Handlebar slipping

[ToonMan]

I have a 24-in set of ape hangers on my bike I'm building. There obviously not the factory handlebars. When I tighten them down it seems like I can't get it tight enough and the bars constantly slip. What his everybody's recommendation for something to thicken up the size of the bar for lack of a better question. Thank you

 

[Captain Awesome]

That's a lot of leverage

Since the are triple trees it looks like, I would assume no knurling where you are trying to clamp? Some people have success with dimpling the area with a punch which creates raised texture around the punch marks

 

[twojs.bike]

Can you post a picture of the stem?

I have had luck swapping out old quill stems for BMX. The BMX have 4 bolts and I believe the extra bolts help.

The ape hangers are GIANT LEVERS. It lakes extra force to hold them.

 

[ToonMan]

That's a lot of leverage

Since the are triple trees it looks like, I would assume no knurling where you are trying to clamp? Some people have success with dimpling the area with a punch which creates raised texture around the punch marks

Exactly, smooth where I'm trying to clamp

 

[ToonMan]

Can you post a picture of the stem?

I have had luck swapping out old quill stems for BMX. The BMX have 4 bolts and I believe the extra bolts help.

The ape hangers are GIANT LEVERS. It lakes extra force to hold them.

 

[twojs.bike]

A close up of this?

 

[twojs.bike]

Oh wow. We are posting at the same time.

 

[ToonMan]

Oh wow. We are posting at the same time.

 

[twojs.bike]

I would consider a shim, some sand paper, or even just some sand. You need a lot of pressure and friction right here.

 

[ToonMan]

View attachment 237252
I would consider a shim, some sand paper, or even just some sand. You need a lot of pressure and friction right here.

Well it feels like the bolts or bottoming out and they just won't tighten up enough but I will definitely try that. I know with these handlebars there a giant lever. So I will definitely try that thank you

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Maybe, in combination with adding texture to the bar, a product like carbon paste could help your clamp get a grip

 

[rgrrbt]

A couple of thin strips of a beer can under the clamp might help.

 

[spleeft]

I second the carbon paste

 

[AndyA]

Well it feels like the bolts or bottoming out

The trouble-shooting checklist definitely requires investigating this possible cause. Try screwing the bolts in without the handlebar or top clamps and measure the clearance. If they don't screw in far enough, cut a bit off the ends of the bolts. Of course, you can't go wrong with beer can shims as suggested by Brother Rgrrbt. Have fun!

 

[ToonMan]

The trouble-shooting checklist definitely requires investigating this possible cause. Try screwing the bolts in without the handlebar or top clamps and measure the clearance. If they don't screw in far enough, cut a bit off the ends of the bolts. Of course, you can't go wrong with beer can shims as suggested by Brother Rgrrbt. Have fun!

I did try that. And the threads did not go down far enough so I ran a tap down the hole and made sure they go down far enough now. I will try shims

 

[user 35233]

A smooth can sounds slippery in such a crucial spot but half a proper shim under either side'll catch that center groove. Alternately you can file a millimeter off the flat sides of the clamps where the two pieces meet (and get shorter bolts) so they don't bottom out. Guessing they're a soft alloy you could probably do so on some smooth concrete in a pinch. Paste sounds good. (Is it removable or am I stuck using my handlebars on precisely spaced double risers @MattiThundrrr? I assume it's black?)

 

[Kevin B]

I wonder if a wrap shim made of emery cloth would work? I'd try the grit side toward the chrome bars.

 

[ToonMan]

I'm just getting ready to work on the bike so I will give that a shot

 

[Poor Side of Town]

Consider replacing bolts with studs Acorn Nuts give it a finished look . If caps bottom out , file a little off the mating surface .

 

[ToonMan]

I wonder if a wrap shim made of emery cloth would work? I'd try the grit side toward the chrome bars.

Seems to have worked!!! Thanks!!!