Bent 3TT stem. How to proceed?
 

I picked up a British "Delta Sportive" today from a gentleman who had ridden the heck out of it and apparently put it in a shed 20 years ago. He was very clear that it had never been crashed. I was feeling pretty good about my barn find, but after quickly cleaning it up, and hanging it from the ceiling it became apparent that the 3TTT stem has a considerable bend in it. The handle bars look ok and square to the clamp and the wheel seems well enough aligned in the forks. The headset was loose on the bike and had light plyer marks from some one mucking around, but turned freely with maybe a little fretting bump at dead center. Its a very cool bike but I'm wondering how a stem would get bent like that with out any other apparent damage and how should I proceed in taking it out without causing damage. When I do get it out what should I look for as far as damage to the rest of the bike?

Here's a link to the sellers add, that has a couple pictures.

https://delaware.craigslist.org/bop/...602488986.html

You cannot rebend aluminum such as in that stem and have a stem you can trust. I wouldn't even ride it after the first bend. Better to just consider it good that it hasn't broken yet, no one's gotten hurt and retire it.

Ben

I don't see what you are referring to, either. I see the bars turned down but cannot detect any bend other that what is normal. Photo angles are prolly not helping us to see what you see in person.

Anyway, for $75 - or less if you dickered with him - that is a steal. Brit customs with canti bosses and vintage Campy have rarely been acquired for less. I'd be counting my blessings :)

DD

Too bad about the stem, but still a great score.

Those old 3T stems are very tough and good, so your assumption of some knucklehead messing around with it is likely correct.

That stem appears to be raised quite high. It's possible that it is just barely inserted. Hopefully the steerer tube is not damaged.

Hard to imagine one of those stems got bent without bending something else, they are tough, the bars are no match for it.

Too bad too, those are awesome stems, one of my favorites.

I don't see a bend, either. What part of the stem is supposed to be bent, in what direction?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...565442c14a.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b7a0de645b.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...89acb28b99.jpg
Quick pictures:

The brack cable is in the way but the bend looks to continue into the head set. It doesn't feel like the headset got ovalizeded. I guess the test will be getting the fork out.

Before coming to conclusions, pull the stem and check it with a straight edge the entire length all the way around to identify not only where the bend transitions and but also in which direction.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...76262ab521.jpg Here's a thumbnail from ebay.


I think I see the problem. The stem is jacked up way farther than it should be. The expander is up near the head set and the part of the stem that bent the part that is designed to flex.

Related forensic evidence is the replaced front brake cable that was never cut to leangth. I surmise that the damage happened on a test ride and the bike was thrown back in the shed and a beer was cried into.

I have run into bent stems a couple of times and had no idea or clues about how the damage occurred. Here is a pic assist since it makes it easier for me to see. Also, it would help to have a picture of the stem removed and of the top of the steering tube, to see if it is stretched. Checking for head set fit is also a good idea. Any, interested to see what there is to see(not sure what happened to pic size)...

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1aea529324.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d0fc72468e.jpg

Hopefully I can give the bike a couple minutes next week. I'm feeling better about the handlebars and the hypothetical worst case scenario is downgraded to replacing the fork steering tube and head set.... and paint, which was going to happen any way if the bike works out.

Is the stem bent or is it nearly falling out of the steerer without enough inserted to keep it straight? Where's the minimum insertion line?

I would disassemble the frame, fork, and stem before coming to any conclusions. It's possible the top of the steerer got bent or distorted too/instead.

As others have said, that is a great pickup, and a bike well worth putting some time and effort into fixing up.

If you're lucky, the stem is bent. If not, the steerer is bent, which would require replacing the fork.

The right side of the handle bars looks closed down a bit, the drop is more parallel to the ground than the left (right side as viewed by a rider).

If something came up from below to smoosh the bar, that same force would move the stem to the left. As directions are relative, the force could have come from above with a solid support beneath the bar on the right side. Either way, you'd likely get the damage as seen. It may not have been crashed but some thing likely hit iti hard enough to change the bend in the bars and tweak the stem.

I have two or three of those stems. I agree with the others, it is not inserted deep enough.

If the stem is bent, it is toast.....Change it out, they are not that expensive anyway...

Quick update: The stem dropped right out. I was definitely set to high with less than a centimeter of solid stem in the steerer tube. The tube looks to be round with a quick caliper check. The handlebars do look squeezed on one side so I'll condemn them. There was teflon tape in the stearer threads, I'm not sure what that's about .I will try and get a photo shoot organized later this week this weather permitting. As an aside, How many folks here end up working on upside down bikes suspended from the ceiling? I'm a boat builder by trade so it doesn't seem that odd. Off to troll ebay for gravity boots...

That sounds awful. I'd rather just dangle the saddle from a string or railing like at triathlons.

What happened when you pushed the stem in to the proper depth?