The stems are usually pressed in and that's a universal in case of aluminum clamps. You can press it back out, pushing on TOP of stem ... as what you may see and think of as retainer is to prevent the clamp from migrating down the stem in service. If you do this, set your clamp up in press over a round object like a bearing race, big enough on ID to clear stem and shoulder or snap ring, put on a ton or two, then heat the clamp with propane or oxy-acet. At about the point where it smokes very lightly, press it out. I'd press stem out about .4-.5 inch, then right back in ... then you'll have space to use a bearing puller. BUT, you may be able to take race off by wedging a screwdriver between it and clamp. You may however bugger the seating surface that way. [QUOTE] Not advisable to try to do this. It would be most unusual if the steering stem actually detached from the lower headstock clamp. There are possibly some rare race components with this potential but unlikely in this case.[/QUOTE] Yer WAY off dude, most all of them are pressed these days. I press them on and off routinely, usually to fit billet clamps or to make swaps with one front end onto another bike, most often involving a new stem too. Regards, Hoyt McKagen To prevent virus propogation, please don't put this addy in your book Belfab CNC - [URL]http://www.freeyellow.com/members/belfab/belfab.html[/URL] Best MC - [URL]http://www.freeyellow.com/members/batwings/best.html[/URL] Camping/Caving - [URL]http://www.freeyellow.com/members/batwings/caving.html[/URL] Two-Wheel-Tech List - [URL]http://batwings.freeyellow.com/2whfaq.html[/URL] It's called 'Mad Cow Disease' because 'PMS' was already taken.
