selied

I found an old Schwinn Phantom at my grandma's house and I'm trying to take apart the headset to clean it up. What's the best way to take it apart? I've tried taking the stem bolt out a bit and hammering on it. Do the old Phantoms have the standard wedge piece connecting the handlebars to the fork?

cny-bikeman

Yes, to remove the stem (before disassembling the headset) you need to loosen a few turns and then hit the top of the bolt (with a dead blow plastic hammer or with a piece of hardwood and an regular hammer). If it does not drop things are rusted in place. May be hard to get to with penetrating oil on an old bike, usually done from underneath. If you can get some penetrant to go down between stem and fork column you may be able to loosen the bars, cut off the bolt top and then work on it better. Of course then you have to find a new bolt.

selied

I actually did get some penetrating oil in and after a few hours I could feel it sliding around and it pulled right out. Thanks!