Yup, that SOUNDS logical.
thanks though.

 

Take it to the ugliest 4 wheel drive shop around, those guys will get it apart...

 

FACT

I think I read everything, did you by chance try to tighten back the little movement you gained? Did a fitting last week - lots of Krol - back and forth even a 1/16 of a revolution will work the lube deeper in.

 

If you're going to buy new tubes any way... use a 18" pipe wrench on the tube and a 15" crescent on the plug. Something will give.

 

You said you tried heat.
Guessing that heat was applied to pipe so pipe would expand slightly or melt some possible threadlocker?
Have you tried cold applied to cap only?
A can of computer air upside down can get cap cold.
Automatic transmission fluid helps to get threaded stuff apart too. Apply with whatever (paint brush, dropper, spray) and let it work its way in.

 

Had the same thing happen to me when installing a lowering kit in some forks at work. Called the customer to get some history and he told me they were rebuilt a couple years back with the help of a buddy. They had a hard time getting the fork plug reinstalled so they used an impact to send it home. We told him it wouldn't end well but we'll get it out one way or another. After struggling for a half hour we just used a 1/2" impact and we got it out. Tube and plug were cross threaded and wasted. My vote is don't waste your time, just buy the tube and plug and be done with it. Save your scotch for the better things in life!

 

I’ll drink to that! Air cut off tool will have it open in less than a minute to retrieve the guts.

 

One thing I can think of, if you have a good air compressor and an air hammer. you could put your wrench on the cap, tube in your vice,

then use a flat bit against the wrench. brrrrrrt brrrrrrt a few times.

 

I had one just like this … was able to whack the edge of the cap with a cold chisel to break it loose … once loose it screwed out without any problems and threads in the tube were good … bought a new cap and was good to go …

 

It's not the cap. The plug is not a hex. Can't hit it with an impact gun or a great long breaker bar without making a special tool. Open ends tend to bend open if you stress them enough, so there's limits there.