20.8 mm stem?
 

Hi group, I am new to the forum, but thought I might find some help looking for a part for my 60's Puch Bergmeister. I have converted it to single speed (Phil Wood Flip Flop Hub) and painted her up. Mustache bars Dura Ace components (Campy would have been more apt). If I could figure out how to load pictures I would show it off. It came out really great but what I bought was just a frame and fork, no stem. Now I cannot find one that matches, and certainly no choices.

Here is what I know.
The one stem that does work off of a wee-ones (I'll eventually give it back) bike is 20.8 mm diameter.
1" stem does not work it is quite a bit too big.
The bike is Austrian.
20.8 mm stems seem to be very hard to find.

I would love to find a really cool stem but I will settle for anything that has more than 20 mm of reach and does not have a giant car bolt holding it together.

Well, thats it. Anyone know anything about it? Thanks. Greg

Anybody?

Greg, there's a tutorial down in Forum Suggestions on how to upload photos. Also a place where you can practice to your heart's content :D .

East Hill

hmmm... 20.8? Are you sure you don't mean 23.8?

Reason I am asking is because I just shimmed up a 23.8mm stem to fit into a 25.4mm stem. I used a seatpost shim I got from the LBS and cut the length with some pipe cutters to fit. The seatpost post shim was for 13/16" to 7/8" conversion. That makes for a diameter increase of 1/16" or 1.58mm. Add 23.8 and 1.58 and you get 25.38mm! Perfect fit!

My guess (and it's all guessing) is what the Puch takes is a .833" stem, which is more like 21mm, and commonly used on American bike-boom era 10-speeds (some Ross, some Schwinns, maybe a Huffy or 2, and a few Nishikis, as well as some other Japanese bikes). This is smaller than the standard 22.2mm quill used on 1" steerers, as well as the 22.0mm used on French 1" steerers (which of course are metric, but called 1"). They are difficult to find but not impossible, and you won't have a lot of size selection...try here, try your LBS and then try eBay

Thanks for all the thoughts, I will try to practice uploading pics or better yet, have my ten year old do it. My measurements for the stem were using the LBS calipers to measure the only stem that did work, so what I am measuring is the outside diameter of the quill and it indeed measures the oh so strange 20.8. I wish I meant 23.8 that would be so darn easy. Possibly a 21mm would work but nothing 1" works or even close. Mayby I will knock someone off of their older schwinn today steal there stem give it a try(and then of course return said stem). Tough being at the low end of the spectrum or shims would be the answer. Anyway I love the bike, just a bit cramped for now. Greg

I'd really like to see pictures. I had a new Puch Bergmeister in about 1960. It was copper plated under a transparent red topcoat.

It's probably a 21.1mm quill. You've got a choice of a few steel cruiser stems or a few BMX stems, basically.

Sounds like something custom will have to be made. I have a thick wall 1" aluminum track stem that the local machine shop may be willing to mess with. Any thoughts? I am working on the picture thing, it is just my computer, it is nearing the end of its days, I will switch over to the G5 and give it a go although it is something like trying to converse in German (I have less than a passing knowledge).

Well, I will restate this, get it back to the top and then let it go. Just wondering if anyone has ever milled a stem to make it smaller?

yes, and I would NOT jump at the chance to do it again...it was a PITA. I doubt any *real* machinist would put up with the nonsense required to do it for you, but if you have a lathe and patience (and are really bull-headed) it can be done.One trick that was suggested (after I had done it my way) is to use a bolt "lock- nutted" and extending out the top to chuck the piece in the lathe...better idea than chucking the quill end which requires you to hand-finish that end. Watch your knuckles and for interference with tools...it's *not* a piece that conforms to best shop practice.
Realistically: I think it will be easier just to find a 21.1mm (better known as .833") stem on eBay or at a swapmeet.