Can you cut down the height of a quill stem?

Which sort of wedge does it have Ed?

If it is sloping, pretty easy, cut off at exactly the same angle, at the required length.

If it is internal it is a bit trickier, as you need to cut it off, then saw slots back in, but also very do able.

yeah, i tried to do it with an internal and it's just too much of a job :)

Same trouble with my gf's bike.
Fork is non original and the butting doesn't allow the stem to insert much beyond the min insertion height. Luckily she likes it high up so it doesn't matter. I assume a fork made for a frame with a short steerer tube wouldn't have the same butting?

If you look on SJS site their are shitloads of shorter quill stems, most MTB though

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/find.asp?cat_id=&pf_id=&jump=0&sfile=1=

Which sort of wedge does it have Ed?

If it is sloping, pretty easy, cut off at exactly the same angle, at the required length.

If it is internal it is a bit trickier, as you need to cut it off, then saw slots back in, but also very do able.

it's the latter, I found this stem at a good price, at least it's doable.

need to get those pipecutter, but got to think of a way to cut those slot.

jesus what size is that bike?

a vice then just cut down?

jesus what size is that bike?

48.5cm! it's small to the point that the headtube lug have to be one piece than two seperate one.

a vice then just cut down?

no, likely to have an uneven line (if you mean cutting off the stem and not the slot).

Which sort of wedge does it have Ed?

If it is sloping, pretty easy, cut off at exactly the same angle, at the required length.

If it is internal it is a bit trickier, as you need to cut it off, then saw slots back in, but also very do able.

I was about to post that it was only doable with a sloping wedge. Obviously some people has the skills.

If you have an internal quil stem that you like,
would it not be possible to find a cheapy sloping stem,
scavange the wedge,
cut the existing stem to the same angle as the cheapy stem,
and install the sloping wedge.

Just a thought.

(BTW. I personally like to use a hacksaw, cutting a little too little off, followed by use of a fine file to finish)

Smallfurry, that would be a great alternative, however the only thing I'm concern about is the thickness of the stem, the internal one have thinner metal whether the sloping one have thicker metal.

I don't know whether it would be safe or not to use.

struggling to put another tyre on ed?

there's no inner tube, just left it like that until I get some inner tube.

struggling to put another tyre on ed?

Good spot! I didn't notice that! Made me chuckle :-)

Will the bolt have enough threads after shortening the stem?

Will the bolt have enough threads after shortening the stem?

i also just did the same.... i wanted my stem to be as low as a nitto jaguar (without the obnoxious angle) however my bolt wasnt threaded fully so the wedge wouldnt tighten enough once all the extra length was cut down.... but luckily i just went to my local hardware shop that stocks hard to find bolts and nuts.. got a shorter replacement... and was ready to go!

hopefully it shouldn't be hard to find a replacement.

I know this is an old thread, but maybe this could be useful to someone.....
Little bit of DIY today. Needed a shorter stem. Had an old steel one knocking around. Got busy with the hack saw, drill and file. Would like to find a better condition steel stem at some point..... but it will do for now.