Help with removing fork from stem?
 

Hi,

im converting an Old road bike to a fixie.

i have removed everything except one part.

The forks are stuck to the stem (older bike).

I can rotate them, but i cant pull them apart, i have unscrewed everything, i just cant pull them.


Any tips to help?

thanks

When you say that you can rotate them but can't pull them up, do you mean you can turn the stem and fork back and forth with each other or against each other? There's going to be a bolt on top of the stem that you just need to loosen. If they stem is simply seized inside the steerer, you can probably put enough leverage on the fork with a wheel in it to break it loose.

I removed the bolt on top. But the my bike is old so the stem is connected to the headset all in one piece.

Ive unloosed everything, the only thing is that the forks is still connected to the stem. I can rotate the stem against the fork (such that the wheels is not aligned with handlebars) but i cant seem to pop them out of each other.

Thread the bolt back into the stem slightly and give it a good whack with a 2x4 to make sure the wedge bolt has dropped loose.

You might want to give Sheldon Browns website a gander.

^^^ That's the way to do it.

I would thread it in more than "slightly" before whackin'. Need more than a thread or two if it is stuck bad.

?? You mean they are corroded together? Not that they are built together, do you? If so, post pics; not sure how that would work.

And I second the "whack" theory of quill stem removal.

jim

same problem with my buddy's conversion, i can get the headset loose but the fork and stem move at the same time.

Gee Wally, what would we have done without your insight?

Maybe you meant this anyway, but the headset does nothing to keep the stem and fork connected. If its a quill stem you have to loosen the binder bolt.

jim

I think we really do need pics.

Destroyed threads.


I've basically been wrenching my whole life.... I fix up/restore old motorcycles/bikes and used to repair/maintain really old industrial saws and generators. I use caution when using a hammer to persuade stuck bits like stem shims.

Sorry for trying to help, ass.

If the quill stem and fork's steerer have mated through corrosion it can be a serious pita to get them to come apart...