Hitchcocks Forum

Anyone got any ideas. The front fork tubes seem to be corroded solid to the casquette.Also the tube inner bolts (inside fork legs with hexagon centre) are solid. I have removed all bolts,etc,soaked for two weeks, tried gentle oxy/act heat, nothing left in my engineering arsenal to try.

The fork tubes screw into the casquette (thread formed on OD of leg) and the hex is formed in the top of the tube (not a separate bolt)
If you think about it, you need to unscrew that 1/2" hex clockwise from the top to remove the leg.
If you are trying anticlockwise you won't be the first

1.You've undone the clamp bolts on the lower fork yokes? That was my first mistake. 2. Strongly recommend using the right tool rather than various work-rounds. Hitchcock's tool ST25108 is £14 well spent. 3. What PeteF said! That was my second mistake. After sorting those three points it was a doddle. Good luck!

Petef

Contrary to how I am reading the original 1954 RE manual you are saying that the top of the fork is threaded and screws into the casquette? Hitchcocks "Tech sheet" shows the hex as being a separate bolt??

Sorry, as you didn't say what age the machine was I assumed a more modern bike.

But looking at the tech notes, I think they are held in a similar manner.

Hi Roger, What type of casquette is fitted? If full headlamp the forks are threaded, if headlamp is separate then unthreaded and a push fit. parts list for 1954 show threaded but you may have earlier type. As others have stated, make sure bottom clamp is not holding legs tight.
Vince

Hi Roger, I had similar problems earlier this year with mine on a 1955 bullet. Pinch bolts have already been mentioned which must be loosened off, but the light bulb moment for me was... looking from above, down the forks you must turn the tool clockwise as if you were tightening them. As the stanchions screw into the casquette from below it is counter intuitive. You may have been tightening them.

Finally sorted.
Yes the top of the fork legs are threaded, had to borrow a mates heavy duty air hammer gun to get undone.
Thanks all who responded.

They can be a bit stiff