Stem repair question

[ChiefBroom]

I'm wondering if it would be a bad idea to attempt repair of a cracked Ringle stem. See attached photo; the last guy I had do a tune-up apparently over-torqued the bolts. I'd definitely replace the face plate, which is also cracked on the bottom side. But notions I've had for salvaging the stem include:

-- having someone with proper skill carefully weld the crack (probably tough to do without messing up the bolt-hole);

-- injecting some king-hell bonding agent; and/or

-- tapping holes for small screws on both side of the crack to allow attachment of a thin but sturdy metal strap spanning the crack (i.e., farmer-style, band-aid & bailing-wire fix along the lines of Zen and the Art of Motorcylce Maintenance).

My '94 Yo Eddy doesn't get hard use anymore, but I'm a little uneasy at the prospect of suddently finding myself with dangling handlebars (although I guess the brakes would still work).

Any thoughts?

[yo-Nate-y]

Given the potential for further mess and cost, I'd just find a new stem.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Ringle-S...ht_2209wt_2136

Here's a 3DV one. They aren't all that uncommon.

[ChiefBroom]

Thanks for the reply. I know you're right. Just haven't found quite the right fit (130mm w/ 10 degree rise), and I have a near-term need. Do have a line on a couple of 120mm stems with 10 degree rise that surfaced in a PM from another post here and will pick up one of them in any case. I probably won't notice 10mm shorter. Just the same, I like to fix and use stuff that can be fixed and was curious to learn if anyone else might fool around with something like this.

[ChiefBroom]

Come to think of it, at my age and with the help of a couple of bad endos, several hard tail and head plants on a snowboard, and decades worth of piggy-back rides to my kids, I'm probably more than 10mm shorter than I was 17 years ago when I bought my Yo Eddy!

[tvcreative]

Ringle stems are beautiful to look at but require proper torque...

if you over crank them they will fail at the faceplate every time...

I have had two that have gone the way of the dodo...based on my brawny boo boos....

Personally, I think syncros is good, or salsa for that matter to keep it period correct. I have seen a few controltechs here and there. I have yet to have any one of those fail.

I am sure others can add to this, with more experience...

I have Thomsons, Ritcheys, and Race Faces on my other more modern bikes...

I hope this helps...

Jim

[ChiefBroom]

Thanks, Jim. You should have a PM from me. My Yo Eddy! has a 1" headset. It was made in Mass before the switch 1 1/8". If you -- or anyone else -- has something that would make a suitable replacement for the Ringle, let me know. It's 130mm with a 10 degree rise. The bike used to fit me like a glove, but like I said, at 58 I'm a little shorter than I was in '94 and probably wouldn't notice the difference if it were 120". As for Ringle vs. anything else, I'm partial to the Ringle aesthetically, I only weigh 145, and don't ride nearly as much or as hard as I used to when we lived in CO, so if someone hadn't over-torqued the one my Yo Eddy! came with, it probably would have outlasted me. That said, it's broken and I need to replace it with whatever is best than I can find.

I'm going on a roadtrip with my son and mtbs to SD for some camping and riding in the Badlands and Black Hills in a few weeks, so want to have my Fat in good condition. I'm watching Ebay, but haven't seen anything that would be a perfect match yet.

Thanks again for the replies.

[fattyboombatty]

I love my Ringle stems as well, but is seems they are only good to look at! I have broken 2 face plates already...still have stem bodies sitting around with no plates. Neither of these were over torqued either. I think the cnc'd aluminum just gets brittle over the years. Unless I can track down another black face plate I am probably switching to Syncros.