Frozen Campag locknut - HELP !!!!

[michophull]

What have you got to heat it with? you only need to heat the locknut as long as its not a flame thrower you should be able to heat the nut without any damage to the frame.

I've got one of those paint stripping heat guns - like a very hot hairdryer. got the stem out and just about to give it a go. Here goes.

 

[latman]

I would definetly apply a wet rag around the headtube/toptube before heating and every time you attempt to uscrew it I would re-wet the rag . there is no con to all the pros IMO

ps I liked the " removable with normal tools " on the site

pss looking at the locknut pic and where the wrench has slipped you are attempting to loosen not tighten aren't you ?

 

[michophull]

It's off.

Had to resort to the hacksaw / screwdriver / hammer trick though.

Thanks everyone. Photo to follow shortly.

 

[michophull]

Strange how the bearing clip on the left is still like new after 20 years whereas the one on the right needs replacing. The other locknut is steel and a temporary measure until I can get a new shiny one. Mysterious small washer was found at the bottom of the steerer.

 

[Midlife]

You mean the thin bendy washer, was it found under the bottom race nestled against the fork crown ?

Shaun

 

[michophull]

You mean the thin bendy washer, was it found under the bottom race nestled against the fork crown ?

Shaun

No. It was actually inside the steerer. The brake bolt was stopping it from dropping out. It's got me wondering whether it's come off the quill stem.

 

[foz]

that sounds quite likely - it's too small to have anything to do with the headset. well done getting it all off - I guess the only damage was to the lockring?

 

[michophull]

that sounds quite likely - it's too small to have anything to do with the headset. well done getting it all off - I guess the only damage was to the lockring?

That's right Foz. And thanks for your advice. I had to cut the locknut diagonally and very carefully using a junior hacksaw. The blade just touched the steerer threads in a few places but no harm was done. I then opened it up using a hammer and screwdriver. Thankfully, the alloy was very soft and easy to cut. The rest of the headset was basically fine and is back on the bike. The crown cone is rather pitted though. Hardly surprising - it must have about 30,000 miles under its belt.

 

[smandaly]

The Campag locknut on my lightweight has frozen solid. I glued it on several years back using some thread lock from a car shop as it kept working loose every few rides.

Can't shift it and neither can my mate who's a car mechanic and stronger than meI agree with your opinion,thank you!If anyone is there a better idea, saying that out and share,thanks!
!

 

[GordonB]

I've managed to shift one of these by using a combination of heat and cold. I have one of those small Benzomatic blowtorches that refill from butane lighter gas and I used this to heat up the lockring. No need to wrap the frame tubes, the heat transfer through the headset is minimal. When I'd got the lockring fairly hot I sprayed the inside of the steerer tube with an aerosol freezing spray, the sort that's used to cool electronic components. There was a distinct click from the locknut as the corrosion/loctite bond broke and off it came. The freezer spray sometimes works on stuck seatposts, but I'm bu**ered if I can shift the Campag aero post on one of my Vitus 979s!

Gordon