From: Donald Gillies <gillies(AT)cs.ubc.ca>
"The problem with "AVA Death Stems" is that nobody seems willing to post a picture of an actual, failed stem. AVA made several stems that were very light, and eventually a few of those stems failed.
1. It was explained to me on the last San Diego vintage ride that the AVA stem that fails has a hollowed-out extension tube. The hollowing-out goes all the way to the stem head. As a result, the handlebar clamp area stresses the aluminum and cracks form near the the clamp nut-area, eventually causing failure.
2. It was explained to me previously in a CR thread, that the AVA stem that fails is hollowed-out at the back. The stem is not supported in the back and so the expander bolt exerts a great deal of force on an O-shaped piece of aluminum that eventually fails.
....<snip>.....
I am still in search of pictures of the "elusive, failed AVA death stem".
- Don Gillies San Diego, CA"
I'm in agreement with Don.
I received one of these AVA stems with hollow extensions with the purchase of a well used Raleigh. This was somewhat before I'd heard of the legend of the Death Stem. When I installed the stem and bars, I was rather surprised at how flexible it was, especially in torsion.
When I put most of my weight (155 pounds) on one side of the bars, it would deflect a lot (an inch or two?). It was much more than I was accustomed to seeing, and I just didn't have any faith in it. A shame, because I had polished it up nicely, faux lugs and all, and wanted to use it.
In the end, the Raleigh now sports a conventional GB stem and bars, and the AVA stem resides harmlessly in my parts box. (pictures are available on request) I don't know if it would have broken with use, but I really didn't want to be the guy who would provide photos of a broken stem! :-) (especially posthumously)
Steve Kurt Peoria, IL (anyone interested in buying a lightly used AVA stem??)