Classic & Vintage - french stem in 1 inch steerer?

Hi all,

I bought a 1 inch ISO fork to replace the French threaded one on my Peugeot PH12. I tried to do the 'keep the French upper parts and replace lower parts' routine as I wanted a new headset but couldnt find a french one. but that didn't work, so, to bypass the problem entirely, I now have a 'proper' 1 inch fork and matching headset.

The thing is that I can obviously fit the original French stem (22.0) inside the ISO steerer (22.2) but that leaves some room for movement. It doesn't move when I tighten the expander, but this only wedges the very lower part (where the expander sits) inside the stem. The rest of the stem is basically free to move 0.1 mm either way.

Sooo, do i need to find some kind of filler material, which would have to be no more than 0.1mm thick, or can I safely leave as is without worrying about destroying the whole setup?

thanks!

Better hobby stores sell assortments of brass and aluminum sheet stock in such thicknesses.

I'd just get a new stem. I've switched a couple Frenchies over to British forks, and always shifted over the stem as well.

I believe Stronglight still makes the A9 headset in French threading.

I believe Stronglight still makes the A9 headset in French threading.

They do:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/french.html#headsets

:) Even though you only have .2 mm space, I would not recommnet using any filler material or spacers for the stem. I think that it is too dangerous not having the stem installed tightly in the fork steerer tube. Of course since you now have a standard sized fork and headset, you would have to change the stem and bars to a normal diameter. Peace of mind to make sure that the stem is installed tightly in the fork.

:) Even though you only have .2 mm space, I would not recommnet using any filler material or spacers for the stem. I think that it is too dangerous not having the stem installed tightly in the fork steerer tube. Of course since you now have a standard sized fork and headset, you would have to change the stem and bars to a normal diameter. Peace of mind to make sure that the stem is installed tightly in the fork.


I agree on the swap everything and you'll be fine route, but the thing is that the french stem that came with the bike has a very convenient short reach and the British sized stems I have are all 3ttt long-reach ones, which put my arms too far forward. And I can't seem to find a British short reach one either. It seems that when you ask for a 1 inch stem for threaded steerers at any shop today, all you get is a peculiar eye roll and acompanying sigh, because any 'serious' racer uses ahead type systems surely.

Srew this new technology. i ride old sh*t and it works just fine and dandy. I'm getting seriously tired of LBS's not knowing what Swiss or French BB threading is or even quill type stems.

What's the deal with bicycle technology going out of fashion every 6 months anyway? The rate at which equipment becomes obsolete to spur on sales of new fangled bits is almost catching up with the computer market. I ride a 20 year old Batavus Criterium converted to fixie, equipped with cup-and-cone hub bearings and BB and I pay attention to bearing adjustment and maintenance.

Serious racers aside, I can blow away any full team logoed- spandex carrying with the matching sunglasses- midlife crisis- pot-bellied yuppie on a 6000 euro STI/Ergopower/titanium/carbon/slooping frame (how ugly is that?) spaceship with 50 gears anyday. And i'm a chain smoker to boot.

Sorry about the rant, but come on, this 'old' technology is so simple and beautiful it could almost make me cry...

thanks for the advice!

Sorry about the rant, but come on, this 'old' technology is so simple and beautiful it could almost make me cry...

Messing with old French stuff makes sydney want to cry.

:) Even though you only have .2 mm space, I would not recommnet using any filler material or spacers for the stem. I think that it is too dangerous not having the stem installed tightly in the fork steerer tube. Of course since you now have a standard sized fork and headset, you would have to change the stem and bars to a normal diameter. Peace of mind to make sure that the stem is installed tightly in the fork.The wedge secures the stem in the steerer and if it makes one feel better there is nothing wrong with using a shim to take up the slop between the quill and top opening in the locknut.

Messing with old French stuff makes sydney want to cry.
Sure it's a pain in the butt, but also a hell of a lot more satisfying when you get it right ;)

The wedge secures the stem in the steerer and if it makes one feel better there is nothing wrong with using a shim to take up the slop between the quill and top opening in the locknut.

thanks for reassuring me, oh mighty sydney ( and I don't mean that in a bad way)

Check out the youth's and ladie's bicycles at the 2nd hand stores. You can usually find some old 10 speeds with very short stems. Using this method, I can find them as short as 5cm. This is also a good source for narrow bars when the modern trend is very wide. However, there are two drawbacks. First, these bikes generally have low end components, but with a little searching you should be able to find aluminum stems with recessed Allen expander bolts, like the SR Apex. Secondly, you may have to buy the whole bicycle to get just the stem, but they are generally cheap.