Drilling stem

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tomtom
Posts: 352
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 9:01 am

by tomtom

Would it be save to drill a hole in the stem (Syntace F119 or Ritchey 4 Axis) to put the wires through it for the junctionbox (I would like this to drop in my front fork, it is open (Canyon))?
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JBV
Posts: 175
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:18 am

by JBV

I used to drill stems for cyclocross (for the front brake cable) and never had problems. That was fairly common just a few years ago, so a very small hole on the bottom of the stem, a slightly larger one (for a stepped housing end) on the top.

Those were slightly heavier stems though, so I'm not sure how well that would work with a lighter stem like Ritchey WCS (I've never seen that Syntace stem live, so can't comment on it).

I suppose it depends on how many holes, how big they are, and where they are.

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Privateer
Posts: 360
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:28 pm

by Privateer

Probably, but unless you are an experienced engineer I'd get someone else to do it for you.

I had a stem modified to fit around my Lefty by the guys at Black Cat Bone Bikes. It's hard to explain, and I don't have it here to take a photo for you, but essentially they cut away a a fairly large section of it. I provided the concept and they did the execution.

They recommended I use a Thompson stem, due to both the alloy it's made of and the general beefiness of it. I've used it in a few races, including a 24 hour, with no problems. XC only, obviously.

If that can be done I imagine that your idea should be possible.

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pritchet74
Posts: 1076
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 10:38 pm
Location: NorCal

by pritchet74

I drilled out my stem to put my custom Di2 head unit in it. I was going to use a Ritchey stem, but my head unit wouldn't fit in it, but it fits in the 3T one! If it fit in a Ritchey WCS that's what I would have used though.

I have been using this for about a year I think. No problems at all and lots of sprinting out of the saddle. Before I did it I consulted with one of the head engineers at Cervelo (I am a structural engineer) to get his take on it. We both felt that drilling a carbon stem was a bad idea, but that an alloy one would be OK because before you got close to a failure, you would see stress cracks develop on the stem. I check it regularly, but it still looks perfect. The holes in my stem are 1/4" diameter.

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shadwell
Posts: 575
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:25 am
Location: Gold Coast Australia

by shadwell

@ Pritch...

Mate if you wanna clean up the front brake, check out the Omega brake on Tririg.. it has a cable hanger on the top of it.
gets rid of the ned fo the cable hanger spacer under your Stem if yo fussed..

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