uncle uncle

So... I'm refurbing this old Fuji, and I want to do it with spending as little on it as possible. This is going to be my beater gravel bicycle, so, I want it to be nice, within the limits of spending time, but not money, on it. I noticed this Win stem, which is not catalog correct for the bicycle (I don't care about catalog correctness) has a flat surface, under the head of the securing bolt, which appears to be off-center? The edge appears almost under the bolt head on the left, but lots of flat is visible on the right. I tried to accurately measure the distance between the bolt center and the sides of stem, and I believe the bolt is centered, side-2-side, more or less. So, I think the off-center-ness is mainly the flat, and how it was originally machined. I'd like to re-shape the contour of the stem, near the bolt head hole, because I'm pretty sure every time I look down at the cockpit of this bike, that flat surface is going to bug me. Anyone done anything along these lines? Words of wisdom on how to proceed? Thanks in advance...

The Golden Boy 

I had an SR stem with the SR stamping off center- John Thompson bought it- I’m sure it’s driving him bonkers every ride...

oneclick 

If the bolt as pictured is centred in the hole then the it looks to me as if the hole is offset. If you want the bolt to look centred you'll have to persuade it to stay over to one edge of the hole when it's tight, and if there's enough clearance between the bolt shaft and the hole that'll do (visually).

To get the bolt head over take a file and make the flat tilt slightly so when tightened the head slides down towards the side you want. If there isn't enough clearance uo could take a swiss file and give it a bit more where it's needed.

nomadmax 

Put tape or a sticker over it and call it good. Better yet, write "Look at the road" on a piece of paper and put water proof package tape over it. It just might save you a trip to the hospital or the dentist.

repechage

Period European quality control on a Japanese part. How internationale.

functionally not an issue

uncle uncle

Thanks for the advice... I messed with a bit, and there is some play for the bolt shank, not much, but a little bit. I'll make sure the flat is actually flat, and not slanted and pushing the bolt to one position.

uncle uncle

I'd only fixate on it a lot the first dozen or so times out... then I'd just unconsciously let it nag at me. Maybe a bell over it?

scarlson 

You should be able to do a file, then sandpaper, then polish. Just go slow so you don't take off more than necessary.

If it makes you feel any better, my actual René Herse is full of these sorts of things. I don't think there is a perfectly-centered hole anywhere on the bike! It really did make me feel better.

cudak888 

The curvature in the casting was likely not uniform. Not a problem. Follow @scarlson's advice to reprofile and polish it, then reassemble it.

-Kurt

nomadmax 

That's an even better idea.

dddd

It looks like there is a counter-bore that the head sits inside, so there's no fixing this!

As an oddity, it makes a certain statement about low-priced components and quality-control.

I wouldn't monkey with it, just make it look worse imo.

Chombi1 

This does not just happen with the cheap brands......
I had a Cinelli 1A stem with it's little, oval, pressed on engraving on top of the neck, off to one side. Otherwise the stem was close to perfect, NOS condition. At first I thought it was kinda neat, cause it gives the stem a sort of C&V character, but then it started to really distract perfectionist me while riding......so I went and bought a more "perfect" example to replace it....

oneclick 

I had a Cinelli fork in which the brake holes were drilled about 15 degrees off line; they bent the brake-bolt so from the front it looked straight...now it has a stainless sleeve running between a pair of holes correctly located. I used to think it was just an early example (3-digit serial) but apparently those numbers are as inscrutable as Linear A.