Stuck stem, need suggestions

[Tim s]

I have been trying to get an aluminum stem out of a steel steerer tube. The bike is a 84 Raleigh Competition. I have been spraying it with PB Blaster trying to get it to move side to side and hitting on it with hammer with a block of wood as a buffer. I have been working on it for a couple of weeks on n off. Any suggestions?Thanks Tim

 

[catfish]

If PB blaster isn't working, you might need this....

 

[Junkman Bob]

Dent puller might work

 

[WillWork4Parts]

Is the wedge still stuck at the bottom? If you haven't already, put the bolt back in sticking up a few threads from the top and tap it down with same wood block and hammer. Wedge has to be dislodged before you can think about twisting.

Note: I've also had wedges with stripped threads. May have to try tightening just to make sure threads are intact enough to help tap the wedge down.

 

[bulldog1935]

@WillWork4Parts has done this before - all correct.
You have to get the wedge apart and driven down before the stem will come loose - raising the stem bolt on its threads and tapping it back down is how you do it.

 

[Tim s]

The wedge is free and loose. If I used a torch on the stem not close to the threads will that do it ? Will a heat gun also work?

 

[J-wagon]

Well.... May be galvanized. RJ the bike guy removed Alu stem from steel steerer but sacrificed stem in process.

 

[Tim s]

Thanks . Tim

 

[bloo]

If there's a hole in the bottom of the fork crown, maybe you could turn the bike upside down and feed it penetrating oil from the bottom.

 

[GTs58]

I'd heat that up as hot as possible. Soaking it for weeks on end with a weak acidic chemical obvious doesn't work and a penetrating fluid IMO is worthless.