Install Nitto Stem - HELP NEEDED

ydm9 said:

I purchased a Nitto Technomic stem for my Fuji Touring
bike. I realize that I'm a novice at this, so I'm
comfortable being stupid about this.

How do you install the stem on road style handle bars? The
bars are the correct size, but I can see how this stem
would work for bars with a bend?

You have to remove everything from one side of the bar,
including tape and brake lever. Then the stem slides easily
over the bare bar.

This is one big disadvantage of a single-bolt stem.
Bloody nuisance.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA bike.terrymorse.combike.terrymorse.comOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I purchased a Nitto Technomic stem for my Fuji Touring
bike. I realize that I'm a novice at this, so I'm
comfortable being stupid about this.

How do you install the stem on road style handle bars?
The bars are the correct size, but I can see how this
stem would work for bars with a bend?

You have to remove everything from one side of the bar,
including tape and brake lever. Then the stem slides
easily over the bare bar.

This is one big disadvantage of a single-bolt stem. Bloody
nuisance.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA bike.terrymorse.combike.terrymorse.comOpen ↗

That is true, as far as it goes. But the original poster may
still meet with frustration.

Depending on the curve of the handlebar and the width of
the stem's clamp, it may be necessary to force the stem
open a little to avoid scratching up the bar. Such
scratches are to be avoided, as they are stress risers on a
component that you really don't want to break.

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR

ydm9 said:

I purchased a Nitto Technomic stem for my Fuji Touring
bike. I realize that I'm a novice at this, so I'm
comfortable being stupid about this.

How do you install the stem on road style handle bars? The
bars are the correct size, but I can see how this stem
would work for bars with a bend?

To view the stem, see
sheldonbrown.comstems.htmlOpen ↗ and it's the
first pictured stem.

They go on easily enough with a bit of twisting. The bit
that bends is narrower than the section where the stem
camps the bar.

It helps to clean off any sticky residue from old bar tape
first. White spirit works for this.

"Terry Morse" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

You have to remove everything from one side of the bar,
including tape and brake lever. Then the stem slides
easily over the bare bar.

This is one big disadvantage of a single-bolt stem. Bloody
nuisance.

I am *never* buying another stem without a faceplate, never!

Ted Bennett said:

Depending on the curve of the handlebar and the width of
the stem's clamp, it may be necessary to force the stem
open a little to avoid scratching up the bar. Such
scratches are to be avoided, as they are stress risers on a
component that you really don't want to break.

Wouldn't forcing the stem clamp open result in fatigue in
the clamp (the thinnest part!), as well as maybe stress
risers where you pried it open?

One-bolt stems are silly.
--
Rick Onanian

Rick Onanian at [email hidden] wrote on 3/20/04 9:13 AM:

Quoted message said:

Ted Bennett said:

Depending on the curve of the handlebar and the width of
the stem's clamp, it may be necessary to force the stem
open a little to avoid scratching up the bar. Such
scratches are to be avoided, as they are stress risers on
a component that you really don't want to break.

Wouldn't forcing the stem clamp open result in fatigue in
the clamp (the thinnest part!), as well as maybe stress
risers where you pried it open?

One-bolt stems are silly.
--

In theory, I could see how a claim of one-bolted silliness
might be established. However, the fact that they have been
in use for decades upon decades without the sort of stress
riser failure you theorize indicates that in practice, there
is nothing silly about one bolt stems.

Now, I have my suspicions about the safety of open face
stems, but given the absence of widespread failures with
those, my suspicions remain theoretical as well.

In closing: I support the use of stems with bolts, but I
remain suspicious of stems with bolts.

Hugh "The sky is falling in a purely theoretical sense"
Flynn Roslndale, MA

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 14:29:23 GMT, Hugfly <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Rick Onanian at [email hidden] wrote on 3/20/04 9:13 AM:

Quoted message said:

Wouldn't forcing the stem clamp open result in fatigue in
the clamp (the thinnest part!), as well as maybe stress
risers where you pried it open?

One-bolt stems are silly.

In theory, I could see how a claim of one-bolted silliness
might be established. However, the fact that they have been
in use for decades upon decades without the sort of stress
riser failure you theorize indicates that in practice,
there is nothing silly about one bolt stems.

Sorry, I was unclear; the 'silly' remark was not related to
the suggested durability question. They're silly mostly
because you need to dismount all the [censored] from one side of
the handlebar and partially because sliding the clamp onto
the bar could scratch the bar (creating a stress riser...).

Quoted message said:

In closing: I support the use of stems with bolts, but I
remain suspicious of stems with bolts.

