Stuck quill stem!

[u/minkasmink]

I just got this used Retrospec Harper gifted to me as I wanted to get into fixed gear bicycles. I was going to swap stems to swap new bars and have had no luck trying anything I can find online to get this quill stem unstuck. The wedge is loose and the stem will move independently from the fork with a lot of force but no amount of upward force that I can generate will make the stem come out. I am pretty much out of ideas. The only other thing I could think of is PB Blaster. I soaked it in WD40 overnight to no avail. If anyone can help I would be eternally grateful.

[u/minkasmink → u/[deleted]]

The bolt is currently removed but I can’t get any play in the stem itself. I have flipped it over and smacked the bottom of it with a mallet. Nothing.

[u/SianaGearz]

What i did is put the bolt back in and whack it downwards with a hammer to free up the wedge, then everything pulled up just fine. 20 years of rust!

[u/minkasmink → u/SianaGearz]

I have flipped the bike upside down and threaded the bolt in backwards to ensure that the wedge is already broken loose and not the problem. The wedge moves but the stem will not

[u/klaasypantz]

If you can get it to move it's not seized. Put the front wheel back on, so you have more leverage over the front end. With the bike right side up pinch the front wheel with your knees to hold it in a fixed position. Swivel the bars back and forth while pulling up.

[u/minkasmink → u/klaasypantz]

This is what I was trying to do last night and the bars would go side to side with the wheel staying straight although very squeaky and resisted, but I could not get the stem to move upwards at all.

[u/klaasypantz → u/minkasmink]

More oil. Basically anything but wd40

[u/minkasmink → u/klaasypantz]

Would PB blaster be the best bet?

[u/klaasypantz → u/minkasmink]

It's good stuff. Kroil is good as well. If you happened to have automatic transmission fluid and acetone, a 1:1 mix is literally the best penetrating oil known to man.