stuck stem on Homer

[Tim]

I have a stuck, stuck, stuck Technomic stem in my Hilsen. I've tried
lots of penetrating oil and dry ice to no avail. So now I'm
considering Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda) as Sheldon Brown
suggested. It's either that or take to to a bike shop and get it cut
out. Has anyone dealt with this before and maybe has a different
suggestion. Thanks all. Oh, BTW, I just discovered this group, after
discovering Rivendell about 1 1/2 years ago and getting my Homer about
14 months ago, and I really appreciate having you guys here.

[Peter Morgano]

Tried pure ammonia poured from underneath, ie where brake hole is? Worked for a 40 year old Raleigh I bought off of CL. Let it sit for a day or so, if you see it running out of the stem you know you at least have some wiggle room in there. Stick the stem in a vice and twist, or alternately hit stem with a hammer side to side....try not to hit the bike :)

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[Peter Morgano]

Tried pure ammonia poured from underneath, ie where brake hole is? Worked for a 40 year old Raleigh I bought off of CL. Let it sit for a day or so, if you see it running out of the stem you know you at least have some wiggle room in there. Stick the stem in a vice and twist, or alternately hit stem with a hammer

[Seth Vidal]

On Sun, Apr 8, 2012 at 8:43 PM, Tim <tki...@comcast.net> wrote:

I've never done this on a hilsen but on many other bikes.

with the stem bolt completely loose.

Take a rubber mallet and give it a whack or two.

If the rubber mallet isn't enough - put a wood block on it and give it
a whack that way.

the shock has freed some incredibly bound parts I've seen.

-sv

[Zack]

I had a REALLY stuck stem on an old raleigh frame that i was rehabbing, and I poured some cola (like Coca-cola, pepsi, or even RC cola) and it worked.  Tried penetrating oil to no avail myself, soda did the trick.

[Jim M.]

That seems like a very short time for corrosion to stick the stem. Just to check (sorry if you already know this), but you do know there is a wedge that tightens the stem, and you need to knock that loose before the stem will move?

[charlie]

Yea really.....this is often overlooked by home repair
mechanics......even me after too many years away from it. Unscrew the
stem bolt till it raises above the stem a little and whack it with a
wood, leather or hard rubber mallet or a wood block and hammer if you
have no mallet. If the bolt doesn't rise above the stem for some odd
reason use a hardwood dowel as a punch and smack it that way. This
should free up things allowing you to twist and wiggle it out. Drip
the penetrating oil in from the bottom with the bike upside down first
for a while so it can get around the wedge or use a spray with a
plastic tube in the nozzle, that's better.

[charlie]

I should add that you have to take the wheel off the forks so you can
get to the steer tube from the underside of the fork crown.......for
the oiling.

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

I've never seen a stem THAT stuck on such a new bike. I'd put away the chemistry set for now, and see if lube and carefully applied force will have an effect.

I've seen people loosen the headset top nut with the intention of removing the stem, but that has no bearing, so to speak, on securing the stem into the steerer. It's the 6mm allen bolt at the top elbow part of the stem that tightens the wedge. If you get that bolt really loose and tap/whack it with a hammer, 97.3% of the time you'll break it loose. You can also sandwich the wheel betwixt your legs whilst you twist the handlebar side to side (again with the bolt very loose, and don't twist hard enough to break/bend the fork or the wheel).

And don't hesitate to visit your LBS if you have one you like. Some of us bike fixing types are full of tricks and it'll probably be easier and cheaper than you think.

[Tim]

I've already had it at my LBS for 3 days of soaking and attempts. The
next step from them is to send it home for the week with their 71 year
old part time mechanic (he only works on Mondays and Fridays, so he
takes it home Monday...) which is what I may ultimately have to do but
I'd really like to get it on my own. As far as the wedge, it never
budged when tapping with the stem bolt, and now the bolt will not go
back in. Yes, I was stunned that it would be stuck in so new of a
bike. I have adjusted the stem as recently as last August or
September. I do sweat a lot, so I just chalked it up to that. Thanks
for all the input and I won't be working on it again till Friday (but
I'll be riding it cause the stem and goin' nowhere!) so I'd love to
hear more.

On Apr 9, 10:54 pm, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thill....@gmail.com>
wrote: