Ammonia?

[Ed no-more-lemons]

Should have looked at all this last week, probably saved a few hours, hacking away at some piece of s**t stem, still job done now. As has been said, at least I should know for next time and better than having had to pass the previous one onto someone else.

 

[Daddybus]

It's a total p.i.t.a mate... all for the lack of a bit of assembly grease eh? - I feel your pain ...

 

[andrew_s]

I like the solution of clamping the forks in the work bench, nice one

Clamp as close to the fork crown as possible. I know someone who twisted his fork blades by clamping below a brake he hadn't taken off.

 

[Daddybus]

Good point... I just hope the day previous to the workbench day (when I was twisting & wrestling with it ....trying to pull the stem with the wheel between my legs) hasn't done any damage.