Why oh why can't I get a 26mm bar in a 26mm stem?

26 mm Profile Airwing bar, 26 mm quill stem. The fucker will not go in. I have oiled it, pushed and twisted like a mutha, and it won't go. Tips?

measure it, the stem might be 25.4

if its second hand the person before you might have overtightened it and it might be seized up, maybe put a pair of pliers in and pull the grips away in an attempt to open it up a little bit

if all else fails grab an inverse shim from your lbs, it should be pretty cheap

Sounds like an over tightened stem.

Take the bolt out of the stem, thread it through from the wrong side and place a penny in the spolit. Slowly tighten it and it will push the clamp further open. Undo, put the bolt back in the right way and fit the bars.

Stick a flathead screwdriver in there to pry it open slightly.

This will only work if you have a bolt with access from both side, as per this picture.

^ Very true.

Pic/model of quill would help.

measure it, the stem might be 25.4

if all else fails grab an inverse shim from your lbs, it should be pretty cheap

Oh please...

Done it. Cheers for the useful tips.

How?

Oh please...

ah come on man I couldn't resist-sound advice then a little joke

you could have pretended to believe me at least :)

@ Aleksi: sorry, fella - brief humour fail. It was definitely a 26, not 25.4.

@ Nhatt: I prised it open. I was trying to do it with the handlebar in at first but doing it empty meant I could get more leverage.

measure it, the stem might be 25.4

if its second hand the person before you might have overtightened it and it might be seized up, maybe put a pair of pliers in and pull the grips away in an attempt to open it up a little bit

if all else fails grab an inverse shim from your lbs, it should be pretty cheap

almost too cheap...

Sounds like an over tightened stem.

Take the bolt out of the stem, thread it through from the wrong side and place a penny in the spolit. Slowly tighten it and it will push the clamp further open. Undo, put the bolt back in the right way and fit the bars.

thats a really great idea.

Sounds like an over tightened stem.

Take the bolt out of the stem, thread it through from the wrong side and place a penny in the spolit. Slowly tighten it and it will push the clamp further open. Undo, put the bolt back in the right way and fit the bars.

+1