81 Seca Fork Allen Bolt Removal

Got the fork spring removed but the allen bolt at the bottom of the fork just spins. Do I need a special tool to get this bolt to back out for removal? This is on an 81 XJ550 Seca.

 

If it is the same as the bigger bikes you need to put a spark plug socket in the top upside down with extensions on it so you can hold the inner parts while cranking on the allen.

I have done it once with an air gun which worked but is not the best way

Cheers
Dave

 

Azreal is right and the "inverted plug socket" trick will work on the 550 Secas too.

You need to find a spark plug socket that has a 19mm hex cast on the outside of the base, as most do.

Then flip it over and start adding all the extensions in your toolbox until it's long enough to get down there and engage the internal hex in the top of the damper rod. (In effect you've made the world's longest 19mm allen wrench.)

 

Here is my 'tool' - a threaded rod with a fixed nut.

 

Thanks a bunch. Once I fugured out you were talking about a 5/8 sparkplug socket rather than the 13/16 it worked great.