Fork cap removal...grr

Two suggestions

- soak it with Kroil for 2 or 3 days. That stuff has saved my butt more than once on stuck fasteners. If you need help finding Kroil - ask.
- remove that top bolt of the triple tree clamp all the way

Ed

I'll add to what Ed's posted...

I usually will loosen all the bolts that hold the fork tube, slide the tube up an inch and retighten the bolts again... something firm to hold the tube... and try again. Can't be gripping that tube at the top, while trying to loosen the cap.

update: Ahhhhhhhh... I see this has already been suggested, but the PIC shown does not reflect the suggestion.

Despite the picture, the top clamps are very loose, bolts backed a 1/4 inch past the clamp and I even opened the clamp slightly with a flat edge. The bottom clamp is all that's holding it.

OK... Well, using a penetrating oil may be your best bet then. Something thin that will get into all the nooks-n-crannies and let it soak in for a few days... with multiple applications over this time frame.

Good luck and keep us posted...

Will do. All I have is PB Blaster. I've heard of Kroil. Available anywhere or online only? Or any penetrates recommended over PB?

Well, if you want to try something new, I make my own with ATF and nail polish remover (acetone), 50-50. It's really thin, so many applications will be needed.

!Seymore wrote: Well, if you want to try something new, I make my own with ATF and nail polish remover (acetone), 50-50. It's really thin, so many applications will be needed.

I have read that that mixture works great. Ed

I have a lot of both. Gonna try it. I'll use the old nitrile glove trick as a container. Clip a finger tip off, stretch it over the fork, fill the glove and tie it off. I'll give it a few days to work It's way in and give you the results.

LiquidWrench penetrating spray lubricant is a good product --- it did better than PB Blaster in a test & I've used it successfully numerous times. Let the penetrant sit overnight.

Try applying heat w a propane torch. That's what I did. You could alternate between the heat & penetrant. Heat, let it cool, penetrant. heat, let it cool, penetrant.etc. etc. etc.

A 22mm wrench or crescent wrench should fit the fork cap. A pipe fitted over the handle will give some leverage. I used a spare triple tree as a clamping device.

Witchwerx wrote: I have a lot of both. Gonna try it. I'll use the old nitrile glove trick as a container. Clip a finger tip off, stretch it over the fork, fill the glove and tie it off. I'll give it a few days to work It's way in and give you the results.

Witchwerx wrote: I have a lot of both. Gonna try it. I'll use the old nitrile glove trick as a container. Clip a finger tip off, stretch it over the fork, fill the glove and tie it off. I'll give it a few days to work It's way in and give you the results.

Reportedly, Nitrile has poor resistance to acetone, with a four minute breakthrough time.

Good Fortune!

At this point I'm going to go at it with a torch and a breaker bar again. I have a friend who's an old marine mechanic and he's confident we can get it off. As promised, once the caps are loose, I'll do a full write up with pics on disassembly and reassembly.