I'm new to the DIY bike world and new to the fixie world.

Here's the story.

I was given a Takara bike from a friend at school because he didn't have a way to get it home. I stripped it, cleaned it, painted it and have started to build it back up. I have built everything up but the cockpit and i'm redoing the brooks saddle that I found. And trying to get everything together I found out that my origin8 stem is to large for the fork tube. Its just to large. Is this something that is just my newness to bikes or is it that this Japanese bike is just that much off

thanks!

Know what? I just answered my own question.... its me. I didn't do my research

They come in different sizes and also different types. Threadless stems come in 1 1/8 inch and 1 inch. Threaded stems come in 7/8, 1 inch, and 1 1/8 inch. How you could strip and rebuild a bike without knowing this is beyond me.

you don't need a new stem. Just get a shim. Odds are your steerer tube is 1" and the stem is 1 1/8" If you get a shim, it will expand your steerer tube to 1 1/8" and make it OK to use. No biggie.

A shim? as you can tell from my question i have lots to learn. I don't think it will work....

it will it will. Go to a LBS and explain your situation. You will walk out of there 5 minutes later with a working stem, I promise

Thanks PedallingATX