How do I get this out?
02-01-15, 09:03 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 526
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How do I get this out?
I was playing around with my stem and spacers trying to make some reach adjustments and being a bit overzealous I may have forgotten to grease a bolt or two...
Now I'm stuck with the unfortunate situation below. My 4mm allen screw (above the stem cap) is stuck in the thingamajigger below the stem cap, so whenever I turn the allen screw the entire thing turns, thus not allowing me to unscrew and remove the stem cap. It also won't tighten my headset when I drop it in my steerer tube. Help!
Now I'm stuck with the unfortunate situation below. My 4mm allen screw (above the stem cap) is stuck in the thingamajigger below the stem cap, so whenever I turn the allen screw the entire thing turns, thus not allowing me to unscrew and remove the stem cap. It also won't tighten my headset when I drop it in my steerer tube. Help!
02-01-15, 09:09 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,084
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4205 Post(s)
Liked 3,863 Times
in
2,311 Posts
Simple solution is to just replace the compression plug. And grease it this time. Andy.
02-01-15, 10:51 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,716
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5787 Post(s)
Liked 2,579 Times
in
1,430 Posts
There are two ways to get a grip on the outer bolt.
You can buy a pair of nuts and thread them on jammed against each other like a cone and locknut. Then hold the nut that would turn against it's mate with and remove the bolt with an allen key. Or you can buy a single nut, saw through one side and thread it on, Place in a vice, or use a vise-grip, in a way that squeezes the nut against the bolt, then remove the bolt.
But before doing this, soak it all in penetrating oil, and if the bolt resists, try working it back and forth in small arcs taking what it gives you, and incrementally gaining more working room. Otherwise, you can make it worse, as the small shards of galled metal roll and get bigger tearing up more thread as they go.
You can buy a pair of nuts and thread them on jammed against each other like a cone and locknut. Then hold the nut that would turn against it's mate with and remove the bolt with an allen key. Or you can buy a single nut, saw through one side and thread it on, Place in a vice, or use a vise-grip, in a way that squeezes the nut against the bolt, then remove the bolt.
But before doing this, soak it all in penetrating oil, and if the bolt resists, try working it back and forth in small arcs taking what it gives you, and incrementally gaining more working room. Otherwise, you can make it worse, as the small shards of galled metal roll and get bigger tearing up more thread as they go.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
02-02-15, 06:00 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
Putting the bolt into a vise with a piece of thick leather (old belt) wrapped around it should hold it securely enough.
Or grab the bolt with a machinist's collet.
Or grab the bolt with a machinist's collet.
