How To Remove Stuck Handlebar Quill Stem - Worst Case Scenario!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 พ.ย. 2013
- I have been asked several times how to remove a frozen quill stem. But none of the bikes I was working on had frozen stems. Or they were only a little bit stuck and were so easily removed that it wasn't worth making a video. Then I hit the jackpot with this bike. It was an old Schwinn I had sitting in my garage. They don't get any more stuck than this one! I started with penetrating oil. Then vinegar to dissolve the rust. Heat gun the expand the metal and break the bond. Hitting it with a hammer. I finally resorted to cutting it off.
Check out my video of removing a stuck stem with a cable puller winch:
• Removing Seized Handle...
I found a stem that was even worse!!! I ended up disolving it using drain cleaner:
• Removing Seized Quill ...
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RJ The Bike Guy how do I fix my bike if the handle bars bent back after the bike switched gears? like the whole handlebar thing just bent back.
Ian Brown I actually found out how to fix it. It was because the steering wheel mount thing was too loose so while I was riding the handle bar thing would move up and down so I loosened it then retightened it so now it doesn’t move. but now it’s making a weird sound when I pedal? Is that normal? Like the medal is scraping.
@@iron327 If your bars are bent, replace them. They are dangerous.
@@iron327 th-cam.com/video/84YpHC6523s/w-d-xo.html
Ian Brown sorry I don’t know much about bikes lol
This was truly epic!! Never have I seen someone fight a private battle so hard, despite the numerous failures, and still come out on top - without once losing his temper or cool! Sir - I nominate you for the President of the world!
well said!!!
I had no idea this was going to lead me through the motivation path it did.
So cool headed.
He gets my vote, I'm dealing with the same problem and if I made a video there would be a lot more beeps on it.
when people have a bad day they just need to watch this.
yeah. I feel a little better now....
I’m having his bad day right now
Ha hah ha
@@pratamacarwash7890 turned my bad day in a good day with some brute force!
Haha. That was awful.
"And that's how you remove a frozen stem!" this man is amazingly patient!
Anyone else felt the need to cheer him on in the end? Must have been a great feeling.
totally agree
+Stephen Imsong Have to congratulate you on your tenacity, RJ.
I woulda been tempted to stuff TNT into the tubes and just blow the damn bike into the next town.
It was so satisfying to see that finally come out after weeks of work.
.....Months of work. lol
The exciting in the guys breathing as it was getting loose and coming. Never been so excited to see a stem come out!
several years ago, i tried restoring a used bike. i searched youtube for a guide to separate the fork. out of the 100k+ (not an exaggeration) videos ive seen on this platform, this man's journey is and probably will always be my favorite video. i love this man's grit to finishing a job, no matter the lack of any progress. truly makes me happy, thank you
Wow I just purchased a vintage Murray hybrid bicycle and it has a very similar stem configuration. I’m attempting to upgrade the stem and swap out with a new set of handlebars and was scouring the net for anything that looked similar and this by far was the most enjoyable video I’ve seen! Gotta love his persistence and determination to get that stubborn thing out 👍🏽
RJ has better videos than park tool
100k IS an exaggeration.
This is one of the most honest YT videos I have ever encountered. Tenacity, endurance, never quitting! Well done.
Congratulations. You are one patient guy! I would've thrown that thing in the garbage a long time ago out of sheer frustration. The fact you got it out calls for a big celebration.
dperique ...No, No, No!! ...Out by the street for guys like me that will get'R done 😃😃😃
I'm the type of guy that'll say "screw this, I'm getting the angle grinder"
Really appreciate the super effort he made and ended with "And that's how you remove a frozen stem". No energy left, tired but not defeated!!! Loved it!
I'm working on a a stuck stem currently. Makes me feel less defeated seeing how long it took him to do it. Patience and time are good tools to have in the tool box.
Did you succeed?
Rebuilding an old 1972 Raleigh Grandprix for a Christmas present for my girlfriend. Stem was absolutely stuck and was not moving. I remembered watching this video so I tried everything I could in hopes I wouldn't have to cut it, but failed. I resorted to cutting it, but used a different method, since I didn't have a hacksaw that fit inside the stem. I cut the stem about 3/4in above the steerer tube, then removed the fork from the frame. Turned the fork upside onto the stem piece, and with one brisk hit on the ground the stem broke loose. No damage to steerer tube or fork and surprisingly easy! Thanks for the help. Your videos are a great watch when I have some free time. Very educational.
