Front air shock help!
Thread Starter
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Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 5
From: Clinton, NC
Front air shock help!
I have a 1993 EGC. I have removed both front shocks from the bike. I need to replace the tube seals. On the bottom of each slider. There's a Socket head bolt that needs to be removed so that I can disassemble them to remove the tubes and replace the seals. In the book it says to use an impact wrench. I have soaked these bolts with WD-40. They wont budge! The next to last alternative I think I have is to drill the bolt heads off and take them apart that way or if that dont work or I mess them up. I may have to purchase new ones. Which I dont want! Anybody ever go through this sht before? If so,... what did you do to get them out?
RJ
RJ
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 836
From: KMHT KFMY
an impact driver can be rented/borrowed from AutoZone, that will probably get it out for you, just make sure you are not using dime store sockets on it.
If you have the forks off the bike find a friend with a compressor and air tools to get them out for you.
If you have the forks off the bike find a friend with a compressor and air tools to get them out for you.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 4
From: Northern California
If all else fails, take them to an independent machine shop. These small shop guys have all the tools. For the few minutes it takes they may do it for nada, just for good will. A hand impact driver may also work. Small investment...good tool.
Thread Starter
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Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 5
From: Clinton, NC
I guess I said that wrong. I have the compressor and the impact gun. However,... I have them soaking and tomorrow I will try heat. I was also told that the reason their stuck fast is that there may be loc-tite used on the bolts.
RJ
RJ
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 4
From: Northern California
Loctite Red will do that. Needs heat to break down.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,008
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From: Jax, FL
You can also drill the head off if worse comes to worse. That's what I had to do to one of mine when I did my swap to chrome. It isn't that hard or scary to do.
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 425
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I know someone who has a bike sitting on crates right now with a broken off drill bit sticking out of what's left of the bolt. Next step for him is to pull the tube and take it to a machine shop.