Re: [CR] Anyone have an expander bolt for a French sized stem?

(Example: Framebuilders:Chris Pauley)

To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 15:09:54 -0700
From: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>
Cc: j1847e@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [CR] Anyone have an expander bolt for a French sized stem?


I don't know if it will work with your particular stem, but one of the great american-bike parts-makers, Wald, offers a stem/expander-wedge nut/bolt combination for so little $$$ you might try ordering one just to see if it fits ...

http://www.google.com/search?q=wald+expander+wedge

The wedge is the bike-specific part, available nowhere else. I think you can get an M8 x 1.25 or whatnot hex-bolt (~ 135mm, correct length for my SR Royal Stem) for many applications (i.e. holding engines together), or get a local machinist to do it. It's also possible to get the same thing in an allen-bolt (10x10mm typically) configuration. It's even possible to get M8 x 1.25 x 135mm in titanium if you're a weight weenie ...

here are some examples that might work, it's probably feasible only if you replace both stem and wedge together at the same time.

http://www.bikepartsusa.com/bikeparts/item/01-82268

https://secure.actionbicycle.com/sagro/storefront/store.php?mode=browsecategory&category=987

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_sg?url=search-alias%3Dsporting&field-keywords=expander+wedge&x=0&y=0

The nitto wedges in the URL above are probably technomic because 230mm is almost 10 inches in length!

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA