Newbie Question: Removing Handlebars from Old Bike
 

Hi, sorry for the newbie question, but I am well...new at this. I also tried searching but I may have entered the wrong search terms in...

Anyways, I just bought an old fuji road bike (probably 70s-80s) for commuting and I want to flip and chop the current handlebars. How would I go about doing this? I can't seem to figure out exactly how to get the handlebars out of the steel stem. I think I read somewhere that you just remove the brake levers/cables and grip tape, remove the screw, then wiggle the bars out from the stem. Is this right? I feel as though I won't be able to do it because of all of those curves on the handlebars. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

That's the basic drill. Easier if you remove stem and bar as a unit from the bike first. May have to wedge the stem clamp open a bit to clear some of the curves.

Another newbie question.

So on my other newer bike I can easily remove the stem by just unscrewing the top screw on the stem and then pulling up the whole unit. On this fuji however, I have loosened the headset (i think its the headset) with a wrench and unscrewed the screw on top and I still can't get the stem to budge. Am I missing a step?

Thanks for the help.

Jordan

Stem may be frozen. You may also need to unscrew the center bolt pat way and then give it a good whack to release the retaining wedge or plug. Evne with the plug released, some plug type quill stems refuse to come out without major effort and cusswords.