The oil lock in my front forks won't come out?

[alexdecker]

Hey all

So disassembled the front forks to clean them up. But the oil lock is stuck in both lower pipes of my forks. Anyone has any tips to get them out? It's a CB550F2. I tried just letting them be, but I can't seem to line up the upper and lower tube when I insert the upper tube, and therefore can't get the little bolt in the end to catch the upper tube! Been at it for an hour now. Loosing my patience!

- Alex

[Oddjob]

Are we talking about the small shaped alloy piece?

Put a little petrol down the slider, most are stuck in an oil film which acts like a suction pump, the petrol should dissolve some of that, then get a broom handle or some long dowel and knock it sideways and it should fall out.