Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,351
Likes: 5,467
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Most every type of hinge clamp I've seen could develop play. Sometimes this play is reducible with tightening. There is a reason that these stems are not intended for off road use. In time this play could become a safety problem. The more loading they see the more likely the problem.
Best fix is to get a one piece stem that duplicates the bar position and get rid of that flexible one. Andy.