Throw the Nitto Stem in the Recycle Bin?
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Throw the Nitto Stem in the Recycle Bin?
Pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but I thought I’d survey the crowd. This Technomic stem came on a Miyata I bought from CL recently. Turns out it had been made to clamp on a 25.4 upright handlebar. Bummer! I then made some little gouges on a 26.0 VO bar before I realized that I was trying to mate unlike things. Would you use either of these pieces of aluminum at this point? I release you of all liability if my clamp breaks or bar snaps. (The goop on the clamp is from an old shellac job)
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Pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but I thought I’d survey the crowd. This Technomic stem came on a Miyata I bought from CL recently. Turns out it had been made to clamp on a 25.4 upright handlebar. Bummer! I then made some little gouges on a 26.0 VO bar before I realized that I was trying to mate unlike things. Would you use either of these pieces of aluminum at this point? I release you of all liability if my clamp breaks or bar snaps. (The goop on the clamp is from an old shellac job)
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Keep both, there's tricks to removing the bar but I don't remember if it works on that one. Someone may pipe up. Reuse stem with proper 25.4 bar and try to buff out the 26.
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i had trouble getting a kalloy riser stem intalled onto drop bars. here's what i did
i realize your situation is a bit different, but i'm sure the method will work
Technically this technique should be used only on a steel stem. But it does work and I have done it (delicately) on a Kalloy and I am still here. Grinding a bit of material away may be the safer route.
https://janheine.wordpress.com/2012/...&preview=true/
https://janheine.wordpress.com/2012/...&preview=true/
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I didn’t specify, but the stem is a 26.0 that somebody used on a 25.4 bar, just to clarify.
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Oh you hardly nicked the bars. Just polish it up with some sandpaper and call them fine. Particularly VO bars are made very heavy and thick. I would have no problem using them again. Stem also. It will all be fine, in my opinion.
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Thanks all! I thought all was lost if you clamped an aluminum stem onto a smaller bar.
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i'd like to suggest, however, you read the link i posted. makes installing quills much easier and avoids scratching the bar
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Yes, thanks for that! I checked it out, but will study closely. I appreciate it!
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1. I generally bin Nitto stems (in my parts-bin). I think Nitto is highly overrated. How the heck do you make stems and handlebars for an eternity and still make them so heavy.
2. A 25.4mm clamp can generally be reamed out to 26.0mm. I did it once to a Bianchi stem with a master cylinder hone- it took forever and a half. If I were to do it again I would get a reamer.
3. There are TONS of 25.4mm clamp drop bars. Bikes from Japan tended to use this size.
2. A 25.4mm clamp can generally be reamed out to 26.0mm. I did it once to a Bianchi stem with a master cylinder hone- it took forever and a half. If I were to do it again I would get a reamer.
3. There are TONS of 25.4mm clamp drop bars. Bikes from Japan tended to use this size.
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Nitto certainly seems like a cautious brand, which is why the consensus seems to be to continue using the stem. I asked the same question over the summer about a French stem that had been similarly over-tightened on a 70’s Motobecane, and the consensus was to chuck it!
You’ll notice they only show the spreading tool being used on steel stems. And again, this is a 26.0 stem, so no need to ream it or use a 25.4 bar (I realize those were just examples of aluminum clamps being flexible).
I guess people trust a heavy Nitto!
You’ll notice they only show the spreading tool being used on steel stems. And again, this is a 26.0 stem, so no need to ream it or use a 25.4 bar (I realize those were just examples of aluminum clamps being flexible).
I guess people trust a heavy Nitto!
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Reminds me of a conversation I had with Olivier Csuka. I was showing the Alex Singer guys some pictures of my Colin Laing tandem (1" threaded steerer), set up for touring with the Technomic hoisted high like a telephone pole, and he asked me what brand it was and if I was scared it might break. I replied "non, c'est Nitto" and the whole room was like "ahhh nitto c'est fort". It was great to hear that.
Nitto stems have shed some weight in recent years as aluminum expander wedges became standard for the Technomic, no longer just in the Pearl and Technomic Deluxe. The old cast iron expander wedges added quite a bit. You can buy a new bolt-and-alu-wedge if you feel like counting grams. Another bonus is that I'm not scared to drill the stem out for a bell or a cable. The Nitto guys have even said these holes are ok, as I remember from some issue of Bicycle Quarterly.
Nitto stems have shed some weight in recent years as aluminum expander wedges became standard for the Technomic, no longer just in the Pearl and Technomic Deluxe. The old cast iron expander wedges added quite a bit. You can buy a new bolt-and-alu-wedge if you feel like counting grams. Another bonus is that I'm not scared to drill the stem out for a bell or a cable. The Nitto guys have even said these holes are ok, as I remember from some issue of Bicycle Quarterly.
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Nitto certainly seems like a cautious brand, which is why the consensus seems to be to continue using the stem. I asked the same question over the summer about a French stem that had been similarly over-tightened on a 70’s Motobecane, and the consensus was to chuck it!
You’ll notice they only show the spreading tool being used on steel stems.
You’ll notice they only show the spreading tool being used on steel stems.
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I bin all the stock stems, seat posts, and handlebars that come with all the 35+ year old bikes I restore, then replace them with new Nitto components. Maybe I’m being too cautious. However, when selling the bike, I put the old stuff back on.
Tim
Tim
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1. AL doesn't degrade over time so the age really doesn't matter. If it lasted this long and still exists, it is likely to out live you.
2. Not good enough for you but good enough for everyone else?
Just a first impression that is not really directed to you but to the concepts.
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Two thoughts:
1. AL doesn't degrade over time so the age really doesn't matter. If it lasted this long and still exists, it is likely to out live you.
2. Not good enough for you but good enough for everyone else?
Just a first impression that is not really directed to you but to the concepts.
1. AL doesn't degrade over time so the age really doesn't matter. If it lasted this long and still exists, it is likely to out live you.
2. Not good enough for you but good enough for everyone else?
Just a first impression that is not really directed to you but to the concepts.
2. Yup, I have higher standards, most want historically accurate. We are talking CV here.
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being "cautious" about visually acceptable? hmmm....
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Somebody needs a polishing wheel!! Seriously it'll pay for itself the first stem you save from the bin. Not to mention the hours of fun!
I put Nitto stems on when I want the bars high and/or far forward. That's their niche for me at least! I am tall and have long arms, so Technomics go on half my bikes.
I put Nitto stems on when I want the bars high and/or far forward. That's their niche for me at least! I am tall and have long arms, so Technomics go on half my bikes.
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