Originally Posted by
Otis
Although I agree with the previous posters on the safety issues, I don't think it's that big a deal to tweak it straight if we are talking about an old stamp-formed (not cast) steel stem on a balloon tire or cruiser bike.
If so, I would install it in a junk fork steerer as tight as it will go, clamp that in a vise and use a long steel pipe clamped in the bar clamp to tweak it back to straight.
You will have to judge if it's safe or not. If it takes a firm pull to get it where it needs to go, and no creases or tears show up anywhere that's good. If it feels "buttery" at any point when you are pulling I would abort and look for a new stem.
I've straightend lots of steel handlebars that were a little out of whack, emphasis on "little".
That sounds like a decent method- this is indeed a stamped one from the late 1940s for a cruiser. I'll try and locate a junk steerer, but if I can't I may have a length of pipe around that can act as a stand in for it. The stem really doesn't have to move that far, so I'm hoping just a little tug will set it back straight. For 55-60 years old the chrome on this stem is pretty good, so I guess I'll try and straighten it before I go looking for a replacement.