Fork Bottom Socket Bolt Stripped!!

[Qdude79]

'85 250R

This dam thing won't move! Used a Craftsman 6mm socket and it just won't turn!! Any ideas??

Does this just get tapped like a normal bolt that strips/breaks? I believe it's aluminum and I'm worried that tapping it will just go right through it rather than catching. I can't be the first, who's overcome this??

Thanks...:cry:

[Xowner]

Drill the head of it off. Then slide the fork apart. The part that its threaded into can then be placed in a vice with a rag around it and then use a set of vice grips to twist the bolt out.

[KASEY]

so take a drill and drill the head off,, take the fork apart like normal then screw the rest out of the bottom of the dampening rod.. pretty easy.....

[devilman]

is it stripped or you just can't get it to budge? they are in there good, you need to use a long breaker bar.

[Qdude79]

Stripped, as in my 6mm has basically rounded the inside of the head, out.

Xowner- I'm following what you said up to the vice grips part. How do I grab the bolt, it's recessed? What would I grab on to?

Thank again, guys.

[Qdude79]

Kasey- just saw your post. How would I get to it from the other end? Maybe I just need to take it apart and it'll be obvious. Been awhile since I've done forks, and never had one strip. Again, thanks.

[Jason125m]

Qdude79, Since you mentioned 6mm it sounds like you are trying to remove one of the four FLANGE NUTS that are on studs, that hold the "axle holder" cap on. If one is stripped, an aggressive penetrating oil is needed and then grip the nut tight with ViceGrips to try to get it off.

The bolts you are talking about are 8mm...... EDIT: Qdude, I was talking about the bolts Just Enough was refering too.

Hes talking about the allen bolt on the bottom of the fork tubes...

Grind off the head, pull apart, use visegrips, done.

[Qdude79]

Jason's correct, it is an allen head, but I double checked and it's a 6mm. The 8mm would be way too big.

What I'm still not understanding is how to grind off the head, it's recessed in the bottom of the fork.

[bkm]

That bolt does not thread into the fork slider tube. It threads into the dampening rod inside the fork slider. Once the head is gone the forks will come apart like they are supposed to. Worse case you'll need a new dampening rod, but someone should have one laying around.

[Qdude79]

BKM- Now it makes sense! Cool! Won't worry too much about the rod, as I'll be having to place an order for new screws anyhow. Thanks all!

[RoscoW]

I've done it on a couple occasions, use a 1/4" drill bit and drill into the Allen head until it pops off like a pop rivet. I'll bet once the forks come apart you can un-thread the rest of the bolt with your fingers. They only seem to seize at the head part, all the rest is immersed in fork oil.

Ross

[Qdude79]

Thanks all! So glad I checked. Knowing me, I'd probably try to melt it out with the sun and a magnifying glass...