In searching for methods to free an aluminum steering stem from a steel bicycle fork the ideas of using either auto antifreeze or aqua ammonia have come up. I think the antifreeze idea is a leftover from the days before aluminum radiators, but haven't been able to confirm it. The aqua ammonia idea seems consistent with the chemistry (NH4OH attacks Al(OH)3) but nobody seems to have any substantive accounts, either of success or failure.
Does anybody on this group have experience with either method they'll share?
Thanks for reading!
bob prohaska