Classic & Vintage - PX-10 stem is free - woo hoo!!!

So, on and off for almost a year I had been trying to remove a seized stem from the fork of my girlfriend's Peugeot PX-10. I'd tried wrenching, twisting, oil, lube, ammonia - all to no avail. Well, today my persistence finally paid off. Contrary to what many folks have stated - heat worked! Well, at least I think it was the heat. I sawed the stem off about 2cm from the top of the steerer and then cut a slot down the length of it. From there I was able to squeeze and turn the stem hard enough with a pipe wrench to allow a VERY, VERY SMALL gap to form between the stem and the steerer. Applied some Release-All, heated the steerer with a small torch for a minute or two and wrenched on the damn thing with the pipe wrench again. Low and behold, the thing started to turn and 30 seconds later, the mangled piece of stem was free. Death to AVA!

Sorry for the ranting folks - I feel like I've just won a major race!!!....hehe...

congratulations, in the garage we would call the torch the smoke wrench, I've also heard it called a blue tipped wrench.

Almost a year? I think I would have given up and bought a replacement fork by now;) Very cool though, I know how frustrating it is.!,,,,BD

congratulations, in the garage we would call the torch the smoke wrench, I've also heard it called a blue tipped wrench.


A.K.A."Gas Axe"

Sorry for the ranting folks - I feel like I've just won a major race!!!....hehe...

Race nothing. You just fought an epic battle. You waged war against a buggered, galvanticly coupled vintage French stem and won! Death to AVA indeed! :)

I had the same problem, except that I was trying to remove a Cinelli stem from a damaged fork. I eventually ended up cutting the fork above the crown race and then carefully cutting the steer tube length wise. Everyone at the bike collective thought I was crazy, but I got it out without damaging it. I went home proud that day, I tell ya.