Kalkhoff Coupe du Monde - being Boring

[nickf1975]

Hi guys

I noticed tcb888 had posted a query about a stuck stem recently. Unfortunately I went one stage further as I could not move the stem so I took matters into my own hands and sawed the stem off .



I read in another forum somewhere that if this happens the existing or left over stem could be bored out. Is this something that I could do myself and is this quite a straightforward job.

Also I had a look at the forks, thinking they were sprayed silver but they seem to chrome plated. How easy/costly a job is it to have them re-plated or is it possible to spray over with a different colour?





Many thanks

Nick

 

[keithglos]

After riding her training bike for years without the expander bolt I decided to fix it. I had a plumbers type butane gas burner and heated up the fork column enough to melt the alloy, this is far below brazing temperature.

 

[nickf1975]

What about drilling the visible stem? and then filing it off? Maybe I could use a burner to get rid of any left over nearer the steerer?

Thanks

 

[keithglos]

The stem might go down 4 or 5 inches, all I am saying, my way worked quite quickly, starting from the top. Be aware the melted metal dripping out is probably 700 centigrade.
Keith

 

[nickf1975]

No that's cool thanks Keith

 

[nickf1975]

So protective clothing all round then!!

 

[keithglos]

It's not explosive, it will just drip out in lumps, and cool very quickly. Not enough heat to damage a concrete floor.