Forks stuck in head tube?

[Hip Priest]

I decided I'd try to clean and re-grease my headset (there is a bit of grinding when steering), so I watched a couple of videos and took a look at my bike book, and it all looked simple.

The problem is, once I'd removed the stem and whatnot, the forks would not drop out of the head tube, even with force applied. I can't even get the spacers to shift.

Any advice?

 

[biggs682]

oh dear have you tried a few gentle taps downwards with a soft hammer !

it sounds like they are unthreaded style rather than quill type and a bit more than just sticking on seals .

try getting some plus gas or type spray in and around area and leave to soak then try again and just keep trying .

 

[Andy_R]

There's a compression ring that needs to be loosened. I normally use a soft faced mallet to knock the end of the steerer tube down and when there's a couple of mm of play, push the forks back up into the headtube and then remove the compression ring.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

As above, have you removed the split tapered ring?

 

[Hip Priest]

As above, have you removed the split tapered ring?

I don't know what that is I'm afraid!

I've not got a mallet, but I tried putting some soft rags of the top of the steerer tube and hitting it hard with a hammer.

 

[accountantpete]

Under the stem you have spacers, then the top part of the headset.

The spacers should be loose and should easily pull off. If not - someone has bodged a job - are they glued them to the steerer or some really tight fitting substitutes?

 

[Hip Priest]

Under the stem you have spacers, then the top part of the headset.

The spacers should be loose and should easliy pull off. If not - has someone glued them to the steerer or used some really tight fitting substitutes?

Possibly. As you say, in every video I've watched, the spacers just slide right off, but these are stuck fast. The bicycle was initially built by Halford's, if that helps! It may turn out to be one for the LBS to look at, but the mechanic is off 'til Jan.

 

[accountantpete]

That's your problem then- Halfords!

Normal spacers are 1mm bigger than the steerer - check for glue residue.


If not - they have been wedged on - best bet is to get a thin blade and try and prise apart the spacers then get a flat headed screwdriver and work to widen the gap (pushing the top spacer upwards). A little heat applied to just the spacer may help.

 

[Hip Priest]

Thanks Pete, I'll give it a try.

 

[Hip Priest]

Just an update: Managed to get the spacers off using a hammer & chisel (gently). Cheers for the tips.

 

[Crankarm]

A pic or two would be very helpful HP so we can advise more fully.

 

[Hip Priest]

Managed to get the fork out now Crankarm, but thanks anyway. Alas, it was all in vain as once I'd cleaned things up and applied some grease, the bearings were grinding worse than ever! Off to the LBS in January :-(

 

[accountantpete]

Managed to get the fork out now Crankarm, but thanks anyway. Alas, it was all in vain as once I'd cleaned things up and applied some grease, the bearings were grinding worse than ever! Off to the LBS in January :-(

You have over-tightened it.

Ease it off a tad until the bearings stop grinding. Then check for play - if there is any play after doing this then new bearings are needed.

 

[Hip Priest]

Thw

You have over-tightened it.

Ease it off a tad until the bearings stop grinding. Then check for play - if there is any play after doing this then new bearings are needed.

The bearings were grinding even before I'd put the bolt back in. I think they're just knackered. Too much grit from the front tyre probably.

 

[P.H]

If it's a common headset, replacement bearing are easy to get and fit.