Evan Tzumakas d
The struggle was real lol
I watched this whole video in growing horror and then easily unstuck my stem with just the hammer tap. Phew!!
I'll try that tomorrow, I'm a bit scared now after watching this, wish me luck!
@@thatrocksong good luck!!
This happened to me... Thank god the cranks broke so i had the excuse for a new bike lol
You're such a patient and determined human! I just wanted to cheer after you finally removed that frozen stem. I just tried to remove the stem of my Vintage Peugeot race bike and looks like it's frozen. I'll try all that and I hope it is not this "worst case scenario". Thanks for the video, it's such a masterpiece for vintage bike lovers!
Try something like this: th-cam.com/video/7GvN7w386U0/w-d-xo.html
I wish this guy was my neighbor...
me too. Then I could borrow all his tools.
You're the man. That's a very satisfying feeling. It's like when you have a cracked bolt and you need to use and easy-out. Once that sucker finally breaks loose, you want to give out cigars and brag to the whole neighborhood. The old guy who used to fix mowers at the house I now own, saved the broken bolts like trophies in a mason jar.
Zen and the art of removing stuck handlebar quill stems.
Fair play man, that was an epic battle! At least I know what I'm up against.
RJ, you are a true gem. You have helped me build and restore bikes throughout the years of watching your videos. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge to the world.
You could not have found a better example of the worst case scenario. After watching this I was a bit nervous about changing out my own stem, but your instructions to loosen the top bolt did the trick! This is an awesome video.
this is an older video but just wanted to say I'm rebuilding an old 70's road bike right now and all the problems I encountered (like this one) you have had a video and a solution for. Thank you!
Once Again,a masterful instructional tutorial on removing a seized bicycle component.
Experimentation,various conventional methods,Patience!, and more patience....
Excellent!
Most dramatic and intense bike how-to video I've ever seen! Very inspirational! Thanks!
I know this is an old video, but it will always be a testament to the value of perseverance. Well done.
Just a little suggestion: When hammering onto the stem, it's best to support the fork itself (at the bottom of the steerer tube), and not hammer onto the stem with the front wheel still on. The wheel has too much give and will absorb a lot of the force from the hammer blows.
He needs to support the steerer tube. If you hammer the stem with the wheel on the floor, you're just hammering the wheel into the floor, and the steerer tube is receiving no force at all to separate from the stem.
This method absolutely works. I just did it tonight on my bike and it broke free no problem. Super relieved - I was gearing up for a war after watching this video lol
😊😅😅😅
Tried your methods today on an old bike and after two hours I got it loose!! The vinegar and some ductape really helped, but mostly perseverance haha. Thanks for the video!!!
Wow to say this was persistence is an understatement. I love your videos. Thank you so much for the great inventive thinking. I have used your bolt and lock washer tool to stuck bottom bracket cup, on an old Raleigh and used your head set tool to rebuild a Norco Mountain bike. You are really do a great job and I love how your video keep focus on the actual bike and the process you use.Thank you so much.
Dude, so cool watching someone wrestle old steel bikes...having been there myself. Well done for perseverance.
I had the same problem and tried the same solutions to no avail. Oxalic acid and phosphoric acid (as found in coke) are specific to rust but as you surmise this is an electrolytic problem involving aluminium compounds. I cut the headstem way before you did and removed the remains with sodium hydoxide/lye/draino which dissolves out aluminium but leaves steel intact.
Thanks for the video. Fascinated to see what others have tried.
The best comedy show for ages, haven't laughed so much for a long time. Comedy's all about the timing they say - I hope people have the time to watch this through to final demolition. 2.44 in my first chuckle. 5.04 'didn't think so' comment, put me in stitches once more... from there you can hear just a hint of depression in the voice but you recover quick and battle on. Have to admire the endurance also huh. Wonderful thanks. Now, back to my stuck stem... think I'll cut to the chase, save my liquids and go straight to the hacksaw. :-)
Glad you got a laugh. I do try to get a little humor in my vids. :) I try to start with minimum damage and then work up from there.
Haha 😂 ever laugh so much, don’t expect it either
You're a very patient and very intelligent bike person. Not once did you loose your calm. This should be inspiration for bike buffs. This was a very tricky scenario indeed. My full respects, and a big hat off to you Sir. Thank you for sharing.
I found your post after spending about 3 hours of trying to loosen the stem on my grand daughters bike. I thought I had forgotten how to adjust it. This was exactly what I needed to see. It is now soaking in oil and I will give it another try later. I just wanted to say thank you.
