How to remove a stuck stem?
01-22-08, 07:23 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 94
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How to remove a stuck stem?
I have a mid 80's Raleigh Olympian that I would like to rebuild. I can not the the dang stem out of the head tube. It is probably rusted in there. I have tried using some penetrating oil to no avail. Tapped and banged with a hammer to no avail. Is there a secret to getting this done?
01-22-08, 08:50 AM
#3
Senior Member
Be sure the expander bolt is loose. It should move up and down easily. If not, be sure it is threaded into the expander slightly, put a allen socket on the bolt head and whack it. It should come loose.
Now put a piece of wood over the stem and whack it hard with a hammer. If that still doesn't loosen it, use very strong ammonia (be careful) as a penetrating fluid and let it soak for a day or two, then repeat wood and hammer.
To avoid this in the future, be sure to use grease on the stem and the inside of the headtube when you put it back together.
Now put a piece of wood over the stem and whack it hard with a hammer. If that still doesn't loosen it, use very strong ammonia (be careful) as a penetrating fluid and let it soak for a day or two, then repeat wood and hammer.
To avoid this in the future, be sure to use grease on the stem and the inside of the headtube when you put it back together.
__________________
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
01-22-08, 09:56 AM
#4
Slave of the road
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 243
Bikes: Eddy Merckx, Falcon, Vitus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
01-22-08, 12:53 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Medina, OH
Posts: 5,804
Bikes: confidential infromation that I don't even share with my wife
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I recently needed to remove the stem on my 1972 Railegh Super Coruse. I sprayed PB Blaster from the top down and waited for a couple days and still could not get the expander bolt to release. I then took the frame and turned it upside down and sprayed from the bottom up and let it sit a couple more days. I then took a 10" "rachet extension" and tapped on the nut from the bottom and the whole assembly came loose.
01-22-08, 02:13 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,487
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 140 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
89 Posts
I recently needed to remove the stem on my 1972 Railegh Super Coruse. I sprayed PB Blaster from the top down and waited for a couple days and still could not get the expander bolt to release. I then took the frame and turned it upside down and sprayed from the bottom up and let it sit a couple more days. I then took a 10" "rachet extension" and tapped on the nut from the bottom and the whole assembly came loose.
