Problem with my Fork and Stem

[Opeyquinn]

I have just recently took apart my first bike to make a Fixie.
I have all the pieces BUT my problem right now is after I painted the fork and the frame my stem will not go back into my fork.
It will go in about an inch and then it gets stuck?
Any suggestions?
Get at me and thanks again for reading.

 

[alfeng]

I have just recently took apart my first bike to make a Fixie.
I have all the pieces BUT my problem right now is after I painted the fork and the frame my stem will not go back into my fork.
It will go in about an inch and then it gets stuck?
Any suggestions?

Presuming you did NOT paint the inside of the steerer ... is it possible that the frame/fork have a FRENCH origin & the particular stem was not originally on your frame?

 

[Opeyquinn]

Thank you for your help! I ended up just needing to get a bigger hammer. Once I cleaned out the rust the of the old frame and out of the fork the handle bars slipped right in.

That would have been terrible if I was to paint the inside. Good thing I tapped over it! haha

Thanks again!