Bicycle Mechanics - Removing handlebar stem

What do I have to do to remove a handlebar stem from a very old
(over 20 years, perhaps?) Schwinn Super Sport?

Anybody remember those? :)

Remember them? I ride one! The Super Sport had a pretty stem that was made from forged aluminum. The aluminum may have corroded and stuck onto the cromoly steerer. Let lots of penatrant (Liquid Wrench, PB Catylist, or other secret formula) soak around the quill over night. Give it a tug in the morning.

I've turned my Super Sport into a single speed (and it's still a bit heavy.) At 46 x 17 (ashtabula x bmx), I'm charging up the hills like a 25mph madman! (Bike store was to close in 10 minutes and I needed a tool).

After using squirty stuff, you may need to pry open the clamp a little with a very wide screwdriver. Handle with care.

Pete,
As you know, quill stems are held in place by a sliding wedge bolt. The wedge may also be frozen in place. If you unscrew the bolt and the head just rises as you unscrew, the bolt is certainly stuck. After soaking overnight with Liquid Wrench or other penetrating oil unscrew the bolt a few turns to get 3-4 mm of clearance under the bolt head then tap it with non marring mallet or just hold a piece of wood on it and tap it with a regular hammer. Hopefully the bolt will be driven down which means the wedge is loose, and you can pull the stem out. If the stem is still stuck, tap it also to try to loosen it. Sometimes you have to get fairly vigorous, but don't hit it hard enough to damage anything. I would avoid vigorous twisting of the bars since the leverage could damage the bar or stem. Once you get it out be sure to grease the stem, wedge and bolt well to avoid future problems. Stems should be pulled and greased once a year or so.

If this doesn't get it out, check back. There are other resorts, but hopefully this will work.
Regards,
Raymond

correction.
Prying the stem is to remove the bars from the stem, NOT the stem from the fork steerer tube!!
Use Rainmans method to remove stem from steerer tube.
Undo the bolt a few turns, but not more, or the wedge will drop off the bottom of the stem and may jam inside the steerer tube.

Step back, boys, I 've got a torch. We're going to blast that sucker out of there.

(Just a joke. I ruins paint, weakens metal, and sets fire to unintended objects)

I love you'se guys! :D

False alarm...(you can put away the torch, Oscar! ;) )

I just needed to use the "Arnold Schwartzenegger wiggle technique." :fun: I'm exaggerating, it was not really stuck, just like that jar of pickles your wife opens with one finger after you've expended 79% of your manhood "loosening" it... :eek:

There's more exciting news for you fans of "Tales From the Ancient Bicycle Crypt." But I'm so excited, I want to start a new thread. Can I? I think I will.

("Oh, jeezy-peezy...!") :)

(I love you'se guys...! :D )

Originally posted by RainmanP
Pete,

I would avoid vigorous twisting of the bars since the leverage could damage the bar or stem.

Regards,
Raymond

:eek:

Don't freak, Eek. I just meant EXTREME twisting and leverage. I know what you mean about the jar thing, though. Usually it's something more valuable than a jar. We manly men are afraid to force something and destroy it with our overwhelming strength. The the wife grabs it, saying "Give me that!" and it comes right open with a little more effort. Go figure.

Originally posted by RainmanP
...We manly men are afraid to force something and destroy it with our overwhelming strength.
I am happy to say I don't have that problem!

:thumbup:


The the wife grabs it, saying "Give me that!" and it comes right open with a little more effort. Go figure.
No difficult figuring, here. The wife is stronger.

:beer:

(My grandmother embarrased my dad one day on a visit by mowing the lawn...she was only trying to "pull her own weight,"
which would have been easy without the lawnmower... :D )

pete,
as you know, quill stems are held in place by a sliding wedge bolt. The wedge may also be frozen in place. If you unscrew the bolt and the head just rises as you unscrew, the bolt is certainly stuck. After soaking overnight with liquid wrench or other penetrating oil unscrew the bolt a few turns to get 3-4 mm of clearance under the bolt head then tap it with non marring mallet or just hold a piece of wood on it and tap it with a regular hammer. Hopefully the bolt will be driven down which means the wedge is loose, and you can pull the stem out. If the stem is still stuck, tap it also to try to loosen it. Sometimes you have to get fairly vigorous, but don't hit it hard enough to damage anything. I would avoid vigorous twisting of the bars since the leverage could damage the bar or stem. Once you get it out be sure to grease the stem, wedge and bolt well to avoid future problems. Stems should be pulled and greased once a year or so.

If this doesn't get it out, check back. There are other resorts, but hopefully this will work.
Regards,
raymond

thank you

if it still doesnt come out. get a small pipe and put your bike upside down ONLY. stick the pipe into the forks from the bottom and hit it with a hammer to get the wedge out. you have to remove the brake caliper first. It wont come out from top to bottom. Only from bottom to top!

GOOD LUCK!

I recently took apart my schwinn and I've run into two problems, first like the guy in this thread my stem has corroded itself into the fork and won't come out (thank god I finally found this thread) and I can't seem to figure out how to remove my chainset, crank arms etc.

here you go. Just follow the directions:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/

I successfully followed the advice of RainmanP above on two bikes with the following modification. I removed the front wheel and supported the crotch of the fork on a 2X4 like a sawhorse crossbar. I put a piece of wood on the sliding wedge bolt and hit it with a hammer. The mallot was ineffective. By supporting the base of the part of the fork that goes into the head tube in this manner, I concentrated force only where it needed to be and eliminated stress on the part of the fork that holds the wheels.

A twenty year old bike isn't old. I don't own any that young.

I was wondering where LittleBigMan had been, when I saw this thread pop up.

It's from 2002!

I remember this thread.