You often have to spread the stem a bit. The best tool for doing this without damaging the stem is the Nitto tool made for the purpose. Rivendell used to sell them and some LBS owners on the list can still order them, I think. The tool has a wedge section that can hold the stem open enough while you slide it over the bars. Usually helps if you remove the clamp bolt. I also apply softsoap to the bars and the inside of the stem clamp to lubricate things and help prevent scratching.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX
Bob Hanson <theonetrueBob@webtv.net> wrote: Okay, I confess, I'm baffled. How do you clever and experienced folks properly fit a handlebar into a quill stem?
I'm referring to various early alloy stems, such as a GB long spearpoint "Hiduminium" or an Ambrosio "Champion", as well as countless others on which the clamp area is the same width all around. It is possible to fit these onto a deep drop handlebar so long as it does not have severely squared corners at the top, but trying to squeeze one onto a Randonneur bar or a shallow drop old GB Touring bend bar leaves me feeling like the last surviving Neanderthal.
Cinelli 1A stems, 3TTT Record stems and many others solved the problem by tapering the lower part of the clamp area down to a smaller area. On AVA and other stems with open fronts and vertical bolts, they simply tapered the clamp opening toward the front. So, never a problem on any of those.
But, how did/do you finesse a completely cylindrical clamp section onto a handlebar with tighter curves or sharper angles?
Gee, just when I was feeling so superior to my cats because I'm the one with the opposable thumbs...
Bob Hanson,
Proto-mechanical Primate
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA