Stuck stem!

[Rhythm Thief]

The stem on my fixie frame has welded itself into the fork steerer tube (I know it should have been greased, but it was like that when I bought it, honnist). Any hints on how to shift it? It's an old style quill stem and, while I'd prefer to get it out and reuse it, I am happy enough to destroy it and buy another one.

 

[Steve Austin]

Undo the bolt a bit, maybe two whole turns, and give it a tap with a hammer. A tap is all thats needed. Just enough to break the rust that has occurred inside the steerer.
A good spray of wd40 or rust remover from the bottom side of the steerer, and a few hours soaking can help with this.

 

[Dave5N]

Failing that, you do this.

Saw off the stem a bit above the steerer.

Fit a piece of robust steel tube longer than the sawn off stem over it. (An old cut-off steerer works well.)

Put two large flat washers on top.

put the stem bolt through and thread it into the stuck stem, and onto the wedge nut, positioned upside down.

(You might need a vice and a long spenner next).

Keep tightening the stem bolt. as you wind it, it will draw the broken stem up the steerer.

This worked a treat for me on a stem that got lodged in my Dawes, that even a vice and plumbers wrench couldn't shift.

 

[Tharg2007]

sounds like Daves plan is a good one.
if the stem is alloy though you might have oxidization, this is the worst thing, maybe some ammonia might free it. First you could try some plus gas or liquid wrench if you can find it.

 

[Joe24]

How i did it was to cut the tp of the stem off, then get an lectric hacksaw(well the guy next door did that, wouldnt trust me with it for some reason) and put 2 cuts in the stem then squeeze it in a vice. Stem came out. Tried wacking it, getting a cart lift to pull it, twisting it, putting strong penetrating stuff in there, wacking it from both sides.