nick burns

I have a little problem I was hoping someone might have the solution to. I have a Reynolds steel fork that seems to a small piece of brazing loose inside one of the fork tips. It seems to be about the size of a BB & it rattles like crazy. There are no vent holes in the fork. Is there any relatively non-invasive method of eliminating the rattle? It's a quality fork with Campy tips and I don't really want to just replace it.

mynameisnotdrew

Just take off the top cap (threadless), or the stem (threaded), turn the bike upside down, and shake it out.

MichaelW

Not that simple. I have a rattle in my 531 fork. It lives inside the fork blade and there is no opening to remove the bit. You may be able to subdue the rattle with a bit of heated wax. Check for vent holes that you can use to insert some wax; they may be up at the fork crown.

nick burns

The brazing is inside the fork blade, not the steer tube. The connection between the two is closed.

MichaelW - Thanks for the suggestion, however there are no vent holes in this fork, & I don't relish the idea of drilling one in.

sydney

If the offending bit was magnetic,you could tape a big magnet to the fork tip to attempt to hold it in place.Otherwise I see no alternative to drilling a small hole and injecting some adhesive.

Dave Moulton

You have to first remove the fork. To determine which side the piece of brass is hold the fork by one blade and tip it. If the piece is in the opposite side it will ‘ring’ like a bell. If it is in the side you are holding it will make a dull rattling sound.

If there are no vent holes you will need to drill a small one 3/32 in. max near the bottom at the back should be okay. Get one of those little syringes they use for model aircraft glue and shoot any sort of suitable glue into the bottom of the fork near the tip. Allow the glue to dry.

nick burns

Thanks for the advice. I kind of knew in the back of my mind that the only solution was drilling, but I was hoping for some miracle cure. Oh well.