Not sure what year these are, but they are the ones with the clamping system that was prone to cracking. When i unscrew the axle, instead of the axle screwing out, it screws out so far, then appears to slip in the thread.
What is happening is that the axle isn't moving in the non-threaded side of the fork and splaying the legs about 3mm. The wheel hub is also staying attached to the non-threaded side of the fork, so a gap of 3mm appears between the hub and the threaded fork leg. The hub should slide on the axle, but it is fixed where it is, despite belting it with a mallet.
I cant for the life of me work out what could be causing it, other than the axle being seized to the hub, but that can't have happened can it?
Thoughts?
the allen head end of the axle can come away, which may explain it.
If I understand u correctly it appears that it has released on the threaded side and as u turn it it is riding against the end of the thread, this would be due to something siezed on the axle shaft/ or non threaded non threaded side.
Possibly wheel bearing adriftcod siezedcto shaft
The entire axle is rotating, so I don't think the axle can be broken.
I don't know how long the thread is on the axle (?) so I don't know if it has released or not, the axle has moved probably 4mm or so through the threaded side. Hopefully it has unscrerwed completely and the threads aren't damaged.
So do I just need to belt the crap out of the hub until it releases it's grip on the axle?
Cheers.
It sounds like you might have a seized bearing in one side (likely to be the RH side of your wheel). I would support the RH fork leg and gently tap the unscrewed axle with a drift or similar that will fit inside the threaded side and not damage the threads.
A seized bearing can be caused by over-tightening the axle. When you screw it in through the wheel, it really doesn't need to be all that tight. Like you only need to hold the short end of the allen key to nip it up and pre-load the bearings, the same goes for the pinch bolts too, for some reason people think they need to swing on the allen key, they only need to be lightly tightened.
The proper procedure for installing your axle/wheel is to thread the axle in and tighten lightly as described, then lightly tighten the pinch bolts on the threaded (LH) side of the fork. Next, stand the bike up and pump the forks a few times to let them settle into their sweet spot. Then lightly tighten the pinch bolts on the non-threaded (RH) side, again, just holding the short end of an allen key.
The axle should also be lightly greased, that should stop it from seizing in future.
You probably know all this, but there are lots of (very experienced spannering people) doing it wrong.
Mine does this - don't worry it's just the axle catching in the hub / fork legs. If you've not removed it for a while it's probably just a build up of water / grit.
Push the axle out from the threaded end then clean it & give it a spray with GT85 - chuck it back in...
Thanks, does look like the bearing may be seized to the axle.
There's no amount of pushing on the threaded end that is moving the axle, I've belted it with the mallet already, it isn't going to move and the hub not sliding on the axle once the fork legs have splayed wouldn't be caused by a stuck axle.
I had this problem with my 36 forks that were of a similar vintage to yours. The axle had siezed into the hub, I fixed it by unscrewing the axle as far as it would go, then bashing the axle out with a hammer, whilst supporting the unthreaded fork leg so that it didnt splay out.
It came out fairly easily , but the axle was knackered.
I now grease the axle every now and again to prevent this happening.
Happen on mine a few months back. Was given the advice to loosen the pinch bolts and ride up and down the street over curbs etc. Was a little apprehensive to try it but it worked a treat.
Euro, that sounds interesting, might give it a go, just annoying as the forks aren't on the bike!
Sounds like it's definitely a seized bearing!
Cheers