I know...i'll ignore the "why bother"s! 🙂
I thought I'd get the fork moving again on my "winter hardtail", but have run into trouble when re-assembling it
This version of the fork has a lockout lever on the right stantion and preload adjuster (at least thats what is it called) on the left.
The internals of the left consist of the coil spring assembly at the top which sits on top of a spindle thing (suntour call it the support tube I think) at the bottom with a plastic cap at the end of the spindle. There is a hex bolt that secures it from the underneath the outer casing.
Now, my hex bolt rotates but does not come out. I think it screws into the spindle, or the plastic cap at the end of the spindle, but it just rotates not getting tighter or looser. It feeds like whatever it screws into is rotating with the hexbolt. Perhaps the spindle hasn't engaged properly with the spring assembly to stop it rotating.
Anyway - I need to get it out. Short of sawing the end off the hex bolt and then trying to extract the stump of it from the spindle...does anyone have any ideas?
Also, there is some weak threadlock on the hex bolt (face palm) which isnt helping. ( I was only following instructions officer...)
Can STW help?
Turn the fork upside down and compress it then try unscrewing. Impact gun might do it.
Heat, impact driver/impact gun if you have one. Maybe compressing the fork will help, can't remember exactly what the internals are like but that's quite common, having more spring pressure on the bits at the bottom can hold it in place as you turn the bolt) don't try and do it all at work, strap it down if you can
Have to say when I did it it was a waste of time- the fork had done really well but by the time I decided to service it, it was noticably worn. It's not like say a typical Rockshox where they get sticky and tired but can still be serviced back to health, it went ok-ok-knackered.
Thanks, good tips. I tried increasing spring pressure by hand bit couldn't apply enough pressure.
I'll try to find a way to strap it up to add pressure...if not, perhaps I'll need to get an impact driver...or new forks 🙂
Turn the fork upside down and compress it then try unscrewing.
I think you might need to do the opposite, pull on the forks to stop the nut from rotating inside the forks.
Those forks are pretty entry level. IME, they tend to fill with water and the insides corrode. If they do, they aren't worth messing around trying to fix, just bin them and put some new ones on.
I couldn't shift it by standing on the fork to apply pressure, but I. Doing that, I did find a was of reassembling the fork, so I think I'm ok now.
The lockout isn't working now, no great shakes, but the rebounds adjuster is, it actually seems to work, just like a rebound adjuster should. I'm amazed 🙂
Thanks for the help.