threadless fork stuck in head tube..

[Philthy]

Hi, Yesterday I thought it's about time I regreased the bearings on my headset. So I undid the
Headlock bolt took off the stem & NOTHING. Could I get the forks (Marzocchi MX Comp Air) out of the
headtube, could I ****. I tried carefully prising the compression ring upward to loosen it but it
wouldn't budge without damage, bloody plastic crap.. Gave the top of the steerer tube a gentle
hammer tap still nothing. Anyone got any tips as to how I can free this. BTW the fork still turns no
problem, it's just I've ridden through some bad stuff recently & I know the grease will be gone.
Thanks Phil

[Ben]

On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 14:27:37 +0100, "Philthy" <phil@trousers.com> wrote:

>Hi, Yesterday I thought it's about time I regreased the bearings on my headset. So I undid the
>Headlock bolt took off the stem & NOTHING. Could I get the forks (Marzocchi MX Comp Air) out of the
>headtube, could I ****. I tried carefully prising the compression ring upward to loosen it but it
>wouldn't budge without damage, bloody plastic crap.. Gave the top of the steerer tube a gentle
>hammer tap still nothing. Anyone got any tips as to how I can free this. BTW the fork still turns
>no problem, it's just I've ridden through some bad stuff recently & I know the grease will be gone.

Silly question, but you have undone and removed the stem haven't you?
:-)

If you have, soak the whole area in penetrating oil over night. Then with a block of wood to protect
the top of the steerer, give it a bloody good whack with a hammer.

Chances are this will rip the headset apart if it's seized, but if it's seized you'll probably need
a new one anyway.
--
"We take these risks, not to escape from life, but to prevent life escaping from us." ***** replace
'spam' with 'ben' to reply *****

[Jim Price]

Philthy wrote:

> Hi, Yesterday I thought it's about time I regreased the bearings on my headset. So I undid the
> Headlock bolt took off the stem & NOTHING. Could I get the forks (Marzocchi MX Comp Air) out of
> the headtube, could I ****. I tried carefully prising the compression ring upward to loosen it but
> it wouldn't budge without damage, bloody plastic crap..

Uurgh - plastic.

> Gave the top of the steerer tube a gentle hammer tap still nothing. Anyone got any tips as to how
> I can free this.

I've had this before myself, and have to admit to using a complete bodge. I sprayed GT85 all over
the stuck bits, then re-assembled the bike with NO compression on the headset bearings. Then I rode
it across the road and back, and it had worked itself free when I tried to take it apart again (I
had to stop riding as soon as I noticed any play in the headset bearings, otherwise I'm sure the
resultant damage would have meant a new headset). I put some neutral grease over the ring before
reassembling it all. I expect there is a "proper" way of doing this, and I look forward to hearing
what it is. Nowadays I don't get the problem because I took all my threadless headsets[1] apart and
greased the compression rings.

[1]How many bikes is enough, anyway?
--
Jim Price

http://www.jimprice.dsl.pipex.com (http://www.jimprice.dsl.pipex.com/)

Conscientious objection is hard work in an economic war.

[M-Gineering Imp]

Philthy wrote:
>
> Hi, Yesterday I thought it's about time I regreased the bearings on my headset. So I undid the
> Headlock bolt took off the stem & NOTHING. Could I get the forks (Marzocchi MX Comp Air) out of
> the headtube, could I ****. I tried carefully prising the compression ring upward to loosen it but
> it wouldn't budge without damage, bloody plastic crap.. Gave the top of the steerer tube a gentle
> hammer tap still nothing. Anyone got any tips as to how I can free this. BTW the fork still turns
> no problem, it's just I've ridden through some bad stuff recently & I know the grease will be
> gone. Thanks Phil

try a slight tap on the headset to free it from the compressionring
--
Marten

[M-Gineering Imp]

Philthy wrote:
>
> Hi, Yesterday I thought it's about time I regreased the bearings on my headset. So I undid the
> Headlock bolt took off the stem & NOTHING. Could I get the forks (Marzocchi MX Comp Air) out of
> the headtube, could I ****. I tried carefully prising the compression ring upward to loosen it but
> it wouldn't budge without damage, bloody plastic crap.. Gave the top of the steerer tube a gentle
> hammer tap still nothing. Anyone got any tips as to how I can free this. BTW the fork still turns
> no problem, it's just I've ridden through some bad stuff recently & I know the grease will be
> gone. Thanks Phil

try a slight tap on the headset to free it from the compressionring
--
Marten