itschrisb

Im taking my bike apart to paint it and i tried taking my stem off but it wont come loose from the forks. I unscrewed everything i could and they wont seperate. Am i missing something or do i just need to use some force? I dont have a camera to take a picture but ill try to explain it as best as i can. Thanks

ilive41

wrap the frame with a towel (something to reallllly cushion) and the top of the stem the same way- really cushion the blow you're going to give it.
Then give it a smack (downwards) and if your wheel is still on the fork, hold it that way.

I'm 99% sure it's a threaded headset since this doesn't really happen on threadless, but it'll just need the threads to break loose on the pressure piece (can't remember the name of that little doo-hickey).

andrewro

A friend of mine had me out the hex key into the bolt, then tap it with a hammer. Worked like a charm. I guess a nail or something would work too, just so that you're tapping the bolt only.

ZiP0082

some more talk on the subject: https://www.cycletrack.net/parts/pump/thread39.html

itschrisb

yea it is threaded, ill give both of those a shot and see what happens. Thanks

sonicj

marinate with pb blaster

shants

if the stem is seized in the fork steerer, you may need to use some penetrating oil to loosen it up.

soul05

i had the same problem with an old frame i bought. i stuck a thin pipe into the bottom of the fork and pounded it with a hammer. it loosened up the wedge for the stem and it popped right out.