Handlebar stem corroded in steerer tube

Having posted this query I took a look at the FAQ list and read the suggestions and comments there.
It seems this is one for the specialist bike shop and probably requires a 'bore-out' unless anyone
has any better ideas.

Peter

"Peter Devine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Anyone got any ideas for a long-standing problem. For the last two years

I

Quoted message said:

just haven't been able to budge the handlebar stem or its 'spreader' nut. I've tried all the usual
techniques plus penetrating oil and using a

puller

Quoted message said:

from below - to no avail. I forsee a problem one day at an airport - so

far

Quoted message said:

I've got away without twisting the handlebars.

Any ideas welcome - I'm quite prepared to destroy the stem but obviously don't want to damage
the frame.

Thanks

Peter

Quoted message said:

Any ideas welcome - I'm quite prepared to destroy the stem but obviously don't want to damage
the frame.

If no gentle solution works try hammering the stem out by hitting it under the bend.

Sergio Pisa

I've had good results on 2 different steel fork bikes with aluminum stems using ammonia and a good
bench vice. It seems to me that the good bench vice has been crucial. Good Luck, Larry

"Peter Devine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Anyone got any ideas for a long-standing problem. For the last two years

I

Quoted message said:

just haven't been able to budge the handlebar stem or its 'spreader' nut. I've tried all the usual
techniques plus penetrating oil and using a

puller

Quoted message said:

from below - to no avail. I forsee a problem one day at an airport - so

far

Quoted message said:

I've got away without twisting the handlebars.

Any ideas welcome - I'm quite prepared to destroy the stem but obviously don't want to damage
the frame.

Thanks

Peter

"Peter Devine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Anyone got any ideas for a long-standing problem. For the

last two years I

Quoted message said:

just haven't been able to budge the handlebar stem or its

'spreader' nut.

Quoted message said:

I've tried all the usual techniques plus penetrating oil

and using a puller

Quoted message said:

from below - to no avail. I forsee a problem one day at

an airport - so far

Quoted message said:

I've got away without twisting the handlebars.

Any ideas welcome - I'm quite prepared to destroy the stem

but obviously

Quoted message said:

don't want to damage the frame.

Thanks

Peter

Only way I could fix a similar problem was to take out the clamp bolt, drop the 'spreader' out of
the bottom of the fork, saw off the top of the stem, then - carefully - saw through the stem tube
inside the steerer. (Take blade out of hacksaw; put blade through steerer/stem; clamp blade back in
saw; and saw slot in the stem material). The risk, of course, is that you might end up cutting a
groove in the inside of the steerer.................

Quoted message said:

Any ideas welcome - I'm quite prepared to destroy the stem but obviously don't want to damage
the frame.

Thanks

Peter

The last one of these I did went as follows:

Free frame because stem is stuck. Cut off stem to remove fork. Left stem quite long.

Removed fork (!!)

Using punch, drove wedge out the bottom of the fork. Turned fork over, using long punch, some lube
and properly supporting the fork on the crown, used a long punch to knock the stem out.

Knocking the wedge out was important because it allowed me good contact with the bottom of the stem.

Jon Isaacs

Sergio SERVADIO said:

Quoted message said:

Any ideas welcome - I'm quite prepared to destroy the stem but obviously don't want to damage
the frame.

If no gentle solution works try hammering the stem out by hitting it under the bend. Sergio Pisa

____________________________________________________________________________

Let me add for everyone's benefit.

Quoted message said:

From [email hidden] Thu Feb 27 16:54:06 2003

Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 16:34:45 +0100 (CET) From: Sergio SERVADIO <[email hidden]> To:
Peter Devine <[email hidden]> Subject: RE: Handlebar stem corroded in steerer tube

Quoted message said:

Thanks Sergio - worth a try.

Absolutely yes. Let me add a couple of tips. The best way is to have an old junked left crank arm,
by grinding or filing it to shape its head (saddle like, so to speak) to conform best to the
underside of the stem. When you hammer, have an assistant hold the fork and frame firm with
sufficient inertia; I do not recommend clamping the frame to a bench or to any improvised clamp that
could damage it when you are hammering (though you are hitting somewhere else, I mean).

Let me hear when you make it. Success guaranteed, for sure.

Sergio Pisa

"Peter Devine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Anyone got any ideas for a long-standing problem. For the last two years

I

Quoted message said:

just haven't been able to budge the handlebar stem or its 'spreader' nut. I've tried all the usual
techniques plus penetrating oil and using a

puller

Quoted message said:

from below - to no avail. I forsee a problem one day at an airport - so

far

Quoted message said:

I've got away without twisting the handlebars.

Any ideas welcome - I'm quite prepared to destroy the stem but obviously don't want to damage
the frame.

When all else fails, cut the stem and withdraw the fork then melt out the stem. The required
tempertaure is well below any significant effect on the steel steerer and in fact it's sort of fun.
You end up with neat shapes when the plastic aluminum hits the water bucket below.

--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

Thank you to everyone who has suggested some really interesting ideas. I'll start with the gentlest
- dosing with ammonia (as Lawrence suggested) - presumably over a period of days?/weeks?. The first
problem is to get the 'spreader' nut out since that seems to be corroded to stem, steerer tube or
both. If that doesn't work I'll work through the progressively more 'brutal' methods! I'll let you
know how it goes in due course.

Many thanks once again

Peter

"Peter Devine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Anyone got any ideas for a long-standing problem. For the last two years

I

Quoted message said:

just haven't been able to budge the handlebar stem or its 'spreader' nut. I've tried all the usual
techniques plus penetrating oil and using a

puller

Quoted message said:

from below - to no avail. I forsee a problem one day at an airport - so

far

Quoted message said:

I've got away without twisting the handlebars.

Any ideas welcome - I'm quite prepared to destroy the stem but obviously don't want to damage
the frame.

Thanks

Peter

<snip>

"Peter Devine" <[email hidden]> wrote .

I'll

Quoted message said:

start with the gentlest - dosing with ammonia (as Lawrence suggested) - presumably over a period
of days?/weeks?.

Any good results from ammonia will be quick, within minutes rather than days or weeks. Just pour
lots in. Good Luck, Larry