FOX 40 fork with stripped skewer: how to remove the front wheel
Downhill bike getting you, well, down? This happens. Easier than you think. Sometimes by pure accident. Reason and solution down below. But for now you have a problem that must be sorted, pronto. So, without further delay, let’s have a look at how to remove the front wheel from a FOX 40 fork (and other models) with a stripped QR skewer in front. Or back. Or both. The same applies. See below. And there is no wonder that it happens often, because when you google how to remove the front wheel from a FOX 40 fork then the first result is one with the exact same problem as here.
Removing and Repairing stripped skewer MTB front axle FOX 40:
TLDR:
To remove a Fox 40 fork, first remove the front wheel and brake caliper, then loosen and remove the stem bolts and top cap assembly. Once the headset components are removed and set aside, the fork can be slid out from the head tube. Stripped skewer overcome.
Simple solution
Taking off the front wheel from a downhill bike with a stripped Alan key slot goes a little something like this. Yes, it can be done and yes, the process is not irreversible. All you need to do is get the hole bigger so that you can fit in the next size (one up) Alan key or hex wrench. Which you can do either with a drill. Or, maybe less intense, just knock a screwdriver in there. You will still need an immense amount of power on that small handle of the screwdriver in order to turn it. Stripped skewer be gone.
Get a grip
But for that you can use something with a bigger grip to hang on to the screwdriver handle. Which makes turning easier. See – it certainly helped paying attention in physics class. With enough leverage you can lift the world. or take a feather from Clarkson’s cap: the bigger the problem the bigger the hammer. You need a bigger hammer. Stripped skewer plan B.
What’s next?
Now that you have the skewer and the front wheel out, how do you get it back in for use next time? Well, you can do the reverse and knock in a screwdriver again. To get a grip and screw the skewer back in. or you can use the drill and widen the gap so that you have the bigger hex wrench fit in there as in option (A) above. Or buy a new skewer altogether. Stripped skewer be gone!
Why did this happen and how to prevent it?
We’ve seen this many times before. And people don’t always know. Getting out the skewer from a downhill bike (and even some heavy e-bikes these days) require additional steps. First you must take out the 4 lock screws which are located 2x on either side of the wheel at the bottom of the fork. And then only can you screw out the skewer. Try doing it the other way round and you might end up stripping the skewer. Which is probably what happened here. Don’t fear, #bicyclecouriers is here!
