Bicycle Mechanics - removing handlebars from stem: @&$! tough

Hi, I just got a really cool old Peugeot road bike. It's a kid's model 46cm frame with 24" wheels, and the owner's manual (this came with the bike, that's how little it was used) puts its manufacture circa 1983. Now the stem is a bit small for me. Fortunately I have this absolutely trashed Centurion LeMans which has a longer stem which would fit the Peugeot (both have 22.2mm diameters).

So I would like to perform a stem switch. I've worked with bikes before, but never with road bikes. I can't figure out how to extract the handlebar from the Centurion's stem. The stem has a single-bolt tightener. When I remove the bolt I can't spread the two parts of the stem apart far enough to remove the handlebar. I tried removing the handlebar tape and brake levers and sliding the handlebar through, but where the handlebar curves it stops moving. The Centurion's stem is so stiff I can't even spread it far enough to get the handlebar out THAT way. Any useful tips on how to do this?

Thanks!

Find a small block of wood or metal to put in the gap after you've removed the bolt, then thread the bolt back in and try to spread it by tightening down on it.

Another method is to find a longer bolt and pry harder. You may need to find something to get more leverage.

NEVERMIND! I didn't read the post well in my haste, so didn't see the part that you already had it loose.

Do not force this thing out, it will break. You have to remove the tape and brake lever on one side of the handlebar and then get the stem out by sliding it all the way through the denuded side. You might have to rotate the stem around while passing the drops as the stem opening might be too tight but it will get its way out.

Thanks for the tips. I'll probably be able to engineer something DieselDan-style. Cheers!

As you slide the bar through (without tape and brake) try twisting and turning the bar to change the angle of attack. Sometimes, it's that easy. Good luck.

55/Rad

If your throwing the stem away, you can take a hacksaw to it.

If your throwing the stem away, you can take a hacksaw to it. It's the stem from the dead bike, going onto the good bike (thus the one he's keeping), that's not co-operating.