Removing Front Axle

[429CV23]

My 2000 Bulldog has the inverted forks. I'm trying to remove the front wheel to have the tire replaced, but the axle won't come out.
Everything is loose, axle floats back/forth freely. The non-threaded end has a spacer that won't allow the axle to come out that way. I'm wondering if it is machined, or seized. It doesn't look like the axle bore could be spread enough for the spacer to fit through.

Any ideas? I don't want to destroy anything trying to get the axle out, those parts may be hard to source.
Thanks!

 

[liferider]

So you did loosen the pinch bolts

 

[429CV23]

Yes. I loosened them at first, then removed them thinking the axle may have machined grooves.

Is the axle just a typical long bolt, or is the one spacer an integral component? If the axle is simply a long bolt, I'll work at freeing up the spacer. Just don't want to gall it up trying to remove it if it is integral to the axle.
There doesn't seem to be much info out there for these inverted forks.

 

[BWG56]

The axle is a long bolt, hit it with WD-40 and keep working it back n forth, its just a spacer. Put some anti seize on the bolt shaft when you put it back together.

 

[woodbutcher]

seems i remember another situation where there was just the slightest rust ring on the axle that was keeping it from coming out. agree with the WD40. slow and easy.

 

[429CV23]

Thanks guys! Grabbed a channel lock this morning (yeah ... usually stories that start with that don't have a happy ending), grabbed the spacer with a shop rag to protect it. Was very tight at first but it did begin to spin. Hit it with some PB Blaster, which helped quite a bit. Took a bit of turning before it would move from its spot, once it did the axle slid out nicely!