Syncros stem issues

[NickD]

I've go a Syncros quill stem on one of my bikes and it won't clamp up tight over the bars, meaning it's probably a 26mm stem (I'm assuming the bars are 25.4mm) something I didn't realise (or expect from a MTB stem

Any solutions? The only one I can think of are either coke can shim or a new stem - I don't know where I'd get 26mm bars.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

You can use a few wraps of coke can, or a shim cut from slightly thicker shim stock. Nitto make a very nice stainless shim for the job, but it might not be wide enough for a Syncros clamp.

http://www.hubjub.co.uk/nitto/nitto.htm

26mm mtb bars are rare, but one or two have been made. The one I have is a Modolo Navajo.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi !
I've just visited this forum. Happy to get acquainted with you. Thanks.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Nick can you post a picture of the stem up? Syncros also made road stems and likely in 26.0mm flavour

 

[mikee]

what size quill is it ?

1 1/4" ?

 

[one-eyed_jim]

If it's a 26.0mm clamp, it's a road stem, and the quill is 22.2mm for a 1" steerer.

In the very early days, Syncros did make some road stems in the odd Cinelli standard clamp size of 26.4mm.

If it's not a 1" stem (22.2mm quill) it shouldn't have a 26mm clamp. Syncros road stems only come in the 1" standard.

 

[NickD]

I've attached a pic below, not a close up I'm afraid, but the best I have to hand. More rise than any of the road stems I've had, but yes it is a 1" quill.

The clamp closes down on itself before clamping the bars tightly enough so it certainly seems like it's a 26mm clamp. They get tight enough not to move generally, but with the extra leverage from the bar ends the bars move a fair bit

 

[one-eyed_jim]

With a built-in cable noodle, and that length and rise, it's not a road stem.

Is it possible you have a bar that's designed to work with a shim, but you've lost the shim? I doubt it would be possible to get a 1" clamp to tighten down on a 7/8" bar, but I guess you never know.

What brand and model is the bar?

Some close-up pictures would be a big help. So would some measurements.

 

[NickD]

With a built-in cable noodle, and that length and rise, it's not a road stem.

Is it possible you have a bar that's designed to work with a shim, but you've lost the shim? I doubt it would be possible to get a 1" clamp to tighten down on a 7/8" bar, but I guess you never know.

What brand and model is the bar?

Some close-up pictures would be a big help. So would some measurements.

The bars worked as is on my Kona around 10 years ago, with a Uno stem, but that was a thinner, single bolt stem - no shim.

The only thing I can think of is that the bars narrow after a fairly slim clamping area, and as the bolts are a fair way apart thay possibly aren't actually clamping directly on the bar. Bar is made by 'Rito'.

I'll try and get some pics later on. The battery has run out on my calipers so I can't do precise measurements at the moment.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

The bars worked as is on my Kona around 10 years ago, with a Uno stem, but that was a thinner, single bolt stem - no shim.

The only thing I can think of is that the bars narrow after a fairly slim clamping area, and as the bolts are a fair way apart thay possibly aren't actually clamping directly on the bar. Bar is made by 'Rito'.

That could well be it. If the bulge of the bar is much narrower than the stem clamp (and those early Syncros stems had a very broad clamp) the pinch bolts might be trying to clamp the sloping edges of the bulge. It should be fairly obvious if that's the case though.

Just a couple more points on the difference between the road and mtb stems. Because the road stem needs to be threaded around a curved bar, Syncros road stems either have a narrow one-bolt clamp with the underside cut away, or a broader, hinged two-bolt clamp. With a broad two-bolt clamp and no hinge, yours is certainly an mtb stem with a 1" clamp.

I'll try and get some pics later on. The battery has run out on my calipers so I can't do precise measurements at the moment.

Battery?

:roll: