Author Topic: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....  (Read 7963 times)

Offline The Brown Sound

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HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« on: August 25, 2008, 10:45:51 PM »
YES I used the search function lol. I know this stem fit on these forks previously. They were sold to me as a pair used. I've tried everything (Thanks Snicker) from having both screws just barely on, to tightening them 4 turns, sliding bars w stem on then loosening til just on but no luck. 1 thing Snicker did mention was to make sure both bolts were flush w the front of the stem but I don't see how this is possible cause if I do it that, it simply tightens the stem. I can get the bottom loop, and wedge on but NOT the top loop. I can get it just about right there so it's hitting the top of the steerer tube, but it's not at the point where if I took a rubber mallet, it'd go down. It'd only bash it into the steerer tube SO wtf do I do lol? I've tried prying the stem face away from the back piece where it attaches and can only get so far. It makes it so the wedge/top loop is not alligned.  Help! I've included pics (sorry don't know how to make them small) so please critique away. I even emailed Aaron but no reply so not sure if it actually went through or...? Thx as always - And I swear if I hear one more street riding kid go wtf kinda stem is that or why such a small sprocket Imma snap! word.  :beer:

Top bolt

bottom

SteerTube
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Offline mare

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2008, 11:14:09 PM »
it`s not realy that hard. just unscrew both bolts so u can pull them out, hold the stem to keep it in shape and fit it over the fork. it`s easier if smn helps u so he can tight the bolts when u r holding the stem
good luck

Offline The Brown Sound

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2008, 12:07:59 AM »
lol I know it's not supposed to be hard. that's the frustrating thing! fackin' finger cuffs I swear  ^_^ I tried that one time thus far but it simply makes it so the holes don't line up. Maybe I didn't hold it well enough. As for Aaron I figured it may have been an email issue so I wasn't sweatin' on him. It's funny I met this old school Flatlander that rode for GT back in the day w Shawn White - Dave Ardale possibly? He said he made a living and toured and worked w Woody Itson and such. Crazy. Speaking of crazy....Aggghhhhhhh try try try again. Doesn't help I'm sick right now so....
I'm like the brown LL Cool J.

Offline Oltorf

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2008, 12:46:38 AM »
Dude. take some sandpaper to the bar, where it clamps in the stem. the top and bottom of that tube don't always fit flush. sand it down and the top should slip over the steer tube. If sanding doesn't work.... Idk. but it's not the stem. its probbly tha paint. goood luck.
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jim mckay

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2008, 12:56:49 AM »
Dude. take some sandpaper to the bar, where it clamps in the stem. the top and bottom of that tube don't always fit flush. sand it down and the top should slip over the steer tube. If sanding doesn't work.... Idk. but it's not the stem. its probbly tha paint. goood luck.

+1

the first set of bars I used with that stem-30 seconds done. 2nd set of bars, same situation as you. looking at it from the side, I could tell the bar wasn't seating all the way in the stem. sandpaper was the fix.

Offline The Brown Sound

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2008, 12:58:18 AM »
Yea makes sense. I did sand it a lil. I did just get the bars powdercoated. I just feel like a friggin moron. I did notice there seems to be a little space btwn the front of the bars and the back of the hook. But I even tried a rubber mallet against a tool to wack it in there.  try try try again I'm prob done for now, I have to sleep so I can be up for work in a few hours. Feel free to tell me I'm an idiot in the interim  -_- cause I sure as f*ck feel like one. cheers dudes
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Offline Oltorf

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #6 on: August 26, 2008, 01:05:14 AM »
yep 1st bars. slipped in like a KY. 2nd bars took an hour. didn't wanna sand em, too pretty. haha
prob solved.
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Offline Sagaris

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #7 on: August 26, 2008, 01:13:17 AM »
I have the exact same problem with my Hook Stem. Still haven't gotten around to sanding or filing though, i'm lazy.  :P

Offline Erik Otto

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #8 on: August 26, 2008, 01:38:41 AM »
tap the bars as far into the front of the stem as possible, that is the trick.

Offline x james x

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #9 on: August 26, 2008, 05:44:39 AM »
Loosen the screws, don't take it apart. Insert the bars then put the spacer behind them, then slide over the fork tube and tighten. Thats how I did it.

Offline The Brown Sound

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2008, 05:48:52 AM »
It must be the bars. Thx guys again. I'm going to mess around w it a lil more tonight provided I get time at work. On another note, has anyone had issues w their detangler not fitting? I'm wondering if how close the steerer tube height is to just being enough will affect things....thx
I'm like the brown LL Cool J.

Offline The Brown Sound

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #11 on: August 27, 2008, 12:25:13 AM »
I'll try that again D, but I swear it doesn't pull back far enough. Eh maybe it's my mind playing tricks on me, but I swear I had it w no bars in, off the forks and it still didn't pull back all the way. I'm prob trippin' though.  :P

On another note, I'm running the OG Vajda forks, A Quamen I-Set, a GTX-R, and a Hook (obv.) It seems short, Not sure if I'll have enough room for a spacer. If I have enough room for the Detangler, is this an issue - not running spacers? Thought I remember Ed (SC) mentioning something about this. Thx homies - I have hope! lol
I'm like the brown LL Cool J.

Budz

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2008, 11:07:27 AM »
is the clamp area on ur bars crushed or tweaked at all?
take ur bars off and feel the clamp area on them. if its not perfectly round, u will have issues with it seating properly in the stem wedge thingy.
if there is any crushed/smooshed area on the bars, try rotating the bars forward or backwards in the stem and see if any part of the bars "seat"(fit) better into the wedge. if so, keep the bars in that position then push the upper ring part of the stem over the fork steerer. once u have both rings of the stem on, u can then move the bars back to normal postion.

since i believe i read u had your bars powder coated, it is very likely, like a few other people said, tha the paint is just too thick and needs some sanding.
hope u get everything worked out. :beer:

Offline The Brown Sound

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2008, 05:05:05 PM »
Thx Budz -

Ok at the suggestion of Brandon and a combination of what others said, I've managed to pull top loop so it's just about over the steerer tube. I stuck a tool in the steerer tube and pryed back twds the seat. This helps the top "square up" BUT I'm still unable to get it over because if I hsve the screwdriver blade in the tube, the stem top loop gets in the way and ends up back on TOP of the steerer tube. Even while prying back on the top loop, the stem bolts do NOT come flush w the face so not sure what the deal is. Anyhow I'll keep playing. My stuff's off to powdercoat again and this will give me time to solve the other issues (Gyro, Nankai Hub adjustment I believe, Crank Arm Spacers) let alone brake set up.
I'm like the brown LL Cool J.

Aaron Frost

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Re: HELP!!! Going crazy w this Hook stem....
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2008, 04:45:17 PM »
It shouldn't be that difficult. Sorry for the inconvenience. Did you manage to get it on?