How do i fix a handlebar that wont stay put?

I think your best bet would be to go to a bike shop and ask to try a couple of different stems to see if you can get one thats a better fit

handlebars shouldn't deform that much and slip. As for fatigue i'd say that aluminium bars would be good for at least several years, testing them would involve an X Ray or ultrasound, both of which would be more expensive than new bars, the only thing you can do is check for cracks and scoring, any deep gouges near clamps etc and i would toss the bars

Agree a bike shop should be able to inspect and measure the parts, but I'd probably just buy a new stem and handlebar. No telling the how much abuse these have seen, or the condition of the threads and bolts on the stem clamp if they've been repeatedly torqued.

FSA and Ritchey are two quality american brands I know of.

Dan

Cinelli stems were sized to only fit 26.4mm handlebars which they made. Your profile bar is 26mm or might be 25.4mm bars. It will not hold the profile bars. I would try to get a Cinelli bar, they are great bars. It will have to be a older style but they are can be found. Hope this helps you out.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by pudster
Cinelli stems were sized to only fit 26.4mm handlebars which they made. Your profile bar is 26mm or might be 25.4mm bars. It will not hold the profile bars. I would try to get a Cinelli bar, they are great bars. It will have to be a older style but they are can be found. Hope this helps you out.

That would explain it....glad you know about Cinelli stuff. I checked their stylish website, but found only the 26 and 31.8mm sizes listed currently.

Doesn't Dedaccai also make an "off-size", like 31.7? If a manufacturer is making an off-size, you'd think they would at least go up or down enough from 26 or 31.8 to ensure the parts couldn't be mis-matched. Wonder how many other non-standard sizes are out there.

Dan

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by dhk
That would explain it....glad you know about Cinelli stuff. I checked their stylish website, but found only the 26 and 31.8mm sizes listed currently.

Doesn't Dedaccai also make an "off-size", like 31.7? If a manufacturer is making an off-size, you'd think they would at least go up or down enough from 26 or 31.8 to ensure the parts couldn't be mis-matched. Wonder how many other non-standard sizes are out there.

Dan

26.4 is 'old' Cnelli. 31.7 is interchangable with 31.8. 26.0 and 25.8 also interchange. There is old stuff that was 25.0. Alot of the oriential bike boom road stuff was 25.4. Current road is 25.8/26mm and oversize is 31.7/.8mm. MTB sizes are anaother story.

If you're not attached to your stem, go to your LBS and try to trade it. I've been able to do this if the part isn't damaged.

If you love your stem. You can use the old beer can trick.
1) Cut a rectangle of aluminum can that is as wide as the bar clamp.
2) Slide the handle bar out of the stem bar clamp.
3) Wrap the aluminum around the handle bar.
4) Wiggle the handle bar/aluminum shim into place.
5) Tighten it down.

This trick can be used for seatposts as well. Good luck.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by boudreaux
26.4 is 'old' Cnelli. 31.7 is interchangable with 31.8. 26.0 and 25.8 also interchange. There is old stuff that was 25.0. Alot of the oriential bike boom road stuff was 25.4. Current road is 25.8/26mm and oversize is 31.7/.8mm. MTB sizes are anaother story.

Thanks for the informative reply.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by boudreaux
26.4 is 'old' Cnelli. 31.7 is interchangable with 31.8. 26.0 and 25.8 also interchange. There is old stuff that was 25.0. Alot of the oriential bike boom road stuff was 25.4. Current road is 25.8/26mm and oversize is 31.7/.8mm. MTB sizes are anaother story.

Great info, thanks for reply.

Try the coke can shim ; it does work to convert road stems to straight bars ( BUT ONLY FOR ROAD USE , the stem´s are too weak for offroad use ).

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by pudster
Cinelli stems were sized to only fit 26.4mm handlebars which they made. Your profile bar is 26mm or might be 25.4mm bars. It will not hold the profile bars. I would try to get a Cinelli bar, they are great bars. It will have to be a older style but they are can be found. Hope this helps you out.

Thanks for the information. The coke can shim seems to work so far (to save weight, I used Diet Coke). This worked out well for me: I get to keep my American made handlebar and my elegantly designed and well crafted old Cinelli stem and it didn't cost anything but time and the price of the bandaids (it is very hard to slide the shims in and the edges are very sharp). I looked at the Cinelli website and I was disappointed by the design of their current quill type stems. Were they bought out by the Japanese or something?

Please be careful using pop can shims I don't think that I would do it even though I know that it can work ok. Think of yourself riding down a hill with you hands on the tops of the brake levers and making a emergency stop, you may roll the bars. There is a lot of leverage that can happen when riding the hoods and having to make a panic stop!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by pudster
Please be careful using pop can shims I don't think that I would do it even though I know that it can work ok. Think of yourself riding down a hill with you hands on the tops of the brake levers and making a emergency stop, you may roll the bars. There is a lot of leverage that can happen when riding the hoods and having to make a panic stop!

Maybe scoring (scratching) the coke can shim (perpendicular to handlbar-rotation in the stem) would generate enough friction? I forgot to post my e-waiver for robert to sign.:eek:

Unless you've got a strong attachment to these bars or this stem, I'm not sure if these fixes are really worth the risk... a failure in the handlebars department presents a pretty good chance of a trip to the hospital.

Depending on your medical insurance, that's likely to be close in price to a good, sturdy replacement bar or stem, or even both. There's got to be a reasonably priced quill out there that satisfies your aesthetic and actually fits your handlebars.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by lokstah
Unless you've got a strong attachment to these bars or this stem, I'm not sure if these fixes are really worth the risk... a failure in the handlebars department presents a pretty good chance of a trip to the hospital.

Depending on your medical insurance, that's likely to be close in price to a good, sturdy replacement bar or stem, or even both. There's got to be a reasonably priced quill out there that satisfies your aesthetic and actually fits your handlebars.

Yeah, Lokstah is right. The beer can shim (Natty Light) is the cheap-ass in me talking. I would recommend a more expensive beer can shim, like Guinness 😄. Maybe a shim would be useful at slower speeds on your beater commuter, but not on your pride-and-joy road ride. Good luck.