Bicycle Mechanics - Swapping a quill stem

Question about changing stems:

When working with a classic-look quill stem like these:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=15118&subcategory_ID=5235#

http://www.nashbar.com/profile_moreimages.cfm?category=119&subcategory=1185&sku=12774&brand=

Is it possible to swap out the stem on a fully built front end? Or can you only get the clamp opening wide enough to slide the handlebars through without the brifters and bar wrap in place?

Does the question make sense?

I’ve changed out a stem with a two-bolt handlebar clamp like this:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=119&subcategory=1185&brand=&sku=3499&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

and it was a breeze even with the handlebars, brifters, and tape fully installed. But if I want to go with something like the Modolo above, do I have to strip the bars?

Thanks!

The ones you link to would probably require unwrapping bar, etc. There are quill stems out there that open fully so that you do not have to remove brifters, wrap, etc from bars. Here is one.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B6CN58/002-3573316-7629620?v=glance&n=3375251

yeah, you have to unwrap one side. If you have two different bar sets you want to run, it's easiest to just get 2 stems and swap them that way.

Thanks for your help.

Have that stem you link to. Sorry, gotta strip the bar. Good tip on extra stem, downside there is that if you've got cables under the wrap, well...........

Yeah, the shift cables can be a little annoying, but most of the people I know who have quill stems and regularly swap bars are fixed gear kiddoes who have max one brake cable, if that.

Now you know why removable face plate stems are so popular.