Stuck handlebar stem - any ideas?

[Gary P]

Hi all.

I have the classic stuck steel 1" quill stem stuck in an old alloy frame conundrum. I've WD40'd it, tried bracing it at the crown with a lump of wood and tugging on the bars and even heated it up with boiling water and let it cool to try and break the seal.

No joy.

Anyone got a better idea before I resort to the LBS mechanic please?

Don't want to ruin a nice fork by forcing it.

Ta

Gary P

 

[Gary E]

Just what you're already doing. It may take several applications of penetrant to get the job done. Try bracing the forks and twisting the bars (as if you're steering left and right) don't worry about pulling the stem out for now just get some movement in it and keep adding the WD40. I wrap a bit of rag around the stuck part and keep it moist so that capillary action can draw the penetrant in.
Remember it's taken a long time to get stuck don't expect to free it instantly.
Good luck.

 

[Gary P]

You may well be right. I've tried bracing the fork but no movement at all in the bars yet. Will try the soaked rag trick too,

 

[HovR]

I had this problem the other day. I fixed it by putting a block of wood on top of the stem and giving it sharp taps with a hammer until it freed and moved down. At this point I could twist and pull up until the stem was out. Obviously this won't work if your stem is already all the way down!

 

[biggs682]

i had to resort to chopping stem just proud of headset locknut to release the forks from the frame and then drill the rest of stem out of the fork stearer tube !! all went well

 

[Gary P]

Thanks. Unfortunately, the stem is all the way down already, which is why I need to lift it in the first place!

 

[accountantpete]

The usual way is to undo the bolt at the top a few turns until it sticks out 1/4" above the stem and then hit the head of the bolt with a large hammer and with plenty of anger.

That will break the seal of the original clamping mechanism and should enable you to twist the bars off.

 

[PpPete]

Assume you have the bolt loose, and having loosened it a few turns, you've give the bolt a few taps with a mallet to free the wedge.
Can you get a metal rod or tube in from under the fork crown? Give that a belt with a lump hammer. Works every time with an alloy quill stem in a steel frame, don't see why it shouldnt with a steel quill in an alloy frame.

 

[Gary P]

Done that but upper part of stem is still fused. Expander bolt moves but stem upper doesn't

 

[accountantpete]

The only thing I can think of is pouring very cold water on the stem then wrapping with frozen peas.

Then pour hot water on the headtube.

Then twist.

 

[Rabbit]

I had this problem with an alloy stem jammed solid into a steel frame and tried all those things with no success then tried coca-cola: there's lots on the forums which say that it has an acidic action on the rust that forms between the two different metals and then breaks it down. Worked for me - but had to tip the bike upside down and pour the coke in the forks and let it sit there for 2 days, then got some leverage on the bolt and stem and broke the bond and out it came! Good luck...

 

[Milo]

The only thing I can think of is pouring very cold water on the stem then wrapping with frozen peas.

Then pour hot water on the headtube.

Then twist.

Works for me and the lady when we have s&m nights.

 

[Gary P]

Yes, I'd heard about the coca-cola trick. You're the first person I'd heard of that used it successfully so I might give that a go.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

I have known cheap cola to be used for releasing pistons in an old diesel engine,worked a treat.

 

[Paul J]

Do a search for PlusGas as it works better than WD40