BMX handlebars adjustment - weird stem

[pfm401]

Hopefully someone may have seen this before ....

My son has knocked his BMX handlebars out of alignment, but I can't work out how the stem works to put them back! It's not the usual "4 bolt clamp", there's a single 8mm hex head bolt through a square which looks to compress onto the handlebars to fix (see pics). The only other bolt is for the headset. When I take out the 8mm head bolt I still can't move the bars.

Is it a case of loads of GT85 then take out the square piece? Or is there a magic trick here?

Thanks, Paul.

 

[Drago]

Plwase forgive me going off topic, but is that a Ford Fusion you have There?

I can't see how that comes apart and the bars to go in. Is there a brand name stamped on it anywhere you could Google?

 

[Jody]

My guess is the 8mm Allen key will drive a wedge between the two bits of metal either side which will clamp the bars and steerer. I would wind it half way out and give it a couple of taps with a persuader and see if it works like an old quill stem.

 

[Jody]

Sussed it. Search for an Oddesy Elementary v3 stem as it has a similar method of clamping.

 

[Cycleops]

This might help;


View: https://youtu.be/QdrMVyXPo1U

 

[pfm401]

Thanks all; it does indeed work like the Odyssey stem! The top of my son's is solid though (unlike the Odyssey) so I couldn't see the wedge parts, or more importantly force them apart!

A bit of gentle persuasion (GT85 into the join) and not so gentle (part screw in the bolt and tap with a hammer) has done the job! Bit of a weird set up though - I'd imagine BMX handlebars get knocked all the time but not many kids carry a hammer and an 8mm Allen key ! Most scooter / bike fixings are 5 or 6 mm so all the kids have those.

And yes it is a Ford Fusion!