamp bolts

[gs1150]

Hi Folks

I was at a bike shop yesterday to get a new front tyre fitted. i was told it would take '2 hrs' to remove the front fork clamp bolts because they were 'seized' . i told them not to bother and id do it myself. they were going to charge 2hrs worth of labour for the task of removing two bolts and make me somewhat £80-£100 poorer into the bargain, ontop of the £90 for the new tyre change.

i now see that the left fork clamp bolt is 'rounded' off and that the right hand one is not. Are the fork clamp bolts standard allen bolts? I intend to remove them, remove the wheel and take the wheel down next time round.

how do you get a rounded allen head bolt out from the lower fork?

anyone been here before?

 

[Packer]

Not on those specific bolts but with a similar situation I've used a small cold chisel to form a slot in the head and then used a large flat blade, square shaft Snap-On screwdriver with suitable spanner to undoe the screw.

The shock from using the chisel may also break any corrosion which has caused the rounding in the first place.

I use Alloy slip on all of these bolts and take 25% off the recommended torque settings to allow for the reduced friction when doing them up. Don't use copper slip on alloy it can casue corrosion.

 

[AndrewD]

Hi Folks

how do you get a rounded allen head bolt out from the lower fork?

anyone been here before?

Get a TORX bit that is a snug fit and belt it in, TORX will grab at what is left, done it lots of times.

HOWEVER you are standing on the edge of a right ball ache if it goes tits up, what ever method you use So, I'd spend a few quid and buy things to make it more likely that it will come out, like an impact driver like this...

Then with your correct TORX socket, you can belt it in there and the shock plus the drivers rotation should get it free. However warm the whole lot up with some hot water or a hair dryer.

Let us know how you get on

 

[Steptoe]

Hit a torx bit into the rounded off head. Works every time.