I put an old wheel on and inserted old bars, then wrapped the wheel in a thick old sheet so I could pin it with my knees then twisted the bars.
If this did not damage the fork, then you got very lucky. I, in my infinite lack of wisdom, did destroy a nice fork set doing this sort of thing. Forcing anything, in the mechanical field, is a questionable way to go, darn near every time. Just an old man'd opinion, of course.