You're right! I will replace all the bolts on my bike with
zip ties now.. <BFG>

Quoted message said:

Hugh "The sky is falling in a purely theoretical
sense" Flynn

The sky finished falling a long time ago. You're just a
retrogrouch. 😉
--
Rick Onanian

Rick Onanian said:

Ted Bennett said:

Depending on the curve of the handlebar and the width of
the stem's clamp, it may be necessary to force the stem
open a little to avoid scratching up the bar. Such
scratches are to be avoided, as they are stress risers on
a component that you really don't want to break.

Wouldn't forcing the stem clamp open result in fatigue in
the clamp (the thinnest part!), as well as maybe stress
risers where you pried it open?

One-bolt stems are silly.

It wouldn't hurt the stem if it were done without gouging
it. A lot of stems can be widened without drama or damage by
reversiving the screw and inserting a coin into the gap for
the screw to push against.

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Ted Bennett

BRick Onanian said:

Ted Bennett said:

Depending on the curve of the handlebar and the width of
the stem's clamp, it may be necessary to force the stem
open a little to avoid scratching up the bar. Such
scratches are to be avoided, as they are stress risers on
a component that you really don't want to break.

Wouldn't forcing the stem clamp open result in fatigue in
the clamp (the thinnest part!), as well as maybe stress
risers where you pried it open?

One-bolt stems are silly.

It wouldn't hurt the stem if it were done without gouging
it. A lot of stems can be widened without drama or damage by
reversiving the screw and inserting a coin into the gap for
the screw to push against.

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR [/B]

Using a coin is the method recommended by TTT on their old-style stems. Its ok, to scratch the bars a little. Just don't open the clamp super wide.

in article [email hidden], Rick Onanian at
[email hidden] wrote on 3/20/04 9:59 AM:

Quoted message said:

Hugfly said:

In theory, I could see how a claim of one-bolted
silliness might be established. However, the fact that
they have been in use for decades upon decades without
the sort of stress riser failure you theorize
indicates that in practice, there is nothing silly
about one bolt stems.

Sorry, I was unclear; the 'silly' remark was not related
to the suggested durability question. They're silly mostly
because you need to dismount all the [censored] from one side of
the handlebar and partially because sliding the clamp onto
the bar could scratch the bar (creating a stress
riser...).

Well, in that case, let us agree that a claim of partial
silliness can be established. From a practical point of
view, open-face stems make stem changes MUCH easier than
single-bolt stems do. For someone like myself, who has
pretty much worked out his bike size/position needs, and
who doesn't need to swap stems around much, the drawback of
the single bolt stem just isn't that big a deal. So, with
full awareness of the inherent silliness of my actions, I
continue to use single bolt stems. I would, however, like
it entered into the record that I also own and use open
face stems.

My problem with open face stems, if it can be called a
problem, is that they tend to be ugly as sin. As this is a
technical forum, ugliness can not be allowed to constitute a
real problem. So, I have yet to identify a problem of any
sort with open-face stems.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In closing: I support the use of stems with bolts, but I
remain suspicious of stems with bolts.

You're right! I will replace all the bolts on my bike with
zip ties now.. <BFG>

I hate to differ with you, but I can not possibly be right.
My statement was intentionally nonsensical.

In the first part of my statement, however, I do clearly
state that I support the use of stems with bolts. I do not,
in any way, suggest that people stop using stems with bolts.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hugh "The sky is falling in a purely theoretical
sense" Flynn

The sky finished falling a long time ago. You're just a
retrogrouch. 😉
--

Aw common, how so? With the exception of my charge of open-
face ugliness which is inadmissible here, I haven't said
that there is anything wrong with open face stems. The truth
is there isn't anything wrong with open face stems. Were I
to actually make a contention of some sort, it would be that
for those who don't swap stems very often, the drawbacks of
single bolt stems (while real) might not be all that
significant. Seeing as that is an entirely subjunctive
construction, however, I would maintain that it can not be
used against me.

Hugh "I'm gotta bolt" Flynn Roslindale, MA

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ydm9 wrote: I purchased a Nitto Technomic stem for my
Fuji Touring bike. I realize that I'm a novice at this,
so I'm comfortable being stupid about this. How do you
install the stem on road style handle bars? The bars are
the correct size, but I can see how this stem would work
for bars with a bend?

-snip-

Zog The Undeniable said:

They go on easily enough with a bit of twisting. The bit
that bends is narrower than the section where the stem
camps the bar. It helps to clean off any sticky residue
from old bar tape first. White spirit works for this.

A picture may be helpful.

If you look at the clamp area, one side is smaller (it's not
a simple cylinder shape). Keep the smallest side to the
inside of the curve as you bring the stem up the bar,
turning to maintain that orientation.

Like this:
yellowjersey.orgSTEM ON.JPGOpen ↗

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1
April, 1971

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Terry Morse" <[email hidden]> wrote You have to
remove everything from one side of the bar, including tape
and brake lever. Then the stem slides easily over the bare
bar. This is one big disadvantage of a single-bolt stem.
Bloody nuisance.

