markwebb

I have one of those Nitto extra long stems so I can get the stem height up close to my seat height. I've been riding it at almost 4" exposed/height, and today I wanted to get it down to 3.5" - maybe 1/2" inch lower.

No doing - the darn thing won't go any lower.

These Nitto stems have a wedge rather than expander. I ran a large screwdriver down the sides of the steerer tube - I can feel a slight bump or something in the tube at the place the stem stops. I can't see anything but can definately feel something around the inside circumfrence. Did the wedge damage the steerer tube such that I can't lower the stem any lower than when I first installed? Do steerer tubes have a stop or ??? down towards their bottom (maybe 2/3 down steerer tube) such that the extra long stem just won't work? I can't even push the stem without the wedge in any farther that that hard stop, so I know something is amiss with the steerer tube - did that wedge cause the problem? Those wedges are steel (the stem is aluminum) and my bikes a new Mercian steelie 56cm size. Headset is Campy Chorus. Everytime I try to tighten wedge and then loosen/remove stem the wedge will remain lodged such that I must completley remove long allen bolt and knock wedge loose from bottom with a dowel.

I can't use a traditional height stem because their max height is only 7cm (2.8 inches) - I need between 3 and 4" of exposed stem.

What's up? What do you think is the issue? Any recommendations?

seely

Most steerer tubes taper a bit. Its not abnormal to have a Technomics stem that won't insert past a given point... you have to realize these frames were designed around a short insertion depth quill.

urbanknight

Some steerer tubes have something (taper, bump, dimple, whatever) that will stop a stem from going too far in, or all the way through the bottom. Your extra long stem might be reaching that limit. Now that I started riding a smaller frame, I noticed my regular stem can't go all the way in either.

Retro Grouch 

What kind of bike? More specifically, what kind of head badge do you have? On lots of older bikes the head badges were riveted on and the rivet head would stop the stem.

pigmode

As a last resort, its not too difficult to shorten the stem from the bottom.

markwebb

It's a new 2005 Mercian KOM with decal not headbadge.

I guess I will just live with it. I like the bars even parallel with seat and I can just do that even with the limitation as to how far it can be inserted. Very very close but it's just about perfect. But if I ever wanna lower seat I would have to go to shorter stem.

Cutting would be hard - the wedge is at an angle so I'd have to get it pretty exactly right. That is a last resort if I need to adjust next year or some other future time/event.

Thanks.....and keep spinning.

pigmode

Just a general FYI: after rough cutting/grinding to size, the wedge angle can be perfected with a belt sander held upside down.

roadfix

Huh???...