Removing stubborn crown race

[markoc]

I’m trying to remove a crown race from a pair of Judys that are, well let’s just say f*cked. I can’t get it to budge, and have given it a good soak in plusgas.

Forks are absolutely toast - just look at those beautiful stanchions - so don’t mind getting medieval on them…

 

[d8mok]

Use the edges of a vice adjusted to just the correct size to rest the crown race on and then whack the steerer.

 

[sunympholepsy]

Hi,
I usually lay the forks flat or grip the steerer in a vice and use a Stanley knife blade wedged between the stubborn race and the crown, then gently tap with a hammer, then pry it up. So far it never failed.

 

[legrandefromage]

a stiff letter to The Times?

 

[markoc]

Tried that. They wrote back saying “crown race” was a poor choice of words following HMQ’s passing…

 

[eshew]

Penetrating oil. Hammer & punch. If you're trying to save the race, a nice squarely cut piece of hardwood can keep the damage to a minimum.

 

[RetroDavy]

Same as sunympholepsy: Stanley blade tapped in the (initially nonexistent) gap between crown race and forks, working around the race. When the gap starts to open, very thin screwdriver blade, working round. Then something a bit thicker. That should do it.

 

[retroJIM]

I use one of these, works a treat.

Clarke CHT226 Bearing Separator 30-50mm - Machine Mart - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk