Air fork cap seized

[AliShah2020]

Hi all,

Has anyone ever had the air fork cap seize up? I used to be able to hand loosen and hand tighten it but alas now it's seized.

Is there a specific tool I should use to unloosen it without scratching or damaging it?

Thanks for your help 🙂👍🏼

 

[Brandane]

It might be a bit difficult to do without scratching it, but my 3 ideas would be...
1. Pour boiling water over the cap to heat it up and therefore make it expand. Might just be enough to enable loosening by hand.
Failing that:-
2. A pair of long nosed pliers held from above with them gripping two of the opposing indents. Try protecting the cap with a cloth or something before gripping with pliers. Turn anti-clockwise to loosen, obviously!
3. Place a cloth over the end of a screwdriver, place screwdriver into one of the indents, then tap the end of the screwdriver handle with a hammer.
Lubricate the threads before replacing the cap, and do not overtighten .

 

[FishFright]

Small pieces of leather in the pliers jaws help with grip and protect the plastic.

 

[weareHKR]

What's the make of the fork?
There's probably a specific tool for these, usually a cheap plastic spanner.
Have you tried a regular socket?
Be very careful using anything metal & definitely not pliers!

 

[Deleted member 23692]

if you've got the bog standard shock pump use the the square bump on the handle (it's what it's for)....

Just put that bump on one of the ribs ofthe air cap and give the other end a few ketchup bottle style slaps

If you've not got a pump you can use a strip of wood

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Good old Seth

1st hack on the vid

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jNOGxTNHhw&ab_channel=BermPeak

 

[AliShah2020]

@Ffoeg thank you very much. The vid was very helpful. You saved me from boiling, crucifying and crushing my poor fork cap to death. 😉🙂✌🏼😆

What an awesome hack. First tap and it loosened it. Thanks!!!!! 🍻

 

[Deleted member 23692]

@AliShah2020 it's pleasure chap