Remember to tighten your beautiful C&V stems!

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01-09-15, 10:38 AM

#26

Giacomo 1

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Quote:

Originally Posted by KJK

I have a Cinelli XA stem on my Bianchi with the aluminum alloy bolt which seems very fragile. I don't know the recommended torque so I just tighten it until I can't easily twist the bars when holding the front wheel still. The bolt's not very tight with this method but so far so good.

Anybody know the torque spec off hand?

I wish I knew the torque!

I had the bolt snap on my Cinelli stem(1A I think?)while out of the saddle and mashing down the street. My hands were on the hoods and when that bolt let loose, the bars rolled way down leaving my chest laying on the stem and unable to reach for the brakes, instead having to unclip and stop with my foot! It was ugly, but I got the bike pretty well stopped before I tipped over. When those bars rolled it was shear terror till I got the bike stopped. Had any cars been coming...well, you know!

So yeah, what is the torque!!!?

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Last edited by Giacomo 1; 01-09-15 at 10:42 AM.

01-09-15, 10:41 AM

#27

mrv

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a month ago I got a s/s project (w/ platform pedals) so close to 'done' i could ride it. The maiden voyage went fine. The second ride, I was blasting to fast down a side walk, braked for a drive way, with seeing an all clear, I stomped on the pedals, and one of them pulled out of the crank arm.
My CAT 3 - like, retired racer reflexes engaged instantly to keep all my weight on the bars and the other pedal - which were - thankfully - properly installed - so no crashing. I'm pretty sure the first thing I said was something like "Thank you, Jesus". Could have been me landing on my face...
@KJK : Part Tool Says: 174-260 in-lb torque for quill binder bolts: https://www.parktool.com/uploads/files/blog/torque.pdf
There's a conversion chart at the end of the PDF.

ENJOY!

01-09-15, 11:28 AM

#28

sanmi

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Quote:

Originally Posted by xn7

I found out the hard way and ate some pavement. 2 weeks of bandaids all over my face knees knuckles and elbow but hey I'm alive. I may even be prettier now.

Surprisingly the bike is 100% okay. not even a scratch.

I've never had a problem with my DIY work but now I'm reminded how dangerous my own carelessness can be.

Stay safe out there guys.

Yikes! Glad you're ok!

01-09-15, 11:32 AM

#29

bikemig

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott

Perhaps I'm OCD anyway, but all my stems get tightened to 15-20 ft-lbs before leaving the house for the first time. I use a torque wrench because I'm a weakling and it's easy for me to under-tighten this bolt with a regular 6mm allen wrench.

It's one of the things I learned putting together bikes in a shop was that the final check before putting the bike on the floor or giving it to a customer was to check the tightness of the stem. Just the wheel between your legs and yank hard on the bars to see if it moves.

01-09-15, 01:53 PM

#30

noglider

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It's all about procedure. I won't write one now, but I have a checklist in my head that I use to check out a bike. (I've worked in the past as a shop mechanic.) Look it up, and make it into a habit.

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01-09-15, 02:15 PM

#31

non-fixie

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sced

Grateful you'll be ok. I'm 58 and I feel like I forget things and what I'd meant to do every day....makes me wonder what's ahead.

A life filled with band-aids?

It happened to me once. Since then I always tighten the stem, even when I know I'll have to remove or adjust it later on.

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01-09-15, 04:33 PM

#32

crank_addict

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclotoine

Glad the OP is all good. I have had a stem come loose but I don't think I have bailed because of it. I have however stood out of the saddle after changing a cassette and chain only to find the chainring is shot too. Over the bar you may go in that instance.
I always carry this on a fast road ride in addition to spare tube and some levers.

My fascination with multi tools began in the mid 1990s when I got this uber cool Giro multi tool (Bad Idea Racing: Excess baggage and the blissful ignorance of youth scroll down at bottom).. don't have it anymore. broke the tire levers.
I always carry a heavy and bulky Topeak tool on MTB ride with a bunch of chain pins in the pouch, it also has two convenient places to snap in spares. Any I have fixed a broken chain of a friend when far from the trailhead which saved us a couple hours walk. So yeah, I would never ride in the woods without it.

Good link read. I've carried a Finish Line 'Chain-pup' tool since 1990 or 91???. So micro minimalistic but an outstanding piece. Another tip for larger sized socket head (Allen) and if caught without the proper size, one can double up two smaller ones together and weasel them into the socket. Other- I wrap spare duct tape and copper phone single strand phone line wire around a tire lever. Probably senseless but I do carry a few different chain links, small common assortment of screws, Kevlar string line as a spoke replacement, and variety size of tubes. A miniature slip joint (like a Channel Lock) plier is super handy. Also have a micro tool plier / side cutter, screw driver variety, knife combo.
Always seeking cool tools in Ti

01-09-15, 05:38 PM

#33

cyclotoine

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Quote:

Originally Posted by crank_addict

I had to look up the chain pup. I also inherited a silver ritchey tool, like the one below, from my bro but I seem to remember it is broken (c.1995/6 also). I still have it somewhere but the giro is long gone. The topeak alien II I have is just awesome.

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01-09-15, 06:03 PM

#34

RobbieTunes

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Quote:

Originally Posted by xn7

Glad you're OK. I've noticed a loose wheel QR a couple of times. Lucky for me, I have to climb out of my driveway, and I can't tell you how many times I've had the rear wheel stuck as I left.... Always humiliating. Worse in the spring when I forget how to unclip. The kids next door think it's funny.