Helpful Friends???
Thread Starter
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Stage III
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 7
From: 3 Rivers Estates
Helpful Friends???
I’m in the process of rebuilding my forks. The front end is completely disassembled, cleaned and shiny, laid out on my bench waiting for the remaining parts to arrive. While I was inside, a helpful friend decided the top bushing should be installed first and proceeded to beat it into the lower tube. It was installed with almost no damage. Unfortunately for me, the top tube won’t install through the upper bushing. And I have no way to remove the bushing.
Has anyone else had a friend like this and perhaps know of a way to remove that bushing?
TIA
Has anyone else had a friend like this and perhaps know of a way to remove that bushing?
TIA
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,225
Likes: 11,348
From: San Diego, CA
I’m in the process of rebuilding my forks. The front end is completely disassembled, cleaned and shiny, laid out on my bench waiting for the remaining parts to arrive. While I was inside, a helpful friend decided the top bushing should be installed first and proceeded to beat it into the lower tube. It was installed with almost no damage. Unfortunately for me, the top tube won’t install through the upper bushing. And I have no way to remove the bushing.
Has anyone else had a friend like this and perhaps know of a way to remove that bushing?
TIA
I'm thinking you'll need to score that bushing and break it to remove it, but I really don't know...
I DO know where I'd be shoving that bushing once I got it out...
I look forward to reading what people smarter than me will suggest for removing that bushing....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,168
Likes: 7,676
From: Poolville
Well seeing it's the top bushing you could possibly get a blind hole puller that will have the correct size to pull the bushing..
I would make him pay for the tools or you can take it to a machine shop and have them do it but still make him PAY....
What size tubes are you rebuilding.. 41 mm, 49mm??
https://www.vevor.com/bearing-puller...p_010697160494
I would make him pay for the tools or you can take it to a machine shop and have them do it but still make him PAY....
What size tubes are you rebuilding.. 41 mm, 49mm??
https://www.vevor.com/bearing-puller...p_010697160494
Thread Starter
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Stage III
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 7
From: 3 Rivers Estates
Thanks for the advice from all.
With the cost and s&h times, a puller was not a good option. And the machine shops I called wanted almost as much as a new tube.
So I sacrificed a small punch and turned it into a small cold chisel. With some judicious taps with my eastwing I managed to get one end of the bushing to curl in and pliers almost finished the job.
I’m waiting on my friend to show up so I can do the final install of that bushing 😎
With the cost and s&h times, a puller was not a good option. And the machine shops I called wanted almost as much as a new tube.
So I sacrificed a small punch and turned it into a small cold chisel. With some judicious taps with my eastwing I managed to get one end of the bushing to curl in and pliers almost finished the job.
I’m waiting on my friend to show up so I can do the final install of that bushing 😎
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,225
Likes: 11,348
From: San Diego, CA
Just make sure you already have both forks back together before your friend shows up for the final install of that bushing....
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