Internal cabling road bike stem

[dexterdent]

Looking for some advice, as I'm not really sure where to go from here.

I bought an SRT 1.19 (https://forum.bikehub.co.za/topic/183739-srt-carbon-premium-bicycle-products-unrivalled-value/) second hand from a hubber - it's a pretty awesome bike and when I get to ride it, I love it.

There is however a problem with the stem, with at least one of the bolts on the handlebar side not gripping properly anymore. This results in the handlebars rotating as soon as a hard bump is hit, making it unsafe to ride.

The handlebar and stem use internal cabling (partly what makes the bike look so great). The inside of the stem looks like this: 

(I'm aware of the small crack in the handlebar - will probably need to replace soon).

The part that goes over this to lock in the handlebar looks like this:

 

Here is what I have done so far:

1. A bike shop helped me by drilling out one of the holes are rethreading it, this worked for a while. One of the other bolts is pulling loose now, but there is not a lot of space left to drill further

2. Carbon assembly paste - obvious, but thought I would mention it

3. Loctite on the bolts

Problems/potential solutions:

1. Easy answer is buy a new stem, but the supplier does not answer emails and I'm not sure if they exist anymore. I figured they might have been importing/rebranding chinese parts, but my chinese part-finding skills aren't good enough to find the supplier

2. Buy a new different stem that also works with internal cabling - not sure of compatibility, might result in needing a new headset as well? - also seems very hard to find

3. Buy a whole new handlebar/stem combo - the frame does not have ports for internal cabling or outside routing. 

4. Get a machine shop to fix the top part thing - redrilling/machining - this would be the least effort solution, but I'm not sure who would even be able to take this on (I'm in Cape Town, if anyone knows of someone who can help)

 

This is a really great bike, I just want to be able to ride it!

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[100Tours]

Have a look on ebay for a new stem. shipping takes a few weeks, but I haven't had any ebay orders that haven't shown up eventually.

[warick_wrx]

It could just be some grease in the picture but that handlebar looks cracked around the mounting area.

[Dexter-morgan]

Just now, warick_wrx said:

It could just be some grease in the picture but that handlebar looks cracked around the mounting area.

it does look cracked, torque the bolts equally normally helps - Most engineering shops would be able to do a Heli-coil in those threads for you.

[throttles]

https://www.takealot.com/profile-design-handlebar-stem-aeria-ultimate-73-100mm/PLID71717104?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlZ_RzMCL9wIVxe7tCh2RvQ_oEAYYByABEgLW5fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[bleedToWin]

Depending where the cables and hoses enter the headset a bar + stem from a Giant propel would work. I might have a secondhand set for you soon...

[dexterdent]

Thanks everyone, already some really good feedback and things I haven't though of.

I'm going to try the heli-coil route first (its by far the least effort) and move on the the other suggested responses after that.

How worried should I be about that handlebar crack? It doesn't feel substantial at all, but I don't have a good feel for carbon.

[The Ouzo]

5 minutes ago, dexterdent said:

How worried should I be about that handlebar crack? It doesn't feel substantial at all, but I don't have a good feel for carbon.

my uneducated opinion

That crack is from over tightening the stem. The result of the crack is that the stem now needs to be tightened tighter as, as you tighten it, is compresses the bars and therefore does not grip properly. This is probably what stuffed the bolts up.

Stem can probably be fixed, but as that is the only place that the bars attache to the bike I'd change the bars.

[bleedToWin]

57 minutes ago, dexterdent said:

How worried should I be about that handlebar crack? It doesn't feel substantial at all, but I don't have a good feel for carbon.

I would not ride with that bar on my bike.

[Eldron]

Don't ride that bar!

There are many internal bar/stem combos available.

One of the best bang ofr buck combos is the Giant Contact bar&stem from the Propel: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/giant-contact-sl-aero-stem

 

[Murrob]

Do not ride that bar and stem. Even with repairs to the threads the stem is dodgy and the bar is a throw away, carbon is incredibly strong, but also unforgiving when over tightened. I honestly would not risk it, when it fails, you are going to get proper hurt. Just simply not worth the risk. 

Edited April 11, 2022 by Murrob

[dexterdent]

OK, suitably convinced not to ride the bar - thanks for potentially saving my life

This is the steerer side of the stem:

 

The cables come in on the front side of the steerer tube. I think the Giant ones go in the back. 

I'm not opening that up any more - will just have to take it to the bike shop and hope they have a solution. I feel like this might be an expensive exercise in the end  

 

[dexterdent]

Update to my saga (mostly to document this so that if someone else goes through the same experience):

Spoke to the team that brought the bike in initially - this is a known problem and partly why they stopped brining them in. The stem clamp breaks the handlebar, and then you are stuck. He suggested using an alloy bar, which I am not opposed to at all.

From my browsing, it looks like the Deda Superzero Alloy DCR might work with the existing stem (if I could get it fixed), and if not, I could potentially go with the Deda Vinci stem, but not entirely sure about if that is compatible with the internals (will probably need a new headset). Anyone have any experience with the Deda DCR system?