I just double-checked (using a magnet) and can confirm that the expander bolt and plug are both aluminum (I wrote "alloy" before, which one or two people pointed out is not clear, since steel is also an alloy). The only steel parts are the washer under the head of the expander bolt and the non-original bar clamp bolt & nut. I suspect that the original clamp bolt and nut were also steel.
The hex head of the expander bolt is amazingly free of rounding, so I assume it wasn't used much. This is going on my Hobbs Blue Riband project. which isn't going to get ridden much by me anyway... not with all I've read about the Chater Lea high-flange hubs I'm using for it.
Dave Ross Portola Valley, CA USA
Doug Smith <doug@kingsweir.plus.com> wrote:
David Ross wrote Here's the first installment of a photo study of GB stems. At this rate there should be several stems up by 2010. This one is a little beat up but presentable. Did all of the Spearpoint stems have alloy expander bolts and plugs, and a hollow extension? What about reliability? All up it weighs 198 grams at 10cm extension.
David and Gang
Yes I have some expander bolts in a form of alloy in the past and proved very unpractical especially when the bolt is screwed into a steel expander plug .The alloy hexegan bolt head was not the best material to stand the pressure it was intented for. I have installed and used both but as we all known that steel and alloy do'nt really go together.The hollow extentsion to my knowledge has never been a problem. Weight I pass on either way as I have never been a weight contentious person where components are concerned!
A great product used the world over and as with all GB accessories the classic British bike would'nt be the same without them.
Doug Smith
North Dorset
UK