Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

21.1 stem?

Old 03-20-05, 05:15 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Southeast MN
Posts: 188

Bikes: Atlantis, Bleriot, Waterford,Steamroller, Big Dummy

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
21.1 stem?

I was given an older (1977?) Schwinn Super LeTour 12.2, It's a nice bike, but I'd like to raise handlebars to a get a more comfy riding position. Unfortunately, the stem isn't long enough. To compound the problem, this bike has a 21.1mm (.833") stem. Needless to say, there isn't a great selection of stems in this size. I searched for earlier threads about this situation, and none of them discussed reaming the inside of the steerer to accept a standard quill stem. Is this unsafe/too difficult/impractical/just plain dumb? Seems as reasonable as sanding down a standard quill to fit, except that once the steerer has been modified, it'll accept any standard road quill.
drcrash is offline  
Old 03-20-05, 05:29 PM
  #2  
dbg
Si Senior
 
dbg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Posts: 2,669

Bikes: Too Numerous (not)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 8 Posts
I wouldn't think reaming out the steerer tube is a very good option. I had the same problem on an old Nishiki I acquired. I started in grinding down a standard 1" stem and gave up when I realized how considerably much needed to be taken off. I eventually just picked up on ebay a nice older fork with a standard sized steerer tube. The replacement fork turned out to be a nicer one anyway and fit just fine inside the headtube.
dbg is offline  
Old 03-20-05, 05:39 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
sydney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,428
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by dbg
I wouldn't think reaming out the steerer tube is a very good option.
Not an issue if it atually has more metal in it. A kubiki or some other POC I had certainly had a thicker steerer tube,that was threaded for standard 1".And that is typically the case. But, a proper used one could be cheaper.
sydney is offline  
Old 03-20-05, 05:42 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
sydney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,428
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by drcrash
I was given an older (1977?) Schwinn Super LeTour 12.2, It's a nice bike, but I'd like to raise handlebars to a get a more comfy riding position. Unfortunately, the stem isn't long enough. To compound the problem, this bike has a 21.1mm (.833") stem. Needless to say, there isn't a great selection of stems in this size. I searched for earlier threads about this situation, and none of them discussed reaming the inside of the steerer to accept a standard quill stem. Is this unsafe/too difficult/impractical/just plain dumb? Seems as reasonable as sanding down a standard quill to fit, except that once the steerer has been modified, it'll accept any standard road quill.
Have you checked the inside diameter of the steerer tube. Sometimes it's ok,and it's just the lock nut on the HS that is smaller. If that's the case the HS can be opened up a bit or the locknut replaced.
sydney is offline  
Old 03-21-05, 02:24 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
biker7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,850
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
as usual sydney/bore-troll doesn't know what he is talking about. What you need is a Nitto Technomic stem. Comes 22.2mm quill dia. and is very tall. They also come in many different reaches. You simply take a bit of sandpaper working to progressively finer grit media to bring the quill diameter down just a bit to fit into your SS steerer which has an I.D. of just under 22mm. Its a better alternative than honing the fork I.D. which some do. Go to Sheldon Brown's/Harris Cyclery's site and they talk about them. You can find them from time to time on e-bay as well. I have one on an early 70's Paramount and they are very nice.
Here's one with 4 hours left:
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

If you get one, be sure the stem clamp dia. matches your handlebar dia. Your super sport has a 1 inch bar...so if you purchase the 26.0mm stem, you will need the Nitto shim which they also sell.
Enjoy that old SS.
George
biker7 is offline  
Old 03-21-05, 04:01 PM
  #6  
dbg
Si Senior
 
dbg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Posts: 2,669

Bikes: Too Numerous (not)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 8 Posts
OK. But if it truely is a 21.1 bore steerer tube, the sandpaper route will require about 10 thousand sheets and some seriously dedicated elbow grease. 21.1 does exist out there. I have a Nishiki fork in front of me right now that is definitely 21.1. And the Schwinn Twinn tandem I recently restored also definitely has a 21.1 steerer tube. 1.1 MM doesn't seem like much until you try to remove it.


"It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it" -Steven Wright
dbg is offline  
Old 03-21-05, 04:06 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
sydney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,428
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by dbg
OK. But if it truely is a 21.1 bore steerer tube, the sandpaper route will require about 10 thousand sheets and some seriously dedicated elbow grease. 21.1 does exist out there. I have a Nishiki fork in front of me right now that is definitely 21.1. And the Schwinn Twinn tandem I recently restored also definitely has a 21.1 steerer tube. 1.1 MM doesn't seem like much until you try to remove it.


"It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it" -Steven Wright
Correctomento. There really are 21.1 quills and steerers with an ID that require them. I's good to have actually seen some of this stuff.
sydney is offline  
Old 03-21-05, 04:54 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
biker7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,850
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
dbq,
I didn't have any problems removing .040" but then I have done a lot of mechanical work and am pretty strong. Aluminum is very easy to take down. Good long quill stems like the Technomic are as rare as hen's teeth now. Perhaps you would like to direct the poster to a site that sells a stem as "long as the Technomic" that will fall into a Schwinn steerer and save him the handy work. I have several shorter stems that will fall in. In fact, here is a pic of the stem from my '77 Schwinn Le tour which is a close cousin of the poster's Super Sport.

https://members.roadfly.com/georgemann/SchwinnStem.jpg

George

Last edited by biker7; 03-21-05 at 05:11 PM.
biker7 is offline  
Old 03-21-05, 05:29 PM
  #9  
dbg
Si Senior
 
dbg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Posts: 2,669

Bikes: Too Numerous (not)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 8 Posts
I felt like an idiot after an hour on a bench grinder trying to get a steel quill down to 21.1. I suspect aluminum would be easier. And hopefully it's not actually 21.1. Is the pictured stem unmodified, or was it ground down to fit?
dbg is offline  
Old 03-21-05, 05:57 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
biker7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,850
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
that's an unmodified std. Le Tour alloy stem. A Technomic stem has a much longer quill and what the poster is looking for. Aluminum is much easier to machine than carbon steel. I put myself through engineering school working at a machine shop and so played around alot with machining different materials. I have access to a prototype shop at work which is great for government work :-) Taking an alloy stem down with a belt sander goes fast....the trick is keeping it concentric. First you bring it in to approximate size and then you finish polish it. Machines help a lot but you can do it by hand as well....a bit at a time.
Cheers,
George
biker7 is offline  
Old 03-21-05, 06:23 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
sydney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,428
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by biker7
Machines help a lot but you can do it by hand as well....a bit at a time.
....and more than 'a bit of sandpaper'.
sydney is offline  
Old 06-21-10, 09:42 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
jeremyb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 561

Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Cervelo P3alu

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
always could use something like this

https://www.ebikestop.com/pyramid_qui..._dia-57657.php
jeremyb is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
herbarium
Bicycle Mechanics
7
08-25-19 08:46 PM
motherpuncher
Bicycle Mechanics
23
06-15-13 12:21 AM
ejapplegate
Classic & Vintage
17
12-13-12 12:10 PM
BobbyHull
Tandem Cycling
2
06-12-12 08:28 PM
TheBikeRollsOn
Bicycle Mechanics
9
01-16-10 12:26 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.