Dan has the right tip. You could also have someone with an internal expansion reamer shave out enough to give a perfect 26.4 fit. The stem blanks were all the same for different bar diameters at the factory , then sized accordingly. If you have access to a die then you could cut the stem bolt down and rethread to the height you need/ desire and make your own custom stem. We've been doing this for years in the shop and never had a defect. It's no longer necessary with the new stems, as they come in various up angles and lengths to fit your needs. Once in a while we would file a new front loader stem slightly with a large half round to get the 26.4 radius to fit the 26 stem, but this is mostly for general use, not the hard core racing group. Ted Ernst Palos Verdes Estates, CA
> I've managed to spread the stem to fit older Cinelli bars several times.
> It's a bit of a stretch but you can do it without scratching the bar if
> you're careful. The Technomics stem can easily be shortened just by
> matching the angle of the cut to the expander wedge. I used a hacksaw
> and file. If you cut off too much, you may have to tap the stem bolt a
> bit farther, but there's plenty of thread for shortening it just an inch
> or so. The option is yours to cut down the stem bolt too (a major
> weight savings!).
>
> Happy trails,
>
> Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland where the sun has been trying to peak
> out without much success for the last few days.
>
>>>> <marcus.e.helman@gm.com> 04/25/2005 3:01:33 PM >>>
>
> Funny that Sheldon should mention handlebar height. I was just trying
> to
> figure out a way to raise my handlebars. I don't need to go way up,
> but I
> would like to reduce the drop from saddle to bar.
>
> Option 1: ...
> Option 2: Use a Nitto Technomics. Can I use the Technomics, which has
> a
> diameter of 26.0 with a set of Cinelli bars, which are 26.4? Can I get
> the
> bars in the stem without scratching them to pieces?
>
> Related issue: I have a feeling the Technomics is just too long (and a
> regular stem is too short--call me Goldilocks) Is it possible to cut
> a
> Technomics stem down? With hand tools?
>
> Best regards,
> Marcus Helman
> Huntington Woods, MI