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Removing a stuck stem

  • 12-09-2012 12:49pm
    #1
    Mr_Magpie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 150 ✭✭


    Hi,

    I picked up an old Triumph last week. Its in alright nick though I wanted to do the bike up a bit. I can't date the bike exactly but I believe its from around 75 or earlier so naturally a bitt a rust etc has built up on it. Nothing I can't sort but I'm having a problem removing the stem from the fork. Having removed everything holding it in place, it just won't come out. I've given it a bit of a tap with a hammer and oiled it but it just won't come apart. Before I do some unrepairable damage I was wondering does anybody have any suggestions to free it?

    thanks


Comments

  • #2
    piston
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 523 ✭✭✭piston


    Have you tried tapping the expander bolt downwards to release the expander in the bottom of the stem? If not, try that first.

    If that doesn't work, it really is stuck. My preferred method is to tighten the expander bolt again and turn the bike upside down, take off the front wheel and mudguard, fill the steerer tube with diesel and give it a few days to soak into through.

    Then fit an old front wheel which you don't care about and turn the bike the correct way up again and wedge the wheel into something so it can't move, slacken the expander bolt and tap it down again, stand astride the bike and twist and pull. It should come out.

    It will be easier if it's a steel stem. If it's an alloy stem, don't use too much force or it can break in the steerer and then you have fun. If an alloy stem is really stuck, repeat the above only use Coke (or ammonia) instead of diesel to dissolve the corrosion.


  • #3
    abcdggs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,831 ✭✭✭abcdggs


    put the fork crown in a bench vice nicely tight, put drop bars in the stem then use them as leverage to twist the stem loose. this will require liberal amounts of elbow grease. having someone stand on the bench pulling upward as you twist will help greatly.

    I would advise against the wedged wheel method mentioned above. It is very easy to bend the fork blades in this way.

    Best of luck!


  • #4
    doozerie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,830 ✭✭✭doozerie


    Apparently lemon juice, due to its acidity, is also good for eating away at the bond between an alloy stem and a steel steerer. I plan to try either that or Coke on one of my bikes soon that has that very problem.

    And abcdggs is right to warn that you can bend the fork blades, that's what happened to mine when I tried to rely on brute force and ignorance by clamping the front wheel between my knees and swinging from the handlebars. I destroyed 2 quick release skewers in the process too. The wheel itself survived with no damage, a reminder that Mavic Open Pro rims can be quite tough when they put their mind to it!


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