Stuck carbon.

[Gillstay]

These carbon spacers are stuck to the alloy stem. Anything that will help loosen them. Tried gripping to twist, hammer to go down and heat and cold. No joy yet.

 

[Big John]

Fair play....not heard of that one before, until today. I work for a bike charity and had a similar thing happen this morning. I'm pretty sure, though, that you may have tried this already. Spray some GT85 on the rings, take a rubber mallet and whack the steerer. Good luck.

 

[Peter Salt]

My strategy would be to get the steerer tube cold. - Aluminium should shrink ever so slightly whilst the carbon less so. But you're saying you already tried that?

 

[BianchiVirgin]

Just cut them off.

 

[Gillstay]

My strategy would be to get the steerer tube cold. - Aluminium should shrink ever so slightly whilst the carbon less so. But your saying you already tried that?

That was my original thought. I will try it again and try to do it better. Thanks.

 

[Gillstay]

Just cut them off.

That was what I was hoping to avoid. Just seems wasteful, but it may come to that. Thanks.

 

[Cycleops]

Pipe wrench?

 

[cyberknight]

Had similar with alloy spacers, in the end i got a chisel and twatted it to separate the spacers one at a time , the steerer tube had anodized (?) to the spacers and i had to sand it smooth again to remover the deposits .In the end i binned the frame anyway as it had a cracked down tube .

 

[bikingdad90]

Mole grips on the spacers and then twist the forks and not the spacers?

Have you tried any release spray?

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Warm lemon juice.

The slight oxidation on the alloy parts causes it to 'grow' very slightly. Can't remember the proper term, but it's what 'throws' the paint off aluminium and causes stainless bolts to seize in alumnium. Regular penetrating fluid (Plusgas) might soak in and break down the bond by lubrication, but the acids in lemon juice will chemically remove it without any collateral damage.

 

[fossyant]

That's a first. A little more bike prep is needed when sticking them together like a smidge of grease !

 

[Cycleops]

Warm lemon juice.

The slight oxidation on the alloy parts causes it to 'grow' very slightly. Can't remember the proper term, but it's what 'throws' the paint off aluminium and causes stainless bolts to seize in alumnium. Regular penetrating fluid (Plusgas) might soak in and break down the bond by lubrication, but the acids in lemon juice will chemically remove it without any collateral damage.

And what's left you can put the hummus (see Food and Drink thread)

 

[Gillstay]

Warm lemon juice.

The slight oxidation on the alloy parts causes it to 'grow' very slightly. Can't remember the proper term, but it's what 'throws' the paint off aluminium and causes stainless bolts to seize in alumnium. Regular penetrating fluid (Plusgas) might soak in and break down the bond by lubrication, but the acids in lemon juice will chemically remove it without any collateral damage.

ohh, I like that , lemon juice ! I have tried various grips and penetrating oils but all to no avail. I think the chap just washed it so often (as it was spotless) that it had removed any lubricant that was there. It looks like they will have to be cut off if the lemon juice doesn't work.