Salsa Stem Recall

[kingroon]

Just an FYI Amigos..

http://www.salsacromotostem.com/

 

[Anthony]

Yes, we've known about that for a while, but do you know the background? Are earlier Salsa stems any safer?

 

[pete_mcc]

Yes, we've known about that for a while

I knew about the 'old' recall, but hadn't heard about this subsequent one. Just goes to show that you should only by a proper vintage salsa stem not one of these QBP ones. If they aren't able to sort it out the first time, what's the chance of them ever getting it right!

 

[theredchili]

I really need one of the Salsa quill stems with removable front plate

Are there any "safe" ones available anywhere ?

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

I really need one of the Salsa quill stems with removable front plate

Are there any "safe" ones available anywhere ?

I've found the ones with the grey face plates, as opposed to the matching black faceplates, to be safe. But really, buyer should beware; without the serial number on the box, it can sometimes be hard to tell.

The genuine Salsa stems were not made with removable face plates, from what I've seen.

 

[Anthony]

The genuine Salsa stems were not made with removable face plates, from what I've seen.

I guess these were genuine ones in 1996 http://www.bikepro.com/products/stems/salsa.shtml
and later on they made them in Taiwan, which means they are inferior?

If the removeable face plate stem below is dangerous, it's been dangerous since c2000 and it hasn't killed anybody yet.

But as it is outside the recall period, I was wondering whether it is in fact held to be dangerous. I don't know US consumer protection law, but I thought it was quite tough. Would they be allowed to recall only production after 2007 if production prior to 2007 was also suspect?

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

The genuine Salsa stems were not made with removable face plates, from what I've seen.

I guess these were genuine ones in 1996 http://www.bikepro.com/products/stems/salsa.shtml
and later on they made them in Taiwan, which means they are inferior?

If the removeable face plate stem below is dangerous, it's been dangerous since c2000 and it hasn't killed anybody yet.

But as it is outside the recall period, I was wondering whether it is in fact held to be dangerous. I don't know US consumer protection law, but I thought it was quite tough. Would they be allowed to recall only production after 2007 if production prior to 2007 was also suspect?

I don't automatically deem all things made in Taiwan to be inferior, but I know it isn't made them for quality, rather to cut cost, and increase profits.
I hope your criteria for recall isn't based on number of deaths or lack thereof. A few missing front teeth is enough for me.
As for the removable faceplates, thanks for the headsup; I really had never seen one out of California. I had a 1999 Salsa Ahead stem, and it wasn't removable. Good to know.

 

[Anthony]

I don't automatically deem all things made in Taiwan to be inferior, but I know it isn't made them for quality, rather to cut cost, and increase profits.
I hope your criteria for recall isn't based on number of deaths or lack thereof. A few missing front teeth is enough for me.
As for the removable faceplates, thanks for the headsup; I really had never seen one out of California. I had a 1999 Salsa Ahead stem, and it wasn't removable. Good to know.

I know nobody on here is actually racist, but there does seem to be a widely-held view that welding done in the USA is inherently superior to any welding done in Taiwan. I don't actually think that's true, but certainly Taiwanese welds don't serially break. If these stems are dangerous, it is surely down to something wrong with the design, not the build - and that was what I was wondering about.

My stem is visibly the same as the ones that are suspect, but it hasn't been recalled. The design is visibly spindly compared to the aluminium stems we generally see, but then that's to be expected because steel is denser than aluminium. I wonder where the breakages on them arise - has anybody actually seen a broken one?

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

I don't automatically deem all things made in Taiwan to be inferior, but I know it isn't made them for quality, rather to cut cost, and increase profits.
I hope your criteria for recall isn't based on number of deaths or lack thereof. A few missing front teeth is enough for me.
As for the removable faceplates, thanks for the headsup; I really had never seen one out of California. I had a 1999 Salsa Ahead stem, and it wasn't removable. Good to know.

I know nobody on here is actually racist, but there does seem to be a widely-held view that welding done in the USA is inherently superior to any welding done in Taiwan. I don't actually think that's true, but certainly Taiwanese welds don't serially break. If these stems are dangerous, it is surely down to something wrong with the design, not the build - and that was what I was wondering about.

My stem is visibly the same as the ones that are suspect, but it hasn't been recalled. The design is visibly spindly compared to the aluminium stems we generally see, but then that's to be expected because steel is denser than aluminium. I wonder where the breakages on them arise - has anybody actually seen a broken one?

Completely understand. I, too, would like to see an actual photo of a damaged one.

 

[Anthony]

I thought I'd ask them, and here is the (extremely prompt) reply:

Anthony
You should have nothing to worry about. It was not a question of engineering but that of some faulty material. That’s why only a specific batch was effected. And of the few we did see have an issue, it all happened right away. So if you and your friend have been riding it for 10 years, I would say you are ok. Please let us know if we can be of any more help.
Thanks for checking with us.

Eric Fredrickson
Warranty & Customer Service
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Subject: Older CroMoto stem
Hi

I have a CroMoto quill stem with removable face plate that I bought maybe around 2000. The last time I saw it, there was nothing visibly wrong with it, but the bike is on long-term loan to a friend and I don't want to take any risk of exposing him to danger.

I know my stem is outside the product recall dates, but can you tell me please whether there is any difference between the design or manufacture of my earlier stem and the ones that have given trouble? Also can you tell me where the faults have occurred, so that I can inspect it more carefully there?

Many thanks