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As per the title I just cannot get the lowers off my 2014 Revs (RLT Solo Air)
I've removed the air via the top valve, removed the rebound adjuster knob and partially undone the 5mm allen on both sides, whacked the allen with a rubber mallet, and still cannot get the lowers off. Only when I pushed the fork arch a bit did I manage to get oil dripping out of the rebound side, but nothing on the other and the lowers won't budge. They slide up and down easily but stop.
Am I missing something for this particular fork? Am I missing another air valve for the lowers on this particular model or something stupid like that?
I use a 6" bit extender with a 5mm hex key.
I usually do airside first and remove the solid bolt to use in the damper side.
(2015 Revs and SID)
It can take quite a whack which is why L or T shaped allan keys are not my preferred weapon...
Sometimes you get a satisfying pop... sometimes you aren't sure till you pull the arch.
I'm using L shaped allens and have given it an absolute beating with a rubber mallet to no avail. Don't really want to hit or push on the arch any more than I have. It feels so solidly on that I think I must be missing something.
What steve said, you need to wack the bolt until it loosens the shaft inside which is a press fit into the lowers.
It takes a decent wack, proper hammer and a driver bit (or anything you can hold in the screw head) rather than an Alen key and rubber mallet. And clamp the lowers (gently) in a soft jawed vice or a very solid bike stand, if you clamp the steerer or try and do it in a wobbly stand then you're just hammering on the end of the spring and will never get it out!
Ah ok, I am clamping the steerer on a not amazing stand so that's probably not helping. Will do it that way and try to find something more robust to hold in the allen bolt.
Not worth using a rubber mallet, a soft faced hammer (plastic) might do the job. If you want to be delicate you could put a bit of wood between a hammer and the bolt. Otherwise just use hammer.
Are the bolts going flush?
Sometimes you need to give them another turn looser once they're flush then hit them again to get the shaft to release (but don't undo any further than this then hit them as you'll knacker the threads).
I find with a long (15cm) extender you can hold the lowers in one hand and whack with the other.
Pull harder
I have pulled as hard as I am able to, whether that says more about me or the fork I don't know, but either way it's not a solution.
Will try the brute force methods suggested above!
I use something like this with the 5mm in the end... it's a proper whack usually.
No pulling. Just hit the bolt harder!
That extender ^ looks perfect or anything like that.
It's been mentioned already but be careful how many threads are still engaged whilst hitting the bolt head. If I were in this position I'd completely remove the original bolt and refit a longer one and make sure it was bottomed out prior to hitting it. Either the damper rod or the air spring shaft are still stuck in the lowers.
Ah ok, I am clamping the steerer
You’re clamping the wrong bit...
Clamp the lower then you’ll find it moves a lot easier. Then your force is driving the press fit out, clamp the steerer and your just moving the lowers as well. They can be a pain though, I use a hex key with a body like a screwdriver.
It’s been mentioned already but be careful how many threads are still engaged whilst hitting the bolt head. If I were in this position I’d completely remove the original bolt and refit a longer one and make sure it was bottomed out prior to hitting it. Either the damper rod or the air spring shaft are still stuck in the lowers.
This is a good/very fool resistant tip.
IF you hit this with a (metal) hammer, you will definitely get the lowers off. You'll be fine clamping the steerer. The mass of the lowers will be sufficient to allow you to shock it out (if you use the right sort of hammer.
I just use a longer bolt, engaging more thread and hit with a proper hammer. There's only one reason the lowers won't slide off, the shaft is still docked in the lowers.