Any tips for unsticking a stuck stem?

[DrewSavage]

Many months ago I got a Raleigh Classic 15 for £21 off eBay. It's in a bit of a state - I've already thrown the wheels away - but it has two main assets. Firstly, it's a Reynolds 531 touring frame, and secondly it's got a Cinelli stem and Cinelli Giro d'Italia handlebars.

I want to a) put the stem and bars on my Raleigh Competition, and b) strip the frame to get it resprayed.

You've already guessed my next problem. The stem won't shift. I've tried squirting in a bit of WD40, and banging the allen key nut to try and shift it but to no avail.

My next clever idea was to turn the frame upside-down and squirt a *lot* of WD40 in there and hope something magic happens over the next few days.

That's where we're at now. If that fails to have the desired effect, what are my options?

 

[MrW]

Re: Any tips for unsticked a stuck stem?

http://vimeo.com/59399246

 

[DrewSavage]

Looks a bit extreme!

 

[DrewSavage]

I do like "I couldn't be f***ed f***ing around to make a proper one" as a catchphrase, too.

 

[DrewSavage]

By the way, the initial problem is that the quill bolt won't even shift...

 

[Midlife]

Ah! so the expander is still jammed in the stem. I'm afraid brutality is your friend here..........either with the handlebars attached and hitting the stem bolt harder or by cutting the stem and taking the forks off and then smacking out the expender.

While the expander is still in *nothing* will move.

Shaun

 

[MrW]

I'm with Shaun on this

Nothing like a bit of brute force (and WD40 and GT85)

GT85 might be more useful than WD40 at this point, I find it 'solves' a magnitude of problems

It will come out, you just need to persevere

 

[keithglos]

Re:

You could drill out the top of the expander bolt so that you can tap it down to release ti. Then you will know whether the hack saw is your friend.
An alloy stem can be easily removed when cut off with some heat on the fork column/steerer, propane plumbers type flame will be hot enough to melt out the remains. Just take care where you drip it.
Keith

 

[DrewSavage]

Blimey. Blowtorches and the like are a bit outside my comfort zone.

I think I'd like to explore every other possible avenue first. Actually, it's GT-85 that I've been using rather than WD-40 - I just couldn't remember what it was called when I posted.

Was turning the frame upside-down to squirt it in worth doing, or should I continue to attack from the top?

Are things like pouring boiling water on it worth bothering with? And if so should I be pouring it on the stem or the frame?

And are there any more specialised tools out there with more leverage than a normal Allen key, or a screwdriver with a hex head in it? I suppose what I'm after is an Allen key with a really long handle, but do such things exist?

Am I better off going to my LBS and asking them for help?

 

[MrW]

I wouldn't put water in there, it'll do more damage than good!

Your LBS may be able to help, but before you bite the bullet get the bike upside down and get as much GT85 down the forks/steerer tube as you can (I'm working on the basis that if the expander bolt is stuck then it should retain some of the lubricant)