"Just kinda tap down" (WHAM!!)
.ma'am you Thank
My favorite part
All I can say is you are the man, on persistence alone you get an award. I took a week to free a stem from an old Masi I picked up, thought that was pretty good for my impatient temperament. You do work on some nice specimens.
This is the best bike video ever for showing how to use patient persistence for solving problems. When the stem is finally freed I experienced a sense of real accomplishment. Thanks for sharing this! I hope the stem on the old Raleigh I'm working on won't be this stubborn but feel mentally prepared;-)
Wow…just wow….
Look at the effort…patience and perseverance…it’s like I’m not giving up until my last breath of my life!!
Kudos to you RJ…
You are simply awesome!!👏👏👏
You`ve just made my day ! Thank you .
Wanted to let you know, I had the same problem, aluminum stem in steel fork... I solved it with something similar to your vinegar method, but I used phosphoric acid instead. Rust remover containing phosphoric acid should have worked too. The stuff can attack aluminum oxide way better than vinegar can.
Thanks for the sharing. How did you use it? You used a brush to brush the fork tube, or after sealing the top hole, just pour 100 ml into the tube from the bottom hole of the fork, or you soak the whole fork in a barrow?
Tough job! With creativity, persistance and patience it finally came off. Hats off to you RJ!
This is THE best video I've ever seen on TH-cam. I get tired of the normal, slick offerings that make everything look so easy. I've had the same problem on my 1986 Cannondale.... and a few years ago after spending hours at home and eventually taking it to a local bike store, just gave up. Now I'm tempted to go try again.
Man. I watched this all the way through, really rooting for you at the end there.
Thanks! That's how it goes. You try the easy stuff first, and keep going further and further trying to get it out causing the least amount of damage. :D
shyflirt1 you're a wizard! Got major rust on a bike I'm working on, won't move for anything, will buy some more tools tomorrow and follow your tips
Good luck! I started with the simple stuff, and went from there. This one was about as hard as they get.
shyflirt1 no success yet :( snapped the stem clasp when trying to twist it with the handlebars, don't want to keep it anyway!
Your a beast!!! I would've lit the bike on fire after the vacation and penetrating oil try 😆
So once he started the video, he had no idea how long it would eventually take. But once he had started there was no finishing until the stem was out. I love the way the video cuts and comes back with the stem cut completely off, the viewer gets no warning! Like 'Whoa'...what went down when the camera was off, did he totally lose it!!! Excellent video RJ!.
You’re a savior! I found your video and every step along the way i was praying I wouldn’t have to end up cutting, but I ended up having to go all the way as well. Thanks for making this!
I wanna share my slightly different method for cutting out the stems! I've had two seized stems that I ended up using this on. A 70s motobecane, and what I think was a late 90s bike. I tried a bunch of soaks, heat and hammering methods to no avail, and actually broke the handlebar clamp on the older quilstem. So I cut the quill and removed the fork, then took the biggest drill I could find to remove as much material as possible before using first a triangular file, then the hacksaw. I cut two slots roughly 1cm apart, tapped this narrow strip towards the centre, then hammered a flat screwdriver between the aluminium and steel, down to the end of the stem to take it out. Then using pliers I squeezed and turned the stem both directions, working it loose fairly easily. I think it might work better than RJ's four cuts method because it keeps a bigger chunk of the quill intact to apply force on while also forcing the steel and aluminium surfaces to separte as there is spacer for the metal to warp into... Good luck
I'm smahing that stupid bolt like a crazy, but it just won't budge, I'm starting to be quite furious right now.
Fantastic, entertaining, SATISFYING video, so well explained and documented!
Well, I was looking for how to adjust my handlebars, and got the mother of all handlebar videos! great work!
Well, this is exactly what I needed to see because I've been stumped with this same issue. Now I'm so scared I'll end up having to cut mine too... :( Thank you for sharing this!
Let your LBS do it... Lol
After watching this I threw my bike away!
I'm throwing away mine too
🙄🤪🤔 I'm hoping I don't have to but it's not looking to good yet
Good thing i dont have bike, i dont know why im here😁
Fabulous ! This is a great sequel to seat post removal. Great lesson in determination .
You never quit, it's amazing to watch.
you've got a LOT more patience than i have, lol. if i wouldn't have had that out within an hour, 2 at most, it would have been landfill.
