Kind of grease/lube to use to avoid scartches on stem installation?
11-26-10 | 07:47 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 654
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, Canada
Kind of grease/lube to use to avoid scartches on stem installation?
I am about to install a new threaded stem on my handlebar and I really don't want to scartch it while installing the stem. What kind of lube/grease should I use and what kind of things I can do to avoid this being happened?
11-26-10 | 08:28 PM
#2
Bianchi Goddess
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,973
Likes: 4,244
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
NONE what kind of bar/stem? some had a small screw to help open the clamp area.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
11-26-10 | 08:31 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,075
Likes: 6
i use white lithium grease. as long as you keep things properly torqued, it will not slip.
edit: i should have mentioned, it will not prevent scratching. i was just taught to use it at mating surfaces.
edit: i should have mentioned, it will not prevent scratching. i was just taught to use it at mating surfaces.
Last edited by thirdgenbird; 11-26-10 at 08:39 PM.
11-26-10 | 08:32 PM
#4
cab horn
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 28,353
Likes: 31
From: Toronto
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
Those scratches are minor, if you're not being a goof. And it's covered by bartape anyways. Grease will NOT help you prevent scratches. Only opening the stem up a bit will (nitto makes a tool to do this).
11-26-10 | 08:36 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 39,897
Likes: 3,865
From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Lube won't provide any protection against scratches. The key is knowing how to snake the bar through the stem. The stems are carefully designed to accommodate the curves in the bar, usually by being cut narrower at the bottom. As you thread the bar keep that narrow section at the inside of the curve, and the bar will just slide past.
It's more of a finesse process rather than one involving brute force, and lost of twisting.
It's more of a finesse process rather than one involving brute force, and lost of twisting.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
11-26-10 | 10:22 PM
#6
Bianchi Goddess
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,973
Likes: 4,244
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
really? where can I find such a tool?
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
11-26-10 | 10:43 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 39,897
Likes: 3,865
From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
You can buy a tool but really shouldn't need one to spread the stem. You can also make one for a few cents if you're at all creative.
If the stem is threaded, as were many Italian stems of that era, simply remove the stem bolt, thread it in from the back (threaded side) put a penny in the slot and screw the bolt against the penny to spread the stem. Don't get carried away, it weakens the stem.
If the stem is unthreaded, you can often spread it with an improvised crowbar, such as a steel tire lever, or id you want something more hands-free can scrape some wedge shaped piece of scrap and tap it in. I used to spread old ttt stems with 3 dimes. Put 2 half way into the slot and tap the third one in between them.
The fact is you shouldn't have to spread them much, if at all. As I posted earlier it's more about finesse than anything else.
If the stem is threaded, as were many Italian stems of that era, simply remove the stem bolt, thread it in from the back (threaded side) put a penny in the slot and screw the bolt against the penny to spread the stem. Don't get carried away, it weakens the stem.
If the stem is unthreaded, you can often spread it with an improvised crowbar, such as a steel tire lever, or id you want something more hands-free can scrape some wedge shaped piece of scrap and tap it in. I used to spread old ttt stems with 3 dimes. Put 2 half way into the slot and tap the third one in between them.
The fact is you shouldn't have to spread them much, if at all. As I posted earlier it's more about finesse than anything else.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
11-27-10 | 08:25 AM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: El Segundo, Ca.
Bikes: '93 Performance R203, '83 Bianchi 980
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...item_id=CV-268
i have this tool and use it often. good for stem and seatpost install and removal. no ugly scratches on seatposts.
i have this tool and use it often. good for stem and seatpost install and removal. no ugly scratches on seatposts.
11-27-10 | 08:31 AM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: El Segundo, Ca.
Bikes: '93 Performance R203, '83 Bianchi 980
11-27-10 | 09:19 AM
#11
Bianchi Goddess
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,973
Likes: 4,244
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
well I think I solved the press problem I am going to replace the plastic OOOPs sorry the resin tip with a bolt as soon as I hit the hardware store.
and besides I like having esoteric semi usleess tools on hand, like that thingamajig for removing the dustcaps on my C-Record hubs
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
11-27-10 | 10:09 AM
#12
The space coyote lied.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48,887
Likes: 11,071
From: dusk 'til dawn.
Bikes: everywhere
There are a few quill stems out there with removable faceplates.
That's likely the best way to avoid bar scratches.
That's likely the best way to avoid bar scratches.
11-27-10 | 10:58 AM
#13
My special stem clamp spreading tool is a large phillips screwdriver. Just lift gently and the clamp will open up. It leaves no marks.
11-27-10 | 11:19 AM
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,075
Likes: 6
There are a few quill stems out there with removable faceplates.
That's likely the best way to avoid bar scratches.
That's likely the best way to avoid bar scratches.
11-27-10 | 12:01 PM
#17
My name is Mike, not Cal
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
I wonder if an old tube (cut and stretched over the relevant side of the handlebar) would work?
I think that the size of a road tube would be close enough to the OD of a road handlebar that it wouldn't get bunched up too much.
I think that the size of a road tube would be close enough to the OD of a road handlebar that it wouldn't get bunched up too much.
11-27-10 | 12:09 PM
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 39,897
Likes: 3,865
From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
I highly doubt it. The issue is that there's barely enough room for the bar, adding more material will only make things worse.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
11-27-10 | 01:08 PM
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 551
Likes: 3
From: West Coast
Bikes: Centurion Ironman Expert, Bianchi Sport SX, SR Pro Racing, Vitus 979, Cannondale mountain bike, Schwinn Prologue TT Bike, Litespeed Tuscany, Principia Rex Pro (frame broke), Rossin (model unknown), Litespeed Classic, Schwinn prelude
i have never done this, but what if you put tape all over the bars except for the little part that actually gets covered by the clamp?
11-27-10 | 02:52 PM
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 111
Nitto stem tool: https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...0¤cy=USD
Not necessary but handy to have around. Actually surprised they seem to have it in stock, usually pretty hard to find.
Not necessary but handy to have around. Actually surprised they seem to have it in stock, usually pretty hard to find.
11-27-10 | 04:13 PM
#21
Guest
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,768
Likes: 6
From: Grid Reference, SK
Bikes: I never learned to ride a bike. It is my deepest shame.
Might work but is a whole lot of effort to avoid tiny marks on a bar that is going to be covered with tape anyway. You can also cover your tires with a few layers of electrical tape to avoid getting your tires dirty. You will have to stop every couple hundred meters to re-apply.
11-27-10 | 08:57 PM
#25
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 551
Likes: 3
From: West Coast
Bikes: Centurion Ironman Expert, Bianchi Sport SX, SR Pro Racing, Vitus 979, Cannondale mountain bike, Schwinn Prologue TT Bike, Litespeed Tuscany, Principia Rex Pro (frame broke), Rossin (model unknown), Litespeed Classic, Schwinn prelude
Might work but is a whole lot of effort to avoid tiny marks on a bar that is going to be covered with tape anyway. You can also cover your tires with a few layers of electrical tape to avoid getting your tires dirty. You will have to stop every couple hundred meters to re-apply.
