Need some help stripping down a thrift bike..

OK, I'm new to this bike mechanical stuff but I have time on my hands and not much money and I want to learn this stuff. So, I dove in today...

I found a bianchi road bike in the trash this spring and I want to strip everything off and sell the frame (it's too big for me - 58cm). I got stuck trying to get the chain off. I think I have the right tool but see the picture of how I have it on there. I have turned it as tight as I can but I can't get the pin out. Is there a right side or wrong side? I don't see any master link - they all look the same to me:). My local bike wrench was going to stop by on the way home and show me how but he stood me up:mad:

The other thing I can NOT get off is the seat post. It looks like a square peg in a round hole. Whoever had the bike obviously replaced it but I can't pull the metal out enough on the frame to pull the post out. It's jammed in there! Any ideas? I guess I could just leave it on there...

Finally, how do you take the handlebars off? I feel dumb asking this one, but there is a spot on top where my allen wrench fits in but I can't turn it. Then on the bottom of the stem it looks like that piece should turn but I don't have a wrench wide enough to get around it. Guess I could try pliers? I don't have all the right tools yet but I'm trying. Thanks for your help and patience - I'm sure I'll have more for you later!

whatcha using there for a chain tool? Looks like you have the right idea, as far as I can see, but you might need to get a chain tool that gives you real leverage. You must push the pin far enough out so that you can disengage the inner link, but unless it is a Shimano hyperglide or newer SRAM chain (something tells me it is not:)), you don't want to push the pin all the way out. Unless you are throwing it away, and I hope you are, then by all means...push the pin out as far as you need to. It doesn't matter.

That seatpost may make you throw the bike in the dumpster. You can soak it in WD-40 for a week or put some Liquid Wrench in the interface between frame and seatpost, but judging by the amount of rust I can see it may be forever jammed. Aluminum not greased inside a steel frame equals galvanic corrosion. I have heard of some crazy mechanics hell bent on saving the frame cut off the top of the post, make longitudinal cuts (with what, I don't recall) all around the inside of the post where it is fused with the frame and just break it into pieces. Not easy and not pretty. You could also put the top part of the post in a vise and try to get it out by using the frame as leverage, if you have a vise and are ready to say goodbye to the post.

About the stem: You will need to loosen that stem bolt, then place an old book or something you don't care about on top of the bolt and whap on it with a hammer. The stem is held in place with a wedge inside of the fork steerer, and whapping it will pop the wedge free and the stem will come out. But the bolt must be loosened first. If it won't budge and you are using the right size allen wrench (it's been a while, but if memory serves me it is 6mm), then you can try the wd40/Liquid Wrench approach there too, but at this point it may be time to cut your losses.

again, I think rust is your enemy on this bike and may make stripping and rebuilding it quite the nightmare. good luck to you.

The chain tool I "found" on my crank brothers multi tool - hey, it looked like that's what it was for!:p But you're right, there's no leverage with it. And yes, the intention is to throw the chain out.

I know a guy who works with metals - I'll see if he can get the post out for me and then we'll have to see how the frame looks.

I'll give the handlebars another shot - won't be until Monday though so I'll keep you posted. It looks like another aluminum piece (that connects the handlebars to the stem?) was put on that attaches to the original handlebars. And the bolt where the allen wrench goes looks a bit stripped. Thanks for the help lunacycles!

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Originally Posted by mtbdarby

The chain tool I "found" on my crank brothers multi tool - hey, it looked like that's what it was for!:p But you're right, there's no leverage with it.

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Can you rotate the chain tool half way into the multi tool - such that the whole tool forms an L? If so, this should give you plenty of leverage, assuming the tool doesn't break. Think of it as a folding wine bottle cork puller.

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Originally Posted by mtbdarby

It looks like another aluminum piece (that connects the handlebars to the stem?) was put on that attaches to the original handlebars.

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That aluminum piece, taking up most of your third picture, vaguely shaped like the number 7, is the stem. Your front fork is linked to the stem by the steerer - which you can't see because it is covered up by other parts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mtbdarby

The other thing I can NOT get off is the seat post. It looks like a square peg in a round hole. Whoever had the bike obviously replaced it but I can't pull the metal out enough on the frame to pull the post out. It's jammed in there! Any ideas? I guess I could just leave it on there...

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Sheldon Brown has tips on seatpost removal that might be helpful :) or might not :( --

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/stuck-seatposts.html

15 Ways To Unstick a Seatpost
by Sheldon "Unggggghhh!" Brown

Removing a seatpost which is stuck in a frame can be one of the most difficult and challenging jobs that may come your way.
These 15 tips should help you meet this challenge, and emerge victorious.