Bicycle Mechanics - Old Sequoia -- Higher stem

I just bought an old Specialized Sequoia as a project bike . . . It's got the shifters in the drop-bar ends, so that's how old it is.

I throught maybe I could bring the bar height up some by raising the stem but I can't get the stem to budge. I've loosened the threaded collar as well as the hex bolt in the top of the stem. No go.

I realize there may be no more height to this stem once I budge it loose, so how do I determine what size it is before I seek a replacement, longer (higher) stem?

Use Liquid Wrench around the base of the stem and let it soak for a day. Then rap the hex bolt with a hammer until it frees up.

I just bought an old Specialized Sequoia as a project bike . . . It's got the shifters in the drop-bar ends, so that's how old it is.

I throught maybe I could bring the bar height up some by raising the stem but I can't get the stem to budge. I've loosened the threaded collar as well as the hex bolt in the top of the stem. No go.

I realize there may be no more height to this stem once I budge it loose, so how do I determine what size it is before I seek a replacement, longer (higher) stem?


You may very well be fighting against galvanic corrosion, which means the aluminum stem may be bonded to the steel steerer tube. If this is the case, you may be in for a tough fight. Suggested remedies range anywhere from brute force to amonia to lye. I would try what DMF suggested first, and if it doesn't work use an oak dowel inserted into the bottom of the steerer tube to try and drive the stem loose from below. If you're not concerned with saving the stem, use a metal rod or pipe of the appropriate size in place of the dowel. Beyond that, one of the chemical solutions is probably your only hope-

Great, got it loose! I nosed around on Sheldon Brown's site and he suggested the same rubber-mallet rap on the loosened hex bolt that you guys did (saw Sheldon's tip before I saw your posts) and the stem came right out. I was able to raise the stem to the "minimum insertion point" marked on it, so I bought about an inch or so. I think I still might want it a bit higher for touring, so I'm going to explore a new stem.

So . . . I'll have to figure out what new stems will fit. Any clues about this will be much appreciated, too.

Also trying to figure out just how old this bike is . . . the bike I had back in the 70s had the down-tube shifters . . . I guess I missed the end-of-the-bars shifters . . . When were they popular?

For a REALLY high, traditional quill stem, the Nitto Technomic stem is the ticket. Harris Cyclery (go to Sheldon's site) carries them. You'll need to determine your handlebar clamp diameter (25.4 or 26.0), and how long you want the forward extension to be.

As for the bar-end shifter question, they've been around a long time, since at least the '70's. They're still pretty popular on touring bikes-:)

Thanks for the info, wb.

Thanks for the info, wb.

No problemo. If you want to determine the date of the components on your bike, go to the vintage trek site, and check out the section titled "component dates." You'll need to find date codes on your cranks, derailleurs, etc., and assuming they're original equipment on the bike, you can figure out how old the bike is-

www.vintage-trek.com

+1 for the Nitto Technomic or Technomic Deluxe. Bar end shifters are still popular on my bikes. (and not just touring bikes)