Bicycle Mechanics - Extract the handlebar from the stem .... something more

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ahson
03-30-11, 08:10 PM
The one that I am working on is an old Raleigh stem, a quill stem. The hole for the stem bolt has no threaded side in there so I cannot thread a screw in against a penny to spread open the stem. What else I can do beside the force and twist?

tortugaflats
03-30-11, 08:13 PM
hammer
ahson
03-30-11, 08:19 PM
hammer

Do you mean put a screw inside the hole, against a penny and hammer it down?

cyclist2000
03-30-11, 09:13 PM
I have taken a large flat bladed screwdriver and wedged it in the opening of stem to spread the jaws more.
FBinNY
03-30-11, 09:33 PM
Forged alloy stems usually have a bit of spring in them and relax open enough to slide the bar past the raised center. Don't twist it which can cause marring, instead try to use a bit of force to simply slide it. Once you clear the center bulge use finesse to work the stem past the curves by keeping the narrowed section of the stem to the inside of the curve.

If you absolutely must spread the stem a bit, try to find something wide, flat and dull, which is slightly thicker than the base of the tapered slot. Gently work it in as a wedge. For example a sandwich of two cone wrenches often works.

If you prefer to have a special tool, a forged external circlip plier like this one (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?oe=UTF-8&gfns=1&q=external+circlip+plier&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=688786585537504913&sa=X&ei=pPWTTfbEDOTE0QGYxpn_Cw&ved=0CCUQ8wIwAg#) can be slid into the slow and gently flex the stem open as you squeeze.
fietsbob
03-30-11, 10:26 PM
could spring for a classy Nitto made tool for the purpose..