Cheesedisease
Senior Retro Guru
Think I read Sheldon Brown write about vintage French stems being a bit dodgy, and was looking up Velobase and noticed the AVA 'Death Stem'! It states that it failed partly due to bad casting, but also because the conical expander uses two slots - one on either side. I noticed there's no circular end to the slots as well
Now the point I was reading this stuff... I bought a GB stem for £2 the other day and it just arrived. It has this two slotted design for the conical expander.
Is this stem expander design known for a lot of failures?
Or was the bad casting as much part of the 'Death Stem' reputation of the AVA!?
Should I be worried to use it, or is it totally common?
Was going to polish it up, but can't be bothered if it's a danger!
Now the point I was reading this stuff... I bought a GB stem for £2 the other day and it just arrived. It has this two slotted design for the conical expander.
Is this stem expander design known for a lot of failures?
Or was the bad casting as much part of the 'Death Stem' reputation of the AVA!?
Should I be worried to use it, or is it totally common?
Was going to polish it up, but can't be bothered if it's a danger!
