Embarassing Newbie Question
 

Hi there,

I'm sure you good people can help me out. I don't know much about bikes and so need your advice. I want to raise the handlebars on my daughters bike. There is a small hexagonal nut on top of the "stem". Is this the nut that needs to be loosened (by turning left) in order to be able to pull the handlebars out higher ?

Tried to upload a photo but file size was too large !! Hope you can help.

If that's the only nut on the stem then, Yeah, that should be it.

Just don't raise them too high. There should be a minimum insertion line on the stem.

Sometimes after loosening the bolt you still can't raise the stem. It often helps to give the bolt head a sharp rap with a block of wood or something while it is partly loosened. This knocks the internal wedge free and (often) frees the stem.

Thanks. I tried again to upload a picture. It is the only nut there is at the top of the stem.

Yep, that should be it.

Keep in mind that bolt is also what keep s the handlebars upright...so you will possibly have to re-adjust the handlebars a bit as well.

Undo the bolt about 2 turns.
Put a piece of hard wood on the bolt and tap down with a hammer: dont bash metal onto the bolt.
This will push out the wedge-shaped nut inside. If you undo the bolt several more times the wedge will drop off the bolt and get jammed!
Wiggle the bars from side to side and raise them until your see a Maximum Extension safety mark. If you see rust, smear a little grease onto the stem to prevent binding.
Set the bar height and tighten the bolt a little.
Stand astride the front wheel and make fine adjustments to align the bars and wheel. Fully tighten the nut and check the bars for any movement.

Note that the stem bolt doubles up as a bar clamp, this is quite unusual and the bars may rotate a little in the clamp. Be sure to set the rotation of the bars in the clamp back to a comfortable angle.