How to swap an MTB threadless stem

In article <[email hidden]>,

Sir Ridesalot said:

To swap stems do I:

1) loosen the 2 bolts on the rear of the stem and simply lift it off?

2) loosen those 2 bolts and the bolt on the top of the stem then lift
it off?

That is how you get the stem off, but remember that the stem controls the
load tension on the headset bearings, so you need to be very careful when
installing the new stem. See www.parktool.com for detailed instructions.

"Sir Ridesalot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Greetings.

A friend of mine just bought a new MTB which has a threadless stem.

Unfortunately it was one of those setups wherein there are no spacers
under or above the stem.

He needs a high stem and is thinking of an adjustable one.

I have never worked on a threadless stem before.

To swap stems do I:

1) loosen the 2 bolts on the rear of the stem and simply lift it off?

2) loosen those 2 bolts and the bolt on the top of the stem then lift
it off?

Option 2. The bolt on the top of the stem is what compresses the stem and
bearing assembly so that you can tighten it in place with the other two
bolts.

Quoted message said:

Alternatively, does any one make an adaptor which would have a section
that the stem could be bolted onto that can bolt into the steerer tube?
I have such a beast but it is for a quill stem.

If I understand you correctly:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/stems/index.html#raisers

Greg

G.T. said:

"Sir Ridesalot" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Greetings.

A friend of mine just bought a new MTB which has a threadless stem.

Unfortunately it was one of those setups wherein there are no spacers
under or above the stem.

He needs a high stem and is thinking of an adjustable one.

Snipped:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Alternatively, does any one make an adaptor which would have a section
that the stem could be bolted onto that can bolt into the steerer tube?
I have such a beast but it is for a quill stem.

If I understand you correctly:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/stems/index.html#raisers

Greg

Thanks Greg. Stem Raiser is exactly what I was thinking of.

Peter

sally said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Sir Ridesalot said:

To swap stems do I:

1) loosen the 2 bolts on the rear of the stem and simply lift it off?

2) loosen those 2 bolts and the bolt on the top of the stem then lift
it off?

That is how you get the stem off, but remember that the stem controls the
load tension on the headset bearings, so you need to be very careful when
installing the new stem. See www.parktool.com for detailed instructions.

Can I remove the existing stem just by loosening the 2 bolts at the
rear of it? That is without touching the bolt on the top of t he stem.

Thank you from Peter.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Sir Ridesalot said:

Can I remove the existing stem just by loosening the 2 bolts at the
rear of it? That is without touching the bolt on the top of t he stem.

No.

sally said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Sir Ridesalot said:

Can I remove the existing stem just by loosening the 2 bolts at the
rear of it? That is without touching the bolt on the top of t he stem.

No.

Thanks again Sally.

That is one advantage of a quill stem -- you can swap it or adjust it
up or down without worrying about possibly having to readjust the
headset.

I'll try to do the swap-over tomorrow.

Peter

On 7 Aug 2006 18:05:20 -0700, "Sir Ridesalot" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

sally said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Sir Ridesalot said:

Can I remove the existing stem just by loosening the 2 bolts at the
rear of it? That is without touching the bolt on the top of t he stem.

No.

Thanks again Sally.

That is one advantage of a quill stem -- you can swap it or adjust it
up or down without worrying about possibly having to readjust the
headset.

The other side of that coin is you have to strip everything off of half the
handlebar to get it out of the stem.

Ron

RonSonic wrote:

Snipped:

Quoted message said:

The other side of that coin is you have to strip everything off of half the
handlebar to get it out of the stem.

Unless it's a quill stem with a removable face plate. I have one from
Profile Designs on my bike.

- Josh

Josh Hassol said:

RonSonic wrote:

Snipped:

Quoted message said:

The other side of that coin is you have to strip everything off of
half the handlebar to get it out of the stem.

Unless it's a quill stem with a removable face plate. I have one from
Profile Designs on my bike.

Lower-end Giant and Specialized hybrids all have quill stems for ease of
height
adjustment and a removable faceplate from the factory.

--
Phil Lee, Squid

sally said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Sir Ridesalot said:

Can I remove the existing stem just by loosening the 2 bolts at the
rear of it? That is without touching the bolt on the top of t he stem.

No.

Update.

I swapped the stem today without any problem.

Readjusting the headset wasn't nearly as hard as I had anticipated it
being.

The fellow didn't want the old stem and told me to take it with me. I
did.

The old stem is now on my road bike seat post (shimmed) where I
attached my handle bar bag using a section of old handlebar I cut it
down to the width of the mount.

It's neat. The bag is behind the seat out of the way of my legs and the
front handlebar can keep an extra water bottle cage on it.

Thanks again. Peter