#@$%* stem!

[langsmer]

Hey guys. I'm taking apart a typical 50's Hercules English 3 speed bike. It has a standard stem on it (I think) and it wont come out. It twists around fine, so the stem itself isn't stuck. Its something else. I cant get the the bolt that runs through it all the way out. It twists and twists but wont come out. I have tried pounding it out from the bottom, but the bolt sticks through the bottom meaning I am just pounding it up into the stem, which just tightens it up. Any ideas?

 

[user 135]

I had a bike where the fork tube was rusted and the wedge busted a hole through the fork. You might try taking the bolt all the way out. The use a block of wood to hammer out the stem(w/handlebars in). If the steertube has a rusted hole, you might have to hammer out the bearing cups so the fork comes out of the frame.

Becareful of the bearings, they are probably loose

 

[johnny nightwolf]

Sounds like the wedge may be rusted to the stem? Try screwing the bolt back in part way, leaving about 1/2 inch unthreaded & whacking the bolt down with a hammer to bust the wedge loose.

 

[Korporal]

If the hammer trick doesn't work get at the top and bottom of the wedge with whatever penetrating oil you have handy, and get a bigger hammer.