Help: removing insert from true temper fork

[FastforaSlowGuy]

I cut my fork down without thinking about the threading of the metal insert. Oops. The insert is not cemented in place apparently. I tapped it and it slid down in the steerer. But it isn’t so loose that I can just slide it up and out. Any suggestions?




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[tuscanyswe]

These are suppose to be glued in but maybe it was a bad glue job..

Did you try the first thing that comes to mind?
I mean if you can tap it down there must be or have been room at the bottom. So an L hook of a strong enough material to pull from the bottom?

[FastforaSlowGuy]

Originally Posted by tuscanyswe

These are suppose to be glued in but maybe it was a bad glue job..

Did you try the first thing that comes to mind?
I mean if you can tap it down there must be or have been room at the bottom. So an L hook of a strong enough material to pull from the bottom?

Yep. I got an L shaped allen under there, but it wouldn’t budge. The steerer is short enough that if I just tap it down the new insert won’t fit on top.


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[FastforaSlowGuy]

Does anyone know the ID of a typical 1” carbon fork? The ID of the metal sleeve is 20.5mm. Seems I could slip an expanded plug in there and use that to extract the sleeve.


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[tuscanyswe]

Originally Posted by FastforaSlowGuy

Does anyone know the ID of a typical 1” carbon fork? The ID of the metal sleeve is 20.5mm. Seems I could slip an expanded plug in there and use that to extract the sleeve.


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Sry i dont but not a bad idea, only perhaps the friction between the insert and the steerer will be larger than the expander to the insert. Only way to know is to test i guess.

[Big Dan]

I think the top of the insert had a small lip that kept it in place.
Anyways those forks are pretty old, consider looking for a replacement soon.

[bewheels]

Do a google search for “bearing puller” and you will likely find something.

There are a few types. One is basically a slide hammer which is meant for this type of thing.

[Dino Suegiù]

Yes, those TT Alpha-Q inserts did have a top lip when new.

They were supposed to be bonded in with the supplied epoxy once the steerer was cut to length. Either the original epoxy was not properly applied, not enough and/or it has dried out and cracked away from the steerer.

Regardless, if a long, sturdy hook tool (like the allen key you tried but maybe something longer and with more bite, like a real hook) does not work, and the 1" expander (if you have one) idea does not work, then try this:

Carefully cut through the insert alu wall (on two opposite sides if necessary) with a hacksaw blade, until you are able to split the cut sides away from the steerer wall and pry the insert pieces out with a fine screwdriver. The alu is soft, the walls of the insert are thin, and so it should be a simple, quick job. Just do not cut into the carbon steerer wall also.

Or, if you have expanding needle-nose pliers, you might be able to put enough leverage on the insert to start pulling it out.

[Hank Scorpio]

Do you have a replacement sleeve for the fork? They seem to be in extremely short supply these days. At any rate usin the L shaped tool or taking a hack saw blade runs the risk of scoring and already thinly designed steerer tube. How about using a standard plug and epoxying it to the sleeve and then using a long bolt and extra spacers to extract the sleeve? That is how I removed one on an alpha-q I had before.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by FastforaSlowGuy

Yep. I got an L shaped allen under there, but it wouldn’t budge.

That's because you only applied force one side and caused it to slant. Try doing it with two allens on opposite sides.

[kppolich]

Originally Posted by FastforaSlowGuy

Yep. I got an L shaped allen under there, but it wouldn’t budge. The steerer is short enough that if I just tap it down the new insert won’t fit on top.


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Can you get access from the underside of the fork? Something long and fairly rigid should reach and then tap it up and out the top.

[bikinchris]

I can only think of a slide hammer with bearing puller.

[kppolich]

Originally Posted by bikinchris

I can only think of a slide hammer with bearing puller.

perhaps the OP could insert the starnut/compression plug and pull the sleeve out or back up?

[FastforaSlowGuy]

I think i have a bearing puller. I’ll check. I’ve not thought of that one.


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[m_sasso]

Use a blind hole bearing puller, 2 min and it is removed.