Folding Bikes - Handlebar Stim

I just got my new Dahon Vitesse D7, and It's great except for the looseness I feel in the handlebar stim----how can it be tightened up? Thanks.......Ev

Leroy did you resolve your issue? Perhaps you didn't get any replies because your question is not specific enough. Do you mean there is play in your stem but the fork seems solid? With the front brake applied when you jerk the stem around do you see play between your fork and the head tube? Or do you mean that there is no play but the stem has give when you ride and pull and push on it?

His stem's OK, it's the stim that's the problem.

I find those folding stems are like that.

Ha! Those dang stims :).

+1 alecw35.

Inspector Clousseau?

Naw, it shouldn't be loose. I could diagnose it if more details were given. It may be flexy but must have no play. I assume this is what is meant in the OP.

I am sorry that I'm not familiar with the parts and pieces of a bicycle---this is my first----in trying to be more specific, the play or looseness that I see and feel is directly within the locking mechanism holding the "stim or stem" together. When lifting it up and after the locking lever is raised in place----holding the front brake----pushing back and forth-----it is loose----I can see the play at the locking joint.------When I open the joint, there are two screws and a small plate that seems to move into a grove----this seems to be the problem. I've ridden and repaired motorcycles for 45 years, but this is my first bicycle. -----leroy

OK leroy, since you are mechanically minded, I am going to direct your attention to a thread on the Dahon forums:

http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4861

Does yours look like this pic posted there? Assuming it does, adjust the nut-looking bolt at the yellow arrow. Don't make it too tight or the white plastic block may crack when operating the latch lever. Loctite it after adjusting, they have a tendency to move.

Also, make sure the 2 button-head bolts are not tight, the sliding latch plate must slide freely. Loctite those screws if they are a problem but rather leave them alone.

Let me know if this solves your problem.

[edit] there is another thread referenced in that thread, with detailed pics of the latch parts.

Thanks for leading me to that thread----I think I understand it now----will do a bit of work on it------leroy

with some small adjustments, i got the stim standing solid---------l

Use a shim on the Stim , slim.Bada Bing Bada Bim!

with some small adjustments, i got the stim standing solid---------l

The freakin' stem is still loose, though.

Inspector Clousseau in "The Pink Panther": "There's a bimb in my room!"