https://cgi.ebay.com/AVA-Stem-Classic...item41561cf415

considering this for a build (68/69 LeJeune), but not sure if it would be somewhat period correct.

22mm base? to fit a french headset/fork.

is this a "death stem" model, with 2 slots?

alex

22.0mm is correct for a French stem, but I thought they all had a 25.0mm clamp area, but I could be wrong......

shnibop,
I have a very similar AVA stem that NLerner traded me. He told me it was not a "death stem". I trust him. The clamp bolt design is just like the one to which you linked. I did not measure that stem's clamp area, but it has a Japanese randonneur bar in it as we speak. I can only assume that that bar has a 25.4mm diameter. I have seen more modern French stems with 25.4mm clamps and, of course, Cinelli sold stems with 22.0 diameters that accepted a 26.4mm handlebar.

You trusted me?! Bwahahahahahahah!

The AVA death stem has an open back and lots of hollowness. From Sheldon Brown:



Neal

So the original stem from my '72 Jeunet "has a reputation for failure and should be replaced immediately"? But I polished it and everything. It has an opening in the back showing it's hollowness. I think it's an Atax, though. It has a little star on it.

Yes, send it to me immediately for proper disposal. In fact, don't even remove it from the bike--just send the whole thing.

Neal

I have a 3ttt stem from the same era with a very similar design, with lots of hollowness and open back - should I be wary of this as well?

All variants of AVA stems w/single expander cutouts and no relief holes are destined to fail at the quill. This includes the 1980's variants that have a revised clamp design.

Late 1970's and 1980's ATAX (Cinelli 1A-copy) stems often have voids and are prone to cracks.

-Kurt

My teeth thank you.

Meh. Surely it wouldn't fail on you, Jesse.

Sheldon Brown said that all of the AVA stuff has a reputation for breaking and should be replaced. That includes AVA bars. He didn't restrict it to the particular style in the picture. I also saw in an old thread where he said that all French stems should be replaced. I'm not willing to go that far.

Has anyone seen these things break or a picture of it broken?

I took the picture that is on velobase of a cracked death stem. At least I think its still up.
Sheldons reference has been previously disregaurded as a safty sentiment only. - if you don't know if its dangerous, you should replace it just to be careful.
Aside from this, I have only seen failure in the 2-slot versions. I use (and occasionaly inspect) an AVA stem with 25.4 clamp and one slot. Also I have never heard of the later "open-face" AVA stem having any issue.

Here's a link to GitaneUSA about French death stems. No photos of the AVA but some good info.

Cool. I"ve been reading about it and I just happen to have a quill 22.2 stem that I can sand down. But I want it to have the original look. I probably won't be hammering on the bike anytime soon.
That's good to know though.

One man's opinion.

Correct. I have yet to see an AVA bar that isn't bent lower on one side from rider weight than the other.

-Kurt

Agreed - just provided as input. It's more prudent to periodically check the stems to make sure issues aren't developing.

I would agree with you that I wouldn't go as far as Sheldon did with his opinion either.

Perhaps the entire country should be replaced? That would surely be too far...

I have seen a number of cracked and broken stems of various brands.There is always a lot of talk about the so called Ava death stems. Considering the frequency that these supposedly fail you would think there would be a lot of pictures,but i seldom see any,so I tend to be a bit skeptical. As a matter of fact there seems to be little agreement on which models are the death stems.However here are a few pics of an Ava stem that has a scary looking crack.This style which has the vertical bolt is the style which i tend to be wary of.I do not know if this style is the supposed death stem.

+1

My death stem has not cracked in 40 years. That could change tomorrow, but a lot of other things could happen too.

I used one of these on my wife's Bottecchia mixte build. Now you guys got me all worried. I even polished it all up.

It only takes a few people saying "Death stems", "Death fork", "Death Frame"....."Death bike", then all of the sudden it's taken as fact by everyone and their kittens! I suspect that they might have cracked as shown but most likely most of them did not crack any further than that for most people.

Chombi

COMING TO A BICYCLE SHOP NEAR YOU:

The all NEW Titan Teledyne with Viscount Aerospace Pro aluminum fork. Fitted with AVA stem and bars, Simplex Prestige front and rear derailers, non-stress-relieved Record crankarms, drillium seatpost, and no warranty.

Please bring a valid $1,000,000 life insurance policy with you when you make your purchase.

-Kurt

Here's the same stem mounted to my '62 Continental. Still smiling after 49 years.