Brake bolt stuck in forks!!

sanspoof
sanspoof Posts: 111
edited May 2015 in Workshop
So I changed my brakes at the weekend, i was taking out the bolt that secures the front brake on the bike...the bloody bolt only fell down into my forks...? it rattles inside, its annoying as anything...

I didn't want to dismantle my forks etc as I am not that confident, does anyone have any experience with this and what to do??

Comments

  • Rightarmbad
    Rightarmbad Posts: 216
    I can't visualise a circumstance where this could happen.
    But if you have metal things inside carbon, magnets are your friend.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 16,623
    also can't see how this can happen, seems very odd

    as above magnet, or simply turn the bike on its side, then tilt further until it slides down and you can get it out with a bit of bent wire/whatever
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • sanspoof
    sanspoof Posts: 111
    Rightarmbad wrote:
    I can't visualise a circumstance where this could happen.
    But if you have metal things inside carbon, magnets are your friend.

    I know right, weird isn't it!!! It is a BMC teammachine...should I be going to the manufacturer saying, why is there a hole in my fork cavity??

    Funnily enough, I did a loong ride the other day in the pouring rain, when I got back i tilted the bike and water came out of the fork, i thought this was odd and I tilted the bike more, LOADS of water had gone though the hole....it took about 10 seconds to drain out??
  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,219
    Take the forks out and invert and shake or use one of those telescopic magnetic pick up tools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X3LbcjsESw
  • sanspoof
    sanspoof Posts: 111
    DJ58 wrote:
    Take the forks out and invert and shake or use one of those telescopic magnetic pick up tools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X3LbcjsESw

    Thanks, funnily enough I've seen this video, I really enjoy all of the GCN videos....

    So, when I take the top cap off, I am left with the fixture that it screws into in the fork itself, can this be removed??
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    sanspoof wrote:
    DJ58 wrote:
    Take the forks out and invert and shake or use one of those telescopic magnetic pick up tools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X3LbcjsESw

    Thanks, funnily enough I've seen this video, I really enjoy all of the GCN videos....

    So, when I take the top cap off, I am left with the fixture that it screws into in the fork itself, can this be removed??

    If it's a carbon steerer with an expanding type bung, you should be able to undo and remove it. If it's an alloy steerer with a star nut knocked down inside it you may be out of luck; they only go downwards. Which is OK on forks with a steerer that's open at the bottom because you can tap them right through. Not so handy with a sealed carbon fork...
  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,219
    It depends on the type of steerer the fork has, aluminium with a star nut, are not designed to be removed easily. Carbon steerer with expansion plug type can be removed, see the Park Tools link below.

    http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... stallation

    You do not need to remove either type to service a headset or to remove the fork. They are usually removed and re-positioned within the steerer tube if the steerer is to be cut shorter for aesthetic reasons.

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