Headset Headache

leehutch

https://flic.kr/p/2h4g4Eg

Should the forks just slide out of the headset?

It is stuck solid, it turns side to side fine but won’t come out.

I got the bike from a friend and I don’t think anything has ever been done on it.

JBA

Try tapping the top of the steerer tube with a soft-faced mallet to piece of wood.

leehutch

JBA wrote:

Try tapping the top of the steerer tube with a soft-faced mallet to piece of wood.

I was thinking this but just wanted to check that it should just slide out?

The Rookie

Not at all unusual, the top wedge gets jammed between the steerer and the top bearing, sometimes it can take a fair bit of shifting (never use a metal hammer direct on steerer), once its moved if you then push the forks back up the steerer will usually pull the wedge out of the bearing and you can remove it.

leehutch

The Rookie wrote:

Not at all unusual, the top wedge gets jammed between the steerer and the top bearing, sometimes it can take a fair bit of shifting (never use a metal hammer direct on steerer), once its moved if you then push the forks back up the steerer will usually pull the wedge out of the bearing and you can remove it.

Prefect! Thank you, yeah I have a rubber mallet and a lump of wood to go at it!

leehutch

It is out!!! Just took some gentle tapping!!

Thanks guys

steve_sordy

The bike was in the workstand. The first time I removed the stem and bars, I turned to put down the Allen key and the whole front of the bike fell off!