General: quill stems/adapters

this may sound stupid but here goes...

i really like the look of the classic track quill stems. my pista has a chris king threadless headset. is there a stem i can buy with the same look (similar look to the Nitto pearl or something) or do i need to buy a new headset and fork if i want to achieve this look? Any reviews on the quill adapters?

With a Chris King Headset you can buy just the threaded parts you need. You don't need a whole new headset. You will need a threaded fork though.

To do it right - safely - you would need to purchase a threaded fork and headset. And the stem, for that matter. Say $120,less if you can find some used parts, more if you want quality. You could try threading your existing fork, but it will not decrease your costs much, if at all. You could sell your fork ($30?), headset ($80?), and stem (I don't know what it is, so...?) and make some money back, of course.

That said, you could use a seatpost clamp to hold your fork in place. Sheldon Brown did something similar, though for a different reason.

Since your fork is 1" already, the quill will fit without issue, and the clamp should hold up. But if the clamp did fail, the best you could hope for is the stem keeping your fork in place without fucking up the headtube. I think it's a big gamble for such a small benefit.

You're better off buying a used threaded fork having Kilo (which means an older one), or something else used, if you really want a quill.

Posted By: SkidMarkWith a Chris King Headset you can buy just the threaded parts you need. You don't need a whole new headset. You will need a threaded fork though.

cool, thanks... didn't know that!

and Suicide_doors, the "right" way appeals to me much more than than make-shift version.

thanks for the tips

I don't think anyone would argue with threadless being easier. It weighs less, too. But I do like the look of threaded stems on lugged steel bikes. IMHO standard TIG frames don't look much better either way.

You'd cut it a little closer to the length you need before you start threading it.

If you knew what the die and the die handle cost, you'd understand why it costs so much to thread a fork.

ok.... thanks for the info.

my original post comes from not only my desire for aesthetics but also, I just don't like my current stem (too long). because swapping out the fork and headset seems to be a pain in the ass, what do you (forum members) think about the use of a shim? my steerer tube is 1" and after a bit of research, i've come to realize that the majority of threadless set-ups out there are 1-1/8"... or at least in the brands i was looking at. Are these shims a practical, long-term answer or do they just "make it work"? And other Pista owners... what do you use?

Posted By: tdubsAre these shims a practical, long-term answer or do they just "make it work"?

Stem and handlebar shims are very commonly used and, if they are installed correctly, will work just the same as the right size part without a shim. I don't know anyone who has had an issue with a real shim, just don't use copper pipe or a beer can or ... what'd Republic use? Cardboard?

Cinelli makes a few 1" threadless stems. As do Deda and Ritchey, NOS Salsa if you can find one..
Ben's somehow got Nitto to make a 1" threadless track stem for them. I think they're ugly as sin.


Anyway, you're better off shimming.

I have search high and low for a different manufacturer of this die. Park charges an arm and a leg because they can.


Nitto makes a fillet brazed chrome plated chromoly stem that looks a little better than the one pictured above.


*EDIT* McMaster-Carr (industrial supply house, like Grainger) sells a 1" 24tpi die for $75.21

Park sells theirs for $126.