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Help! Is this right?

Old 12-16-11, 03:42 PM
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Help! Is this right?

Just got this Ritchey CR-MO stem from an eBay seller. (22.2, 25.4, 120mm) I've never seen a gaping hole on top of CR-MO stem like this, but is this normal? My Kalloy has longer binder bolt and alloy cap and I assumed this would be the same. Am I missing a dust cap?


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Old 12-16-11, 03:49 PM
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Looks like it is missing a dust cap, possible it's supposed to be that way without a cap but I can't say for sure.
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Old 12-16-11, 03:50 PM
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I would expect a rubber stopper to be included.
Edit: What is stamped on the quill? Is it really a Ritchey?
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Old 12-16-11, 03:52 PM
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Yep ... missing stopper. I've not seen this stem in the wild, but IMHO it cannot come nude from the factory. I've used Blu-Tac as a temporary fix.
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Old 12-16-11, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by BluesDaddy
I would expect a rubber stopper to be included.
Edit: What is stamped on the quill? Is it really a Ritchey?
Rubber stopper?

Is this a deal breaker? I'd be pissed if it was suppose to have a longer bolt with a metal cap, but if it's just a plastic plug...
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Old 12-16-11, 04:00 PM
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Rubber cap. a black 3TTT would work..
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Old 12-16-11, 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by BluesDaddy
I would expect a rubber stopper to be included.
Edit: What is stamped on the quill? Is it really a Ritchey?
Says:
"NL" appears to be a trademark
"CR-MO 22.2"
"95.C"
120L

The Ritchey markings are transparent stickers, including the "TR" on the face of the clamp. I hope the NL stands for Nitto...
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Old 12-16-11, 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted by RobbieTunes
Rubber cap. a black 3TTT would work..
This is why we hang out in CV, 3TTT only makes them with carbon now! Alright, who's hiding all those plugs? What's it look like so I know what I'm shooting for?

Last edited by Kanegon; 12-16-11 at 04:37 PM.
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Old 12-16-11, 04:39 PM
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I had a Trek stem that looked exactly like that and had a rubber plug as the head of the bolt was really recessed into the stem.
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Old 12-17-11, 02:49 PM
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Impossible to find, AFAICT.

These CR-MOs seem to have comparatively wide clamps. Anyone with experience threading drops or risers thru them, or are they for flats only? Thinking Nitto 259 to raise the grips another inch or so.
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Old 12-17-11, 08:48 PM
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I had a Trek stem that looked exactly like that
Me too. Right now it's taped over. The plug wore out and got sloppy.
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Old 12-26-11, 04:03 PM
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Thanks to everyone on the business with the plug. The seller sent me one and all is good. I also figured out hot to improv one from a plastic bar end plug that looks ok, but the factory one is definitely more pro looking.

One last stab at the question of whether you're supposed to be able to thread drops and risers through these types of stems. The clamp doesn't have as much a taper/cutout as forged AL stems and I'm wondering if I'll be able to maneuver it past the curves. I had a problem threading a 25.4 Bontrager Crow Bar into a forged stem, couldn't get it past the first hump despite the thinner 22.2 area (vs 25.4 clamp area). Maybe I'm not trying hard enough... eek. I'm looking at an inexpensive Uno with 30mm rise, nothing radical. Is this a fairly typical application or are there no hard and fast rules with respect to these cr-mo stems? I really prefer the clean and light design of the Ritchey to a threadless conversion or forged drop stems. Any advice before I pull the trigger on a riser bar with moderate curves?

Happy Holiday!



Here's the stem with the ersatz plug. The Cinelli sticker comes from the finishing tape packed with their handlebar tape.

Last edited by Kanegon; 12-26-11 at 04:26 PM.
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Old 12-26-11, 04:37 PM
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The Modolo stem on my Paramount has a sort of rubbery plastic dust cap over the bolt hole. I looks like this:

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Old 12-27-11, 01:20 AM
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As a temporary (or even permanent) substitute, any decent hardware store will typically have a variety of vinyl, rubber and/or chrome snap-in plugs/caps, specifically tailored for access holes.
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Old 12-27-11, 06:37 AM
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Ok, I've got the plug resolved. Anyone know if it's possible to thread a drop thru one of these TIG welded cr-mo stems? Like I said, the clamp is wider with less taper than that of forged stems. Not sure of they were designed for MTB flats or what.
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Old 12-29-11, 06:36 PM
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I can't answer you last question. But I will say that I use a similar bar on the CrMo stem (Modified Trek 930). It really suits and fits the bill on that bike — an excellent cockpit. A freind who is currently borrowing it says the same thing. One difference from you bar though — I cut a good chunk off each end. This made the bike a lot better handling in the chaotic Japanese rush hour traffic. Very fast steering, and I can squeeze past cars and the curb without snagging.

I think that plug looks great!
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Old 12-30-11, 02:28 AM
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Looking at your 1st photo, I don't believe you can fit a drop bar onto this stem.
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Old 12-30-11, 02:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Lenton58
I can't answer you last question. But I will say that I use a similar bar on the CrMo stem (Modified Trek 930). It really suits and fits the bill on that bike — an excellent cockpit. A freind who is currently borrowing it says the same thing. One difference from you bar though — I cut a good chunk off each end. This made the bike a lot better handling in the chaotic Japanese rush hour traffic. Very fast steering, and I can squeeze past cars and the curb without snagging.

I think that plug looks great!
I got carried away and lopped the bar down to 48cm. I can't imagine having it any shorter. In fact, I'm asking the question because I want to replace the flat bar with a riser, but worried about the clamp. Really like its clean and sleek lines though.
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Old 01-05-12, 07:02 AM
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I got carried away and lopped the bar down to 48cm. I can't imagine having it any shorter.
My friend still has my Trek, and I can't offhand say how wide/long my flat-bar is. But, I know what you mean. I too was a bit carried away. The bar ended up really short (considerably shorter than in your pic), but I quickly adapted to the cut-down. Before said friend rode away on the bike, and after we did some work on it, I did a test run. I'd not ridden it for about two years. WOW! Did it steer fast or what. But in a few minutes I was used to it again. A great street-fighter. Great defensive mode for taxi aggression and suicidal school-girls [charinko] on mama-chari bikes.
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Old 01-05-12, 07:14 AM
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I never have had that Ritchey stem. But here is a similar style Profile stem with drops.

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Old 01-05-12, 10:05 PM
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Actually, there was no problem threading a set of risers thru the clamp, in fact it was easier than my forged stems. I also got the real plug from the seller and it's as cute as a button. Here's what it looks like on my nearly complete Raleigh street rod conversion.




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Old 01-05-12, 11:54 PM
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Whoa, nice floors!!! The chromed head tube is pretty cool too.
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Old 01-06-12, 12:03 AM
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Stick a wine bottle cork in there, draw a face on it. This way you have a riding buddy at all times.
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Old 01-06-12, 01:09 AM
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stick a cork in it and close your hole!
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