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Cracked stem mounting plate?

Old 06-23-19, 09:20 PM
  #1  
eja_ bottecchia
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Cracked stem mounting plate?

I have a quick question. I apologize ahead of time for the less than perfect photo quality. Hope that you can all see enough detail to answer my question.

The first photo shows the Deda Zero Nero stem om my C64.

Each of the mounting brackets shows what can be best described as a “white spot.” I just noticed the “spots” on today’s ride. The bolts have always been torqued to the right spec.

The stem is carbon but the mounting plate is aluminum.

Is this a sign of impending failure of the mounting plate?

By contrast, the second photo shows the same mounting plate on my C59. The two stems are identical, everything is the same.

I will have my mechanic check it out next week; I just wanted to get your thoughts on this ahead of my visit to the LBS.

Thank you for your time.


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Old 06-23-19, 11:57 PM
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Crankycrank
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Looks to me like the paint has worn off in those spots. Is there anything you do that rubs on the stem there?
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Old 06-24-19, 02:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Crankycrank
Looks to me like the paint has worn off in those spots. Is there anything you do that rubs on the stem there?
Not that I recall.
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Old 06-24-19, 07:26 AM
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Cable rub from a previous installation with the stem inverted?
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Old 06-24-19, 08:55 AM
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I thought about scuffed paint from turning the bike upside down. But it's usually supported by the hoods and the stem is off the ground.

Originally Posted by ChinookTx
Cable rub from a previous installation with the stem inverted?
Yeah! how close are the cables to the bottom of the stem plate? (But I'd expect one side to have wear, not both. The cables won't be perfectly symmetrical.)


The more serious question is:

WHAT ARE THESE CRACKS?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
stem.jpg (400.0 KB, 87 views)

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Old 06-24-19, 09:04 AM
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you took it off yet for more inspection than posting pictures?
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Old 06-24-19, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by rm -rf

WHAT ARE THESE CRACKS?
Yeah I thought the same when I saw the pics.
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Old 06-24-19, 09:36 AM
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eja_ bottecchia
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Originally Posted by rm -rf
I thought about scuffed paint from turning the bike upside down. But it's usually supported by the hoods and the stem is off the ground.



Yeah! how close are the cables to the bottom of the stem plate? (But I'd expect one side to have wear, not both. The cables won't be perfectly symmetrical.)


The more serious question is:

WHAT ARE THESE CRACKS?
They are paint cracks. I have been monitoring them for a while now and they are not growing. (BTW, sharp eyes.)

But Just to be safe, I have ordered a new stem. They don't make the Deda Zero Nero anymore, so I will get another model.

No need for the entire stem assembly coming apart while bombing it down a hill.
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Old 06-24-19, 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
you took it off yet for more inspection than posting pictures?
I don’t understand.
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Old 06-24-19, 09:42 AM
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separate , un bolt it . buy a new stem.
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Old 06-24-19, 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
separate , un bolt it . buy a new stem.
Your post was obscure. I have already ordered a new stem.
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Old 06-24-19, 02:32 PM
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Send me that gorgeous stem for a comprehensive 50,000 mile stress test please.

I'll let you know.


-Tim-
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Old 06-24-19, 02:59 PM
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The worn spots in the first photo wlouldn't phase me at all. But those paint cracks? Time for a new stem. Life's too short to be spending it wondering each ride if this is the one. (Says a poster who didn't do that wondering when he was young and paid big-time.)

My policy, simple - replace stems and handlebars before they break. You are doing that. Good work.

Edit: Apparently that is not Timothy H's policy.

Ben
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Old 06-25-19, 06:33 AM
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
The worn spots in the first photo wlouldn't phase me at all. But those paint cracks? Time for a new stem. Life's too short to be spending it wondering each ride if this is the one. (Says a poster who didn't do that wondering when he was young and paid big-time.)

My policy, simple - replace stems and handlebars before they break. You are doing that. Good work.

Edit: Apparently that is not Timothy H's policy.

Ben
That’s because @TimothyH answers to a higher authority. He has a very good co-pilot.
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Old 06-30-19, 07:14 PM
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UPDATE:

I replaced the Deda Zero Nero carbon stem with a Deda Zero2 stem.

Interestingly enough, the aluminum Zero2 is slightly lighter than the carbon stem.

BTW, thanks to eagled eyed @rm -rf for noticing the second crack. There was an annoying creak that I couldn’t identify. After replacing the old stem, the creak is gone. I hate to think what would happen if the stem broke off during a descent.

I also bought a Zero2 to replace the Zero Nero in the C59. Better safe than sorry.

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Old 06-30-19, 07:59 PM
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Off topic but I like the stem cap!
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Old 06-30-19, 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by sdmc530
Off topic but I like the stem cap!
When I am feeling wimpy on the road...the stem cap reminds why I am riding.

I get them from these folks:

https://www.purelycustom.com/headset-caps/

https://www.bikelangelo.com/

Last edited by eja_ bottecchia; 06-30-19 at 08:33 PM.
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