The one little thing, that leads to another little thing, that leads to epic fettle-failure

[Andrew_Culture]

So my 130mm stem has always caused me problems, and the shifters were in a really odd position that was making my hands go numb after a handful of miles.

So I bought a 100mm stem, moved the shifters and replaced the worn out bar tape. Nice.

But when I test-rode the bike I realised I hadn't put on the handlebars straight so I just went to straighten them. As I was loosening the bolts I thought to myself that it might be more secure to have one bolt either side of the stem rather than both on one side. Mistake. I cross-threaded the stem. It is now an ex-stem.

So I thought I'd try the 60mm stem a friend gave me, but sadly it was the wrong ID for my bars. So I re-fitted the original 130mm stem. So far so good. Although sadly not, because now that I have moved the shifters and rotated the bars the rear brake cable is now taught. Bum.

So I have a bike with a freakish clown stem that I can only turn left on. Next time I'll leave the bolts as they are.

 

[Paul.G.]

Hope you don't mind me saying but in the bottom photo your bars are much too high. Try lowering the bars and then reposition levers back up a little.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Hope you don't mind me saying but in the bottom photo your bars are much too high. Try lowering the bars and then reposition levers back up a little.

Do you mean remove some of the riders? I was wondering.

 

[antnee]

Do I read it right that you cross-threaded the thread within the stem? Have you access to a metal thread tap so then you perhaps could run the tap through the mashed thread so rescuing it
from the bin I’ve done this and secured the cap head fixing screw in it while making sure it didn’t come out with some loctite; presuming of course that the thread in the stem isn’t completely mangled beyond all hope.

 

[Paul.G.]

No, leave the spacers in, just undo the bar clamp and allow the bars to turn down. The top photo they are much too low, bottom one is too high so your looking for somewhere in between. If I knew how to attach a photo I would show you what I mean.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Do I read it right that you cross-threaded the thread within the stem? Have you access to a metal thread tap so then you perhaps could run the tap through the mashed thread so rescuing it
from the bin I’ve done this and secured the cap head fixing screw in it while making sure it didn’t come out with some loctite; presuming of course that the thread in the stem isn’t completely mangled beyond all hope.

I did consider that, I'm fact I have a client who has all the gear. But I have lousy mechanical abilities and this par of the bike seems a bit dangerous to leave to chance.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

No, leave the spacers in, just undo the bar clamp and allow the bars to trust down. The top photo they are much too low, bottom one is too high so your looking for somewhere in between. If I knew how to attach a photo I would show you what I mean.

Looking at the bike from the left hand side, so the front wheel is to your left and the rear wheel is to your right, would you rotate the bars clockwise or anti-clockwise?

 

[Peteaud]

On a lighter note, your cacti are doing well.

 

[Somewhere]

Do you mean remove some of the riders? I was wondering.

I think they mean the rotation of the bars. It's a personal thing but it looks like your bike isn't level anyway as its in the stand so difficult to tell. Key think is is that you start with bars getting them level, even etc with bike on the flat. Then do the levers and make sure you're happy, then do the tape.

But I guess you've worked that bit out now!!

 

[Paul.G.]

Anticlockwise, just taken photo and trying to upload now

 

[Paul.G.]

Try this, yes mine are campag levers but your looking for this sort of level for bars and levers

 

[Andrew_Culture]

On a lighter note, your cacti are doing well.

Doing well at jabbing my back flab when I work on the drivetrain side of my bike!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I think they mean the rotation of the bars. It's a personal thing but it looks like your bike isn't level anyway as its in the stand so difficult to tell. Key think is is that you start with bars getting them level, even etc with bike on the flat. Then do the levers and make sure you're happy, then do the tape.

But I guess you've worked that bit out now!!

Painfully, although the process has still been enjoyable!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Try this, yes mine are campag levers but your looking for this sort of level for bars and levers

Now I understand. So you kinda don't want the hoods to start after the line of the bars curl down.

Hopefully I'm replacing these bars next weekend with some that a friend no longer requires so I'll reposition them then. Thanks for taking the effort to take a photo, I really appreciate it.

 

[Paul.G.]

No problem.