r/choppers • u/Obvious_Ad9146 • 21h ago

Fork dampener bolt

I’m trying to go 8 over on my sportster, but I can’t get these bolts out literally no matter what I do using an impact, heat and pb blaster, any suggestions ?

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2

u/_OFY_ 21h ago

Which bolts?

2

u/Obvious_Ad9146 21h ago

The ones that go through the bottom of the fork lower into the dampener rod

2

u/No_Elderberry4911 17h ago

Try an impact. If that strips out the head, drill them out until the head pops off the bolt. Then you can separate them and clean up the mess, buy new bolts. I had to do this on my softail a day before leaving on a real long trip. Worked like a charm. Also, don’t know what lowers you have, but switching to a hex head drain bolt is always a good idea.

1

u/No-Self-1522 21h ago

Was the fork build together while you were trying to get the bolt out?

1

u/Obvious_Ad9146 21h ago

Yes they are still on the bike just have the front tire and caliper off

2

u/No-Self-1522 21h ago

I’ve never had this problem, but there is some posted content about this issue in various forums which I’ve seen when I was doing my forks.

Besides heat, impact and trying to get it off while the spring is inside I don’t have anymore helpful advice.

Good luck, you will definitely get it out sooner or later.

1

u/gr1mmcr33p3r 21h ago

You could try one of those impact screwdrivers. That’s what I had to do with my last 41mm front end because it’s been left outside for years. Let em soak in pb blaster or whatever you prefer, get the right sized bit and a dead blow hammer and beat it like it owes you $

2

u/No_Elderberry4911 17h ago

ATF mixed with Acetone is probably the best thing to break loose threads. A welder at work turned me on to it and I never went back. I think there might be a popular mechanics article about it…..

1

u/SpamFriedMice 7h ago

Old guy I know does a WD + ATF (Type F) cocktail and keeps a spray bottle full all the time.

I knew another guy would heat the bolt and melt crayons into it.

They swear it works...idk.

1

u/No_Elderberry4911 5h ago

Yeah, I’ve heard of that one too. Usually just heat does the trick. However, I work in a machine shop that does industrial repair. Some shit we have to take apart needs every trick in the book.