Quill stem problem

I just got an old quill stem off ebay and it doesnt fit into my headset. It is the expander nut type one with the cutouts up the sides at the bottom. It says 22.2 on it so I guess it should fit but seems to be a couple of mm too wide at the bottom...

I have another 'sr' quill stem with the wedge nut and that fits fine...

Any ideas?

Have you undone the bolt enough for it to be loose in the stem rather than up in the tight position?not taking the piss just asking

Yeah, well I wondered if I was missing something obvious but I undid it so the nut was totally out of the stem at the bottom. The base just seems flaired out at the bottom. Guess it's just buggered. Think the only option is to buy another and have a collection of the bloody things!..

I had this problem and , what I did with mine was cut the bottom of the stem into mm, about 2 cm up, hammered each quarter in just a fraction, little by little, then lubed it up and put it in...
Still proves a bit tough to get out, but does the job.

I personally wouldn't take a hammer to a stem. I wouldn't want to be downhilling at 30+ and discover I'd introduced a hairline crack into the bit that keeps me going straight.

Sure the fork is not French thread? Same OD, threads almost identical, but only 22mm inside diameter...?

Maybe somebody did the bolt up tight when the stem was out of the frame, permanently deforming the two legs at the bottom. Measure it at the solid top section of the quill and at the bottom and see how much difference there is. If it's deformed, you could try putting a jubilee clip around it about 5mm up from the bottom, tighten it up until the stem fits into the steerer tube and then take the clip off once you've got the first 5mm of the quill into the steerer

Are you "handy" with tools?
If the stem is long enough then it's relatively easy to shorten. Carefully cut the flared end off with a sharp hacksaw, recut the slots and file clean. Some have internal chamfers which can be reinstated with a big countersink tool...

you could try squeezing flared end shut with a Jubilee clip set 3-4mm up the shaft until quill is entered into top of fork

thanks for the help. Yes I measured it and I'm sure it is wider at the hollow bottom than it is at the top of the shaft-like you say I guess someone has overtightened it out of the head tube.

Im sure it is not a french thread fork as my other 22.2 stem fits in ok(plus it's a british built frame). I may try the jubilee clip method- although I worry about getting it out again! Atleast I know it's a faulty stem now- was abit confused before.