This works if the threaded hole is open at the outer end but not if it's capped. I've managed to spread Nitto stems with a large flathead screwdriver but yes, the Nitto spreader tool is far easier to use. If the absence of the Nitto tool, a thin but stiff and sturdy and properly thick piece of steel works better than the flathead which will have a tapered profile that makes this use awkward.
FWIW, way back in the day when I several times installed drop bars onto my 55 cm XO-1 and my first, similarly-sized (54 cm) 1995 Riv road custom (Grant said "Don't you dare" when I told him I'd tell others how much I liked the compact, XO-1-style frame design, but I think the statute of limitations has expired) using the penny trick. In fact, several times I installed a 26.4 mm Cinelli Giro d'Italia bar into 25.4mm Tioga and Salsa steel stems using this method; steel is very forgiving. On Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 1:13 AM 'Hetchins52' via RBW Owners Bunch < rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com> wrote: > I usually have a nickel (with a few, round dents already in it) somewhere > on one of my work stands for when I need to do this. Dime is too thin, a > penny too soft and a quarter is too valuable! > David in Berkeley > > On Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 4:27:32 PM UTC-8 Andrew Letton wrote: > >> Hi Brian, >> >> If your stem has a tapped hole for the clamp bolt (as many steel stems >> have, rather than a loose nut like many aluminum Nittos) you can use this >> method: >> >> Helpful tip: Take the pinch bolt out. Insert a coin in the slot between >> the clamp area. Thread the bolt in from the back side. Tighten it against >> the coin. It will force the clamp open and it will stay that way during >> your install. >> >> (I copied this from the net, rather than type up my own description.) >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CALuTfgsr2VgSZQv9D%3DzvTW%2BqfTLxKv4QtFSfPqNop%3Dttdc-Lng%40mail.gmail.com.