007tallguy ...Put it out by the road for guys like me😃😃😃
Use caustic soda next time, saves you a lot of work and frustration! Pour it into the fork and let it bite away the aluminium stem. The steel will not be harmed. Takes only a couple of days, and then the stem is almost vanished.
Paul Kreugel poisonous fumes?,caustic soda can burn your internal organs,on the upside it reduces aluminium to black sludge :)
neil crompton I believe aluminum in sodium hydroxide releases hydrogen gas.
i've seen videos here on u tube where they were wearing respirators & disposable suits,it gives off a very nasty smell too,do u really want to risk inhaling hydrogen gas plus whatever else that is present,isn't there thermal reaction too? (ie: heat)
I worked in a plating shop for a while and we would clean parts in a sodium hydroxide bath. We had to separate out aluminum parts because they would be eaten. They snuck in occasionally. No biggie..
the fumes must be toxic right? as the cs reduces the aluminium to sludge,hats off to you once again rj love your work & looking forward to your next video :)
Really admire your persistence on this RJ. One thing I dread is ceased components!
I don't know how to thank you enough this was so useful your little tactic took me three weeks to figure out and you just taught me in a minute and a half
jesus you are determined i would get ma and take the hacksaw cut the bike in half and stick it on the trash dump and be driven to a valume going through all that lol.
But i take my hat off to you
If it's a valuable bike you're not gonna want to just turn it into garbage lol.
I wish I had half the stuff you have in your garage.
I just have to say , thank you so much for this video and all your bicycle videos, as I’m building my bike from the frame up , and I have watch most of the videos of yours , which has help me do the work . Keep them coming . Thanks again. Adam from London England
Man, I would have been cursing up a storm. If patience is a virtue, you are a very virtuous man. You remind me of a high school teacher I had who always bumbled through things but never gave up and somehow always accomplished his objective. I learned a lot.
i´ve been on that moment soo many times. when your own breathing advices you that your about to loose your fucking mind and throw the bike in to the fucking air xdd
benO .- hahaha
And now God has granted us the threadless headset
Absolutely, re: their functionality but IMO, at the expense of style...& of my 12 bikes, 2 are contemporary carbon LOOKs & the other 10 consist of 6 carbon LOOKs/TVTs & 4 steel (Columbus EL-OS, SLX & AIR and Reynolds 753R) from '86 - '90 (8 of the 10 are exact replicas of Lemond's TDF-winning bikes), so I'm not massively biased toward one or the other...but of course, from a racing perspective, low weight, strength, durability & quick replacement times are what matters most, not aesthetics - even if you are French or Italian & style is also important - because to finish first, first you must finish!
God: You're welcome. See you on Sunday! ✌
And yet old people love old archaic stuff.
I love how for every problem that occurs while working on old Bikes, all I have to do is google it and a Video of you solving it pops up :D tapping the nut with a hammer worked like a charm on the old german Kalkhoff i'm working on right now, thanks a lot!
if nothing else this video shows the value of perseverance, managed to get my stem free at the heat gun stage, couldn't quite believe it! Thanks RJ.
hahaha i feel this guy
that was true dedication. thanks for the learning experience and all the options to replace the stem
you sir have won when many others like myself would have been back on Craigslist looking for more old bikes, well done
Great video that almost demotivated me, because I had an 80’s bike with a frozen stem that I really wanted to keep.
I tried everything you suggest here, but what did it for me was filling the steer tube with ammonia and let that sit for a week. Then I locked the stem in a vise (awkwardly tying the back to a ceiling beam with a rope) and twisting the fork with a long piece of wood. It snapped (thought I broke the fork!) and twisted just a bit. Let it soak in penetrating oil overnight and then did multiple rounds of twisting and hammering the stem down with the fork resting on the jaws of the vise (which are lined with wood blocks). Once I got full revolutions with the twisting (applying PO regularly) I finally got some vertical movement and a bit later the stem slid out. Best moment of the week!
Thanks RJ for the detailed video’s, they really helped me, and hopefully someone gets some use out of my frozen adventure.
Watching this video inspired me to mess with my old Peugeot to undo the stuck stem and readjust the stem height. Fortunately, all it needed was a good whack with some wood and a hammer. All of these attempts would've had me cussing left and right!
Good stuff as always, RJ. Every time I have a question on bike maintenance, you had already answered it long ago.
I cheered like a mad-man when you got that out. Good work!
I thought I tried until watching you. What a patience and persistence. I am going to buy that penetrating oil and really try it again.
