stuck stem

[mccallay]

Hello people. I have this lovely cannondale m300 3.8 1993 which has the original stem in situ. I would like to change it for something with slightly less raise but it is stuck fast. Tried loads of wd40 over the past few days but it ain't moving. Looking for tips on getting the bugger out and if it comes to it what is the best destructive ways of getting it out. thanks

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

undo the allen key bolt a few turns, hit down on it hard with a hammer = this can help to loosen the wedge.

 

[CassidyAce]

As above, loosen the long bolt which is screwed into the wedge nut that's currently in the head tube. If you can get 5mm-10mm protusion, that's fine. You still want it to be attached to the bolt. Then give that bolt some smart whacks with a hammer to try to dislodge it. I would then loosen the top, locking nut on the headset to reduce any unwanted friction and try to wiggle the handlebars using as much force as I felt I could without causing damage to anything.

If that doesn't work, turn the bike upside down, remove the front wheel and peer down the head tube to see if you can work out what's going on. It might be that the wedge nut has deformed the lower part of the stem and is well and truly wedged—in which case, make sure no one of a sensitive disposition is nearby, and swear profusely. This is not a lubricant but it helps. So does the view down the head tube: you might get an idea of whether angling your whacks on the long bolt will help. If you think it will, a few more whacks informed by your new knowledge of the situation might do the trick.

If it's still stuck, I would get ready to use brute force. Others might have some more tips for a less brutish solution but I don't. So, wrap something around the head tube to stop it getting accidentally damaged, put the front wheel back on so you can keep the bike upright with your legs, remove the long bolt completely, grab your hammer and whack that stem upwards (as close to the head tube as you can/dare) while holding the bike down by the fork crown/shoulders, then whack side to side, then upwards . . . then see if you can wiggle that stem lose using the handlebars. If you can't, try again and again and again . . . Until you can. It could take quite a long time to free the stem completely but, with a bit of luck, you should see some movement within ten minutes or so. When the stem is removed, get a metal bar (or whatever) and drive out the wedge nut. The stem will probably be knackered, as if you couldn't guess.

With an alloy frame, you want to be careful not to crack the head tube, so be judicious in the your use of force. Good luck.

 

[marc two tone]

This below worked for me, badly stuck.
As above winding the bolt up and give it a slap. That's usually the job done... still no good?
Remove the bolt all together, bars too.
Slap the forks on a vice, to keep the forks blades linear.
A turny tool, wooden brush handle worked for me. Any direction.
All these chems that are meant to release stuff brings a long-winded effort, weeks!
Upon initial turn, THEN bang some penetrating stuff in, wiggle it around.

 

[mccallay]

This below worked for me, badly stuck.
As above winding the bolt up and give it a slap. That's usually the job done... still no good?
Remove the bolt all together, bars too.
Slap the forks on a vice, to keep the forks blades linear.
A turny tool, wooden brush handle worked for me. Any direction.
All these chems that are meant to release stuff brings a long-winded effort, weeks!
Upon initial turn, THEN bang some penetrating stuff in, wiggle it around.View attachment 567868

just tried this and it worked!! thanks for the tip.

 

[marc two tone]

Nice one.

Hope you get it all up and running.