Peter Cole said:

I am *never* buying another stem without a
faceplate, never!

Hmmmm.

I'm never buying a stem _with_ a faceplate.

But then again, as a skilled professional, I can wrap
handlebar tape without spilling any blood. And in a
reasonable amount of time, too.

Apparently, wrapping tape is a traumatic event which riders
will go to great lengths to avoid, even to the point of
buying faceplate stems.

But in this, as much of life, there are no wrong answers.
There's plenty of choice, no matter one's taste. When we
take a stem off a bike, there's another rider for whom that
stem is perfect.
--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1
April, 1971

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 20:01:56 GMT, Hugfly <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hugh "The sky is falling in a purely theoretical
sense" Flynn

The sky finished falling a long time ago. You're just a
retrogrouch. 😉

Aw common, how so? With the exception of my charge of open-
face ugliness which is inadmissible here, I haven't said
that there is anything wrong with open face stems.

No, but you did say that the sky is falling; I pointed out
that it's wishful thinking to imagine the sky is still up.
It's fallen; I collected it and put it in my refrigerator.
Only retrogrouches believe the sky is still up.
--
Rick Onanian

In article <[email hidden]>,

Hugfly said:

Rick Onanian at [email hidden] wrote on 3/20/04 9:13 AM:

Quoted message said:

Ted Bennett said:

Depending on the curve of the handlebar and the width
of the stem's clamp, it may be necessary to force the
stem open a little to avoid scratching up the bar. Such
scratches are to be avoided, as they are stress risers
on a component that you really don't want to break.

Wouldn't forcing the stem clamp open result in fatigue
in the clamp (the thinnest part!), as well as maybe
stress risers where you pried it open?

One-bolt stems are silly.
--

In theory, I could see how a claim of one-bolted silliness
might be established. However, the fact that they have
been in use for decades upon decades without the sort of
stress riser failure you theorize indicates that in
practice, there is nothing silly about one bolt stems.

Now, I have my suspicions about the safety of open face
stems, but given the absence of widespread failures with
those, my suspicions remain theoretical as well.

In closing: I support the use of stems with bolts, but I
remain suspicious of stems with bolts.

Have I got a stem for you!

sheldonbrown.com22.htmlOpen ↗

Behold the continuous closed stem, the prettiest Shimano
stem ever, and the prettiest part in the AX groups.

I was lucky enough to see one of these in person, and it's
quite pretty. Tightening the bars is left as an exercise
for the reader, but if nobody else chimes in soon, I'll
give the answer.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden]
sfu.cawiredcolaOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio
Mazzoleni Fan Club

I gave up. I tried from every angel and no luck. I dropped
it off at a bike shop over the weekend.

Rick Onanian <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

The sky finished falling a long time ago. You're just a
retrogrouch. 😉

Well Duhh! First the marketing types said we had to broaden
our horizons, and the next thing you know we've got large
diameter heavens built with paper-thin spheres TIG-welded in
some no-name factory in Asia. Of course it fell!

Give me a cold forged, fully-lugged firmament with narrow
horizons any day!

Peter Storey

[email hidden] (ydm9) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I gave up. I tried from every angel and no luck. I dropped
it off at a bike shop over the weekend.

Dang! I'd think that there MUST be at least one angel that
can handle this job.

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 19:00:36 -0800, Ryan Cousineau <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Have I got a stem for you!
sheldonbrown.com22.htmlOpen ↗ Behold
the continuous closed stem, the prettiest Shimano stem
ever, and the prettiest part in the AX groups.

I was lucky enough to see one of these in person, and it's
quite pretty. Tightening the bars is left as an exercise
for the reader, but if nobody else chimes in soon, I'll
give the answer.

It appears to have a hex bolt at the corner that pushes
against the handlebar, or maybe it pulls a sleeve tight. The
corner is cut at an angle and has some sort of cap on it.

Of course, another hint is "Hexagon release mechanism".
--
Rick Onanian

In article <[email hidden]>,

Rick Onanian said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

Have I got a stem for you!
sheldonbrown.com22.htmlOpen ↗ Behold
the continuous closed stem, the prettiest Shimano stem
ever, and the prettiest part in the AX groups.

I was lucky enough to see one of these in person, and
it's quite pretty. Tightening the bars is left as an
exercise for the reader, but if nobody else chimes in
soon, I'll give the answer.

It appears to have a hex bolt at the corner that pushes
against the handlebar, or maybe it pulls a sleeve
tight. The corner is cut at an angle and has some sort
of cap on it.

Of course, another hint is "Hexagon release mechanism".

Pretty close. But not quite, I don't think.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden]
sfu.cawiredcolaOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio
Mazzoleni Fan Club