French thread stem in a std frame
10-15-07, 03:17 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 587
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
French thread stem in a std frame
I have read how if you want to put a std stem in a french frame you must file it down to fit, what about the other way around? Is the stem too much smaller to safely tighten? Has anyone done this?
10-15-07, 03:21 PM
#2
crotchety young dude
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SF, CA
Posts: 4,818
Bikes: IRO Angus; Casati Gold Line; Redline 925; '72 Schwinn Olympic Paramount
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Other way around. Standard quill diameter is 22.2mm, French is 22.0.
10-15-07, 03:30 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,054
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3015 Post(s)
Liked 3,802 Times
in
1,408 Posts
A soda can is 0.1mm (adds 0.2 mm to a diameter) and is commonly used for seat post shims. I have never done it for a stem but it can't hurt to try.
10-15-07, 03:40 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 394
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I did it on my UO8. Follow Sheldon Brown's article and it's quite easy.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/french.html
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/french.html
10-15-07, 04:00 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 587
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
.... as i said im trying to do it the other way around... NOT a std stem thats too big and gets filed down (like in the sheldon brown article) but a French stem into a std 1" ..... ie it will be too SMALL, one person mentioned using a shim and thats what i was thinking of doing... but ive never heard of anyone using a shim into the steerer tube, so i was wondering if anyone had.
10-15-07, 04:22 PM
#6
crotchety young dude
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SF, CA
Posts: 4,818
Bikes: IRO Angus; Casati Gold Line; Redline 925; '72 Schwinn Olympic Paramount
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The one time i tried to shim something .1 mm it was a seatpost and I had a hell of a time getting the can flat enough around the post to actually slide into the seat tube. I ended up just faking it. So watch out for ruffled edges on the can.
10-15-07, 07:07 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pinole, CA, USA
Posts: 17,392
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times
in
25 Posts
The stem will tighten, but it will tend to rock in the steerer. You'll also have a space between the stem and the headset locknut that invites the intrusion of water. You don't want to add water where you have unlike metals in contact with each other. I say don't do it.
10-15-07, 08:52 PM
#8
Stop reading my posts!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,583
Mentioned: 90 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1443 Post(s)
Liked 1,062 Times
in
787 Posts
actually, joking aside, the "reverse tooth file" is close to an accepted technique to raise the surface: knurling. I've never tried it on a stem, but have used it (as have many bike mechanics) on fork crowns. It might not be possible to raise the material by a full .2mm, tho that seems like it's within the ballpark, so... worth a shot.
10-15-07, 09:32 PM
#9
Sister Annie
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hauraki Plains District, New Zealand
Posts: 1,519
Bikes: Retro Hercules adult tricycle, 1953 Hercules ladies roadster, 1950s Wearwell fixed gear 'Club' pathracer, 1980s Malvern Star 'Super Star', 1980s Healing GTX-105 Arabesque, 1980's Morrison Concorde & etc & etc.......
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
french steam in a std frame
__________________
OMNIPOTENS aeterne Deus, qui nos secundum imaginem Tuam plasmasti, et omnia bona, vera, pulchra, praesertim in divina persona Unigeniti Filii Tui Domini nostri Iesu Christi, quaerere iussisti, praesta quaesumus ut, per intercessionem Sancti Isidori, Episcopi et Doctoris, in peregrinationibus per interrete factis et manus oculosque ad quae Tibi sunt placita intendamus et omnes quos convenimus cum caritate ac patientia accipiamus. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
OMNIPOTENS aeterne Deus, qui nos secundum imaginem Tuam plasmasti, et omnia bona, vera, pulchra, praesertim in divina persona Unigeniti Filii Tui Domini nostri Iesu Christi, quaerere iussisti, praesta quaesumus ut, per intercessionem Sancti Isidori, Episcopi et Doctoris, in peregrinationibus per interrete factis et manus oculosque ad quae Tibi sunt placita intendamus et omnes quos convenimus cum caritate ac patientia accipiamus. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
10-15-07, 09:43 PM
#10
Bottecchia fan
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 3,520
Bikes: 1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo (frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame), 1974 Peugeot UO-8
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
__________________
1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
1959 Bottecchia Milano-Sanremo(frame), 1966 Bottecchia Professional (frame), 1971 Bottecchia Professional (frame),
1973 Bottecchia Gran Turismo, 1974 Bottecchia Special, 1977 Bottecchia Special (frame),
1974 Peugeot UO-8, 1988 Panasonic PT-3500, 2002 Bianchi Veloce, 2004 Bianchi Pista
10-16-07, 06:04 AM
#11
*
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,458
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
If it has a wedge it would probably work without a hitch. If it has a cone then no. But in either case you could probably swap it with someone who needs a French stem for a standard one and come out ahead. What brand/size stem do you have?
10-16-07, 03:53 PM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 587
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i was looking at some nice bars on ebay, and i figure why not buy some nice used ones...(im building up a frame part by part) but it turns out they are steel, so ill probably end up getting noodle bars
10-16-07, 06:18 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 3,419
Bikes: 1984 Miyata 310, 1986 Schwinn Sierra, 2011 Jamis Quest, 1980 Peugeot TH8 Tandem, 1992 Performance Parabola, 1987 Ross Mt. Hood, 1988 Schwinn LeTour, 1988 Trek 400T, 1981 Fuji S12-S LTD, 197? FW Evans
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 531 Post(s)
Liked 1,004 Times
in
514 Posts
I have used an aluminum can shim with no ill effects. If you put the shim in part way first, then put the stem inside the shim, then you can slide them together the rest of the way in.
