What is the preferred method of straightening a steel handlebar stem? I've got an old razorback gooseneck that is just a bit out of whack- it fits just fine in the frame, but the handlebars list a bit to the left, so just a little tweak will do the job. I don't want to put any more pull on it than I need to though. What do you guys suggest for small tweaks to straighten these things out, while making sure you don't pull too far?

locate a replacement stem.

Hmmm...I've never dealt with a steel stem and I wouldn't consider attempting to straighten an aluminum one. Having a stem break while riding just doesn't sound like anything I want to experience. Is it that hard to find a replacement?

Bear in mind whatever force is necessary to "bend it back" had to have occured through some means or another in the opposite direction once. And that was likely not on purpose. Stems are not really designed to accomodate such forces, and for that reason I third the recommendation that you just replace it.

I would find a replacement and hang the bent one on the wall as an offering to the Gods of Human Powered Speed. It's not worth having an accident over.

Although I agree with the previous posters on the safety issues, I don't think it's that big a deal to tweak it straight if we are talking about an old stamp-formed (not cast) steel stem on a balloon tire or cruiser bike.

If so, I would install it in a junk fork steerer as tight as it will go, clamp that in a vise and use a long steel pipe clamped in the bar clamp to tweak it back to straight.

You will have to judge if it's safe or not. If it takes a firm pull to get it where it needs to go, and no creases or tears show up anywhere that's good. If it feels "buttery" at any point when you are pulling I would abort and look for a new stem.

I've straightend lots of steel handlebars that were a little out of whack, emphasis on "little".

That sounds like a decent method- this is indeed a stamped one from the late 1940s for a cruiser. I'll try and locate a junk steerer, but if I can't I may have a length of pipe around that can act as a stand in for it. The stem really doesn't have to move that far, so I'm hoping just a little tug will set it back straight. For 55-60 years old the chrome on this stem is pretty good, so I guess I'll try and straighten it before I go looking for a replacement.

I agree with Otis: it's steel and can take a *certain amount* of bending without danger. The important factors are having a very good vise mounted really securely to something that won't budge since you'll be applying a lot of leverage. If you can't find a junk fork to clamp (and probably damage by clamping it) a length of pipe that the stem can be inserted into *and tightened securely* should work...good luck.

No luck- no amount of force I could apply would budge the stem. I wonder if it was stamped like this. So, I have a Columbia cruiser bicycle with a bent stem- maybe it's time to replace since I can't move it.