I ordered a marzocchi mx comp, to replace the old worn out stock one that came on my Kona Cinder Cone. What exactly am I going to need to do to remove the old fork and install the new one.

I thought all I'd have to do is remove front wheel, the front brake, the stem and spacers. After this point shouldn't I be able to remove the fork with a rubber mallet?

Then to install the new one I should just be able to cut the steerer tube to the same length as the old one, file it smooth, insert one of those star nuts, stick the fork in the headset. After that all I have to do is put the spacers, stem, brake and wheel back on.

Right?

There's got to be something I'm missing in the process since I can't get the old one to budge let alone come out of the headset.

I'd like to avoid taking this to the shop and not being able to ride it this weekend.

Posted by Abe Bandon I thought all I'd have to do is remove front wheel, the front brake, the stem and spacers. After this point shouldn't I be able to remove the fork with a rubber mallet?

I would think so...the few times I removed a fork from a frame, that's all I did, though I do remember having to whack the top of fork steering tube HARD just to get the damn thing to budge a little bit. So yea, just keep trying I guess...

Good luck.

Posted by Abe Bandon There's got to be something I'm missing in the process since I can't get the old one to budge let alone come out of the headset.

After you remove the top cap, stem, and spacers, there is often a plastic (or metal, or hard rubber) wedge between the top part of the headset and the steerer tube. It can be very frustrating if you don't know it's there, because pushing down on the steerer tube just makes the wedge grip tighter. The wedge should come out pretty easily though, but you may have to wiggle the steerer tube up and down a little, and/or kinda work the wedge out with a small screwdriver or the like. After the wedge is removed, the fork should just drop out.