WTF?!

[rustyjones]

Has anyone ever seen this before? WTF?! I can't even get a wrench on it!!

 

[catfish]

 

[100bikes]

Looks like the stem crawled out of the steerer tube and engulfed the stem bolt.
Perhaps you could flip the bicycle over and pour a bunch of rust dissolver(take your pick
on the solution) and tap the stem and binder bolt from the bottom.
Looks like it has been that way for awhile, so there may not be a good outcome.
rusty

 

[tech549]

well rusty looks like you have your work cut out for you!!!

 

[morton]

I would start by trying to get as much penetrent (do not use WD 40--would be useless) as possible into the steer tube from the bottom side. Then with a wire brush in a drill remove as much rust as possible so you can get a pruchese on the bolt for your wrench, I wouldn't be surprised if the bolt snapped.

 

[rustyjones]

Thanks for the ideas guys, so far Catfish's seems like the most fun! I have been scratching my head over this one for years and just recently had the idea to use a drill bit (the same diameter as the bolt shaft) and drill straight down into the bolt head until it seperates from it's shaft. It will ruin the bolt but oh well. Anyone try this before? is there any reason why I shouldn't do this?

 

[Oilit]

Thanks for the ideas guys, so far Catfish's seems like the most fun! I have been scratching my head over this one for years and just recently had the idea to use a drill bit (the same diameter as the bolt shaft) and drill straight down into the bolt head until it seperates from it's shaft. It will ruin the bolt but oh well. Anyone try this before? is there any reason why I shouldn't do this?

That will work, I've done it before, though not in this particular situation. Is the top of the stem counter-bored or is the head that shallow? If it's counter-bored, the bore is so full of rust you can't even see it, but on this stem that could be possible.

 

[rustyjones]

I scraped around it with a screwdriver and it seems pretty solid

 

[HEMI426]

If all the other idea's fail you could take the head off a one size smaller grade 8 bolt and tig weld it to the top of that bolt. Grind it shinny for good weld, use heat. Tap head tube with hammer to losen rust inside when using PB blaster penatrateing fluid. If the bolt head brakes off you could drill a hole and try an EZ out. Good Luck.

 

[Oilit]

I scraped around it with a screwdriver and it seems pretty solid

Makes sense. Usually counter-bored holes are for Allen-head bolts, but I can't imagine why that head's so short.