removing forks from a genesis volant

turbo1191

Hi folks. I'm trying to remove the forks from my genesis to replace the headset bearings. Stem bolts all undone and top cap bolt removed - expected forks to drop out but they didn't move.is there something I'm missing

part time waster

Rubber mallet. Medium wallop on steerer tube.

turbo1191

cheers, trying that tonight.

cooldad

Push them up first to loosen the compression ring.

The Rookie

I never get that, they have to move down first in order to be able to move up at all, once you've moved them down a small amount I'd agree.

cooldad

Just a fractional move - no idea if it makes sense but kind of works for me if they seem stuck.

svetty

cooldad wrote:

Just a fractional move - no idea if it makes sense but kind of works for me if they seem stuck.

If the lower bearing outer race is seated on the crown race and has been held there in slight compression whilst the bike has been ridden how can the fork move upwards without first moving down?

Admittedly a sharp tap on the dropouts (or underside of the crown) might send a shock wave up the steerer and hence loosen the compression ring. Given that this could damage the fork if over-done, it wouldn't be something I'd readily try unless I'd exhausted easier methods first.

cooldad

No idea, maybe it's just habit. Probably the forks actually drop a fraction once loosened and pushing up just makes it easy to remove the compression ring.
Logically I see it makes no sense.

The Rookie

I agree once you've got it to move down, even only an mm or two, but before that I doubt you can push them up enough given all the loading they've had (unless the headset was slopping around like your pencil in a shirt sleeve).