Is this stem ruined?
11-29-23, 08:40 AM
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Is this stem ruined?
I just picked up a 1983 Specialized Expedition yesterday. The previous owner decided to switch out the drop bars for north road style handlebars. It would appear that the diameter of the bars didn’t match what was appropriate for the original Specialized stem, looks like Nitto quality to me. The north road bars appear to measure 25.4mm near the stem mounting area. It doesn’t look too good to me, looks like someone forced that stem clamping area closed to hold these handlebars. Is the stem ruined? ☹️
Last edited by boneshaker78; 11-29-23 at 09:12 AM.
11-29-23, 08:52 AM
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Is anything cracked? broken? Planning on different bars? Using these bars then shim them
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11-29-23, 08:55 AM
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It’s a stem….. kinda mission critical !
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11-29-23, 09:00 AM
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It's not the worst thing in the world. But it really isn't great. Fortunately a proper shim or a bar of the proper diameter is an easy remedy.
You may need to remove the bolt and insert a flat blade screwdriver and pry it open a bit to assist installing a new bar or shim.
Whatever you do, don't try to pry it back to original dimensions (whatever that was.) You'll just end up eating into a whatever structural integrity remained. It's never a good thing to permanently reform aluminum. If you are lucky, and the other owner didn't over torque anything, no permanent damage occured in the first place.
I'm leaning towards: "It'll be fine."
You may need to remove the bolt and insert a flat blade screwdriver and pry it open a bit to assist installing a new bar or shim.
Whatever you do, don't try to pry it back to original dimensions (whatever that was.) You'll just end up eating into a whatever structural integrity remained. It's never a good thing to permanently reform aluminum. If you are lucky, and the other owner didn't over torque anything, no permanent damage occured in the first place.
I'm leaning towards: "It'll be fine."
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11-29-23, 09:00 AM
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Looks like a stem with a 26mm bar clamp ID and a 25.4mm bar OD. If you must use this stem and bar combo I strongly suggest shimming the clamp/bar to better and SAFELY fit. Andy
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11-29-23, 09:04 AM
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No cracking to be found. What was the original intended diameter of this stem? I’m not sure what bars I’ll end up using. I was just happy to find this bike for $160… it’s a future project that I’m going to assemble slowly and carefully. Can the stem be spread back to the original clamping diameter using two screw drivers wedged together when fitting a different handlebar?
11-29-23, 09:07 AM
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I have that stem from an Allez of the same era and it is meant for a 26.0 handlebar. I would probably try using it as long as you were not going to try and set a downhill speed record.
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11-29-23, 09:07 AM
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Thank you. 26mm is quite a bit different than 25.4. I’ll have to think this over, but I’m leaning towards better safe than sorry and finding a replacement…. bummer
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11-29-23, 09:09 AM
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The intention is more of a retired touring bike turned grocery getter. The original owner toured all over the east coast… thousands of miles, at least 50 touring patches from between 1983-85.
11-29-23, 09:22 AM
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Do you have to have the period correct look of that stem on your bike? If you decide you are going the replace the stem with something else and also get other handlebars then you might want to consider one of the threadless adapters that fits in the steerer tube and getting a pista type stem that will let you change bars and/or stem lengths more easily.
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11-29-23, 09:23 AM
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they are quality stems and not sure but probably made by Nitto. you might find if you loosen the bolt it might mostly spring back to 26.0. If you are set on replacing it I might know a guy lol...altho my stem looks quite a bit shorter.
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11-29-23, 09:27 AM
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Do you have to have the period correct look of that stem on your bike? If you decide you are going the replace the stem with something else and also get other handlebars then you might want to consider one of the threadless adapters that fits in the steerer tube and getting a pista type stem that will let you change bars and/or stem lengths more easily.
11-29-23, 11:58 AM
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11-29-23, 12:02 PM
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11-29-23, 12:30 PM
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11-29-23, 12:40 PM
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Yes, it looks like a Specialized-branded Nitto "Dynamic" stem. That's a high quality stem; ID should be 26.0mm
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11-29-23, 03:12 PM
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The aluminum used in stems is relatively ductile, and i wouldn't be concerned about the stem.
The real question depends on your intentions. If going back to 26.0 bars, you MAY (that's maybe, though not necessarily) need to flex the stem back open slightly. Or, at least, slide a wedge into the gap to hold the stem open while you fit the bars.
OTOH- if staying with 25.4 bars, you'll want to file a bit from the slot, so the two sides don't tough when clamped.
Either is fine, you just need to decide.
The real question depends on your intentions. If going back to 26.0 bars, you MAY (that's maybe, though not necessarily) need to flex the stem back open slightly. Or, at least, slide a wedge into the gap to hold the stem open while you fit the bars.
OTOH- if staying with 25.4 bars, you'll want to file a bit from the slot, so the two sides don't tough when clamped.
Either is fine, you just need to decide.
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11-29-23, 04:12 PM
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11-29-23, 07:52 PM
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11-29-23, 10:32 PM
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The answer is yes - it can. You would be foolish to not use the stem.
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11-30-23, 10:09 AM
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From a liability standpoint, if the stem is deformed ("plastic deformation") then I wouldn't recommend it.
But if I could get a shim in there so that the clamp did not completly close, I'd probably ride it if I saw no cracks.
But if I could get a shim in there so that the clamp did not completly close, I'd probably ride it if I saw no cracks.
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11-30-23, 11:27 AM
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So how many miles or hours did the original owner ride like this without issue? Days? Years?
11-30-23, 12:06 PM
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He claims that the LBS swapped the bars and set it up with the thumb shifters and all, but judging from the stem situation I would say that is questionable at best. The cables do look very fresh, so it had to be done fairly recently. He was moving to Italy and decided it wasn’t worth bringing bikes with him, can’t blame him. He was likely in his 70’s, according to him he hadn’t ridden the bike much since they swapped everything over.
He claimed thousands of miles logged on it in his younger days and the bike had the drops on for most of its life.