https://www.hdforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6614705

 

What I did was purchase a 12mm Allen key, use a cut off wheel to cut off the angled end, put the Allen into a 12mm socket and put that socket onto a 3/8 impact gun. A $8 extended 12mm Allen socket that worked great.

 

no, THIS is the info you needed.

 

The dial caliper is for those who have some aptitude for learning, wish to become self sufficient, and take pride in mastering their craft. The plastic ones I mentioned are very EZ to learn to use, and start at ~$10. Even you could probably learn to use one of these, eventually.

 

When I see a bolt and don't know the size because it's an odd size, I don't think "hey, instead of posting a question on a forum that is supposed to help out fellow riders, I'll waste more time and try to figure this out myself". No, instead I think "hey, I'm a member of a forum that helps me out a lot so I'll post up a question about an odd bolt size that a fellow rider may know the answer to". Seems pretty logical to me but I guess I could be wrong.

 

In my 68 years I've heard of people who are so helpless that they regularly need to lean on their friends, for support. And I've heard of backyard mechanics who were so unskilled and poorly trained that they had no idea how to determine the size of a fastener other than trial and error w/ a full set of tools, or posting in an internet forum.

Com'on! You noobies gotta start somewhere.

 

An impact drill makes this a lot easier as mentioned. Also check your copper crush washers and replace or get them really hot with a torch to expand them slightly again. I had a little dribble in one of my legs after I got everything back together, but I heated it up and didn't tourqe it too hard and it stopped.

 

Again, no useful information to the OP's question. Let me show you where your answer would work:

"hey, does anyone know how I can figure out the size of a bolt/is there a particular tool?".

Us "noobies" () use the interweb as a source of information, and when we can save a buck on a tool that is not ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to complete the job, we will.

But thanks! Maybe I'll pick one up and "learn to use it, eventually". Hopefully by the time I'm 70.......

 

You keep putting smiley faces at the ends of your posts to somehow make it seem like they are written in a friendly manner. They are not friendly or helpful. Stop polishing the turd that is your excuse for a postwith a smiley face. STAG is disassembling and reinstallling his fork legs on his own. It's not newbie work. He is not trying to lean on someone, just trying to get some useful info to save a trip to the store. I realize you probably machine all your own tools and fasteners. Excuse our ineptitude in your supreme presence.Your dial caliper wouldn't get far enough up the fork leg to measure the inside diameter of that bolt head recess, although your head seems to get pretty far up your ***. You don't even know what you are talking about.You are just being nasty and don't belong on this forum if you can't contribute in the the spirit with which it was created. Stop being such a crotchety old geezer.

 

Paul--The post you refer to was not addressed to the OP, but conveyed a message to you noobies who think you know everything but can't stand on your own two feet for the simplest tasks. My recommendation for adding a dial caliper could help anyone who works on their own bike. Your own contribution to this thread offered the OP no help, at all.