I am converting a 78 Schwinn road bike to a rainy day commuter bike and can't get the stem out to remove the shifters and service the bearings. I was able to get the bolt that holds it all together out with no problem and the fork and stem now move vertically by about 3 inches. I sprayed a ton of WD-40 in there to no avail. It just won't budge!
Any tips?
I ran into this at Free Ride last week.
I screwed the "bolt that holds it all together" back in until it was about 1/2 or 3/4 inch sticking out. Then I hit the bolt with a mallet.
The piece the bolt screws into is designed to wedge in when the bolt is tightened and has to be knocked out. THAT is what holds it together.
Mick
Before you start, thread the stem bolt back in and hit the top of it with a hammer a few times to try to break the wedge loose in the stem. If it is still stuck, then...
Turn the bike upside down, plug the stem bolt hole, pour some sort of penetrating lubricant in there (Liquid Wrench) and let it sit. In the time it is sitting, I may suggest praying or performing penance of working on a neighborhood kids bike. Occasionally tap the stem with a hammer. Your first goal is to get it to twist a bit...
After that if it still won't move you may have to cut the steerer or stem to remove the fork and stem, and replace parts as needed. If they're stuck together, they're trash anyway.
Thanks for the tips! I will give them a go tonight.
Someone once recommended I use vinegar for this purpose. It sounded crazy, but I was desparate. I did eventually get them apart but I can't promise it was the vinegar that did it. There was a lot of wrenching and wrangling involved, and some cussing. Also, I think, a torch and some ice cubes.
Have bike guys never heard of PB Blaster?
I have used the mallet method quite a few times, usually works fine.
is the stem aluminum or steel? i ask because if its aluminum (and i'll assume the fork's steertube is steel), it may be even more difficult because the metals may have actually chemically fused (i've heard there are chemicals that can help reduce this bond, but have no experience--anyone?)
also, is the wedge free?
as one of the last resorts (before cutting anything, the ultimate last resort)
i've also had luck this way,
1. take the stem bolt out.
2. turn the bike upside down
3. put the stem bolt in from the bottom, so it sticks out of the crown.
4. whack with hammer
-you will probably have to sacrifice the stem bolt
if that doesn't work, you can also stick the stem in a vice, then use a 2x4 in the fork blades to twist.
-i've bent forks this way.
your plan of attack should involve an ever increasing level of things you want to sacrifice.
for instance, try to do it without sacrificing parts, then move on to a method that may sacrifice the stem bolt (cheap, easy to replace), then a method that may sacrifice the stem, then at last resort, the fork.
moral of the story - use grease
wait - just re-read your post. which things did you loosen? if you loosened something, and the fork and stem both move, i'm wondering if you accidentally loosened the headset?
this is a really common mistake that i've seen over and over again watching people try to remove stems.
Hmm. I un-did the bolts that are screwed on to the stem and the stem bolt. The stem and fork are still turning as one, but I can pull the stem and fork up or down revealing the bearings.
Yea, you probably undid the headset if you can see bearings. See http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-threaded-headset/
Oh I see. I will put it all back together again and start from scratch. Hopefully it was just user error.
Erok, I think the white vinegar was supposed to be that kind of chemical. I don't think it was strong enough, though.
NB: Beating on things with hammers is probably not good for the headset. Even after the bearings are replaced, you might have dimpled races and notchy steering.
PSNB: moral of the story, use molybdenum anti-seize
Put the headset back together, screwed in the stem bolt, gave it a tap and it all came apart. Thanks for the help.
YES!
Erok, I think the white vinegar was supposed to be that kind of chemical. I don't think it was strong enough, though.
that's what i was guessing. i've also heard that ammonia can do the trick, but again never tried
YES!
Erok, I think the white vinegar was supposed to be that kind of chemical. I don't think it was strong enough, though.
that's what i was guessing. i've also heard that ammonia can do the trick, but again never tried
I tried ammonia too. Stank worse than vinegar and didn't work any better.
as usual, sheldon gets the final word. RIP
The stem words were from Jobst Brandt, just hosted on Sheldon's site.
Yeah, but I Google-ed "sheldon brown stem" knowing I'd get the right answer.
What you need is an Andy Grieshop (andy g on here when he posts). He got my aluminum stem unstuck from my steel frame. It took 1. pb blaster 2. a drill 3. liquid nitrogen 4. a vice 5. about 200+ lbs of torque and 6. a whole lot of elbow grease.
good luck.
andy g - never met a frame he couldn't break
Just going through these threads. The ammonia solution is not imaginary, but it won't work with ammonia per se. (I don't think vinegar will have any effect at all)
The point of it is to genuinely dissolve the aluminum with a base, and what you want is not ammonia but sodium hydroxide. Drano. Nasty stuff. Saw off the stem above the stuck part so that the frame will fit propped in a big plastic bucket. Pour your drano in the right spot in the headtube, let sit and soak for a month or more, adding more drano and examining it whenever you please. Eventually it will come out.
Obviously this is a really stupid approach. It worked for me, but, you know, don't repeat it. I won't.