Glad I'm not the only one having fun with old rusty bikes
You're a guy I wouldn't want to mess with, because yours determination is admirable, great work
Fantastic. Really great to see you take it to the end. Reminds me of my late father who would always find a solution somehow even if it mean building a special tool. Its a gift.
WOW! THANK YOU very much for taking the time and sharing this with us. These techniques are very informative as I don't have much experience. This case is very tough but you made it! Congrats and Thank you once again!! : )
You might also like these:
th-cam.com/video/7GvN7w386U0/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/8b4t42wiJpQ/w-d-xo.html
Wow RJ, never seen such perseverance . Hats off to you & thanks for so many tricks & tips . I will never-be able to go to that extent & I hope I don't find myself in that situation. Cheers
Great video man, and a big inspiration to not give up on my current bike stem nightmare :)
What a wonderful video. "Chapeau" Sir! I found myself here this evening after my daughter presented me with her "new" Peugeot road bike (circa 1973 I think), bought from a 2nd hand shop here in France for €30, and casually asked me to fix it up for her. Whilst all in remarkably good repair I was dreading trying to raise the bars for her, and after watching your efforts i thought I may be in for a long evening. But....exactly the same config as yours....and with a light tap a hammer it all freed up....phew! Clearly the bike has been well maintained during the past 45+ years!
Keep it greased!
That was incredible! Fascinating video - I was wondering what was going to happen. Well done!
yo siempre digo que la mecánica te enseña a ser una persona muy paciente, a saber manejar las frustraciones y a seguir intentando. Te felicito y admiro en gran manera por tu tenacidad!! me has inspirado. Saludos desde Uruguay
You never give up! Inspiring for life, never mind bikes. Great channel.
Wow! Congrats on getting it free, at last. Love your dedication and all the helpful suggestions/techniques. Great video; great conclusion.
WOW! I was on the edge of my seat until the last frame.... More, please!
dramatic build-up ...exciting finish holding the stem up victoriously! I was pullin for ya, man - I'm glad you made it
Unbelievable!!! I am speechless. Now that's pure endurance!
Thank you so much... your perserverence motivated me one last time before I took it to the bike shop, and I got the stem out. Now I'm cruisin with 32's.
Fantastic. You are one hell of a determined young man and it makes for a fantastically useful video. Many thanks for sharing it!
I thought to have a difficult case... definitely encouraged seeing your video to try more and again!
I never thought he would do it; it was like watching a movie. Great video!!!
You demonstrated great tenacity, sir!
The 'hacksaw-work' alone must have been prodigious!
you are a very patient man. It took three to four weeks but you did it. By that time, I would have totalled the garage, the house, the pub (several times), the wife would have been had at with fury.................kids scared. Solicitors on standby after the arrest and section, and calming medicines of which were administered for several years. the little green light in my head would still be on to this day, accompanied by that weird but wonderful high pitched whistling. Well done bud. You did it, without the introduction of the imaginary friends that I have had for years.
Thanks for sticking with this and trying a variety of solutions! This is what I usually experience when I try something like this. It was great to learn some new approaches!
Helped me out a lot! I eventually managed to free a seized stem thanks to this video!
Hats off for your patience
This was incredibly helpful. Didn’t have to get the saw out but it’s great to know the extent of what is can happen
Exemplary patience and perseverance! Respect!
Thank you RJ! I was on the edge of my seat with the tension!
co
Mannnn so much work and effort....great video man!!!!
Fantastic video. Most videos start with an easy set up on a brand new bike like "look I easy" whereas mostly I'm working on fixing up old crappy bikes with tons of problems. This is a propper breakdown of the reality of the situation like ok, let's try this, ok well that tells me this so lets try that, ok now we can give this a go etc etc how it actually happens. Great info and tips!!!
Excellent video on real world problems with stuck bike stuff (seat posts too). Never mind those "I have the perfect solution" cures for these problems (Blaster, vinegar, Coke, etc.). shyflirt went through all of these first tries which work if you're lucky. Too many times we're unlucky. Then, if the "bigger hammer" attempts don't cut it, well, sometimes ya gotta just cut it anyway and hack the thing out and this is the best video that shows a real world attempt - and finally success! Yes, you lost the stem but you saved the fork. You even soaked the thing in Blaster while on vacation and it was still frozen - this is truly the worst case scenario - time to cut, twist, rend, and muscle it, ug!. This vid took time and obvious effort. Real world. Appreciated.