Steering Column Joys – Updated!
Needing the tool to remove the headstock nut
The steering column and “front end”, nothing to report as yet, apart from to say I dont have a tool which can undo the steering column nut, you know the one with no flat sides with 4 “keys” cut into the side of it. I can’t think of anything else that will do the job without messing it up, so may have to locate one or find someone with one to borrow off!
Update:
Ok, so I said I would update this post when further progress was made on the front end, well here it is.
After asking a number of people if they had a C-spanner or hookspanner and getting nowhere, I decided to give the hammer and “flat blade” another go. This time using a cold chisel I turn the front wheel so that it was at full lock resting on the steering stops, and gave the chisel a few good whacks whilst it was seated in one of the keys, at first it looked like it wasnt going to budge, but after a few more hits and some WD40 to penetrate the thread, it was happily spinning its way off.
Carefully removing the remaining nuts and top bearing race (which thankfully was still packed with lots of grease) I was able to slide the entire column out from underneath the bike, wheel, guard, brakes – THE LOT.
So now the bike is a little bit lighter around the front end, and I have what looks like a very strange unicycle sitting in my shed – this will be stripped of its components and restored accordingly, expect a dedicated post for this.
Thanks for the help and advice of you guys
Loading ...
Image-Google “c-spanner” to find what the tool looks like. Bicycle tool kits often have them. Also coil-over spanner, or hookspanner. What lots of folks use is a slot screwdriver put in the cutout, then tapping with a hammer to drive the ring counter-clockwise. A gentle touch is required when tightening (reinstalling) it this way.
cheers
Yeah, tried the old screwdriver and mallet trick, but a few taps in I decided against the idea, for fear of messing up the nut – plus it didnt show any signs of budging (its probably never been removed). Will take a look at some bike kits and see what they have – thanks for the advice!
Also called a “Hook wrench,” you need one, although primarily for reassembly; removal should work with the screwdriver and a hammer.
A mallet (presuming that’s not some weirdo Gayton term for “BFH, and means it’s some rubber, wood or hide thing”) may not give a sharp enough impact to pop it loose.
Just go for it. You know you want to.
HAMMER.
HAMMER.
HA-MER!
HAM-MER!
HAAMMMERRRR!
ok….. hammer it is – i’ll find the biggest one I can get.
[...] the steering column and front assembly now removed from the main chassis of the bike (see previous post), I was able to set to work in stripping this part of the vespa down, and going through the usual [...]
I’ve ordered the tools and hope to have a go at my ‘65 Allstate soon. My goal is to change out the speedometer cable. Any thoughts?
Luke
Seattle
you wont need to remove the entire column to change out the cable, its slides straight up the middle through a little hole in bottom, should feed straight up easily!