Mary Bar/Technomic stem incompatible?

[velomann]

I'm building up a Lugged 93 Trek 750 hybrid as an all-purpose garvel/pavement bike. Had a brilliant idea to use the shiny silver On-One Mary bar (on sale) with the used 25.4 Technomic stem I just picked up. So excited! Until I tried to thread the bend near the clamp. Not a tight bend, but the bar bulges right after the last bend. No go. Didn't try forcing it. and haven't tried spreading the stem at all. Thought I'd seek advice first. Anyone else tried this combo (or a Mary bar with a quill stem) and got it to work? Any tricks (I mean other than telling me I need a stem with a faceplate)? Other alternative might be to go with same stem and Moustache bar, but I really want to give the Mary a try first.

[Joe Broach]

It seems to be accepted practice to spread closed face stems a little
to insert the bars. There is/was actually a special "stem pry" tool
made for the purpose. Jan Heine has a neat trick to accomplish the
same with bolt+nut+coin:

http://janheine.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/inserting-a-handlebar-into-a-stem/

Those Mary bars seem like a steal. I picked up an aluminum and a cr-mo
set to try. Be warned, the cr-mo finish is bead blasted and feels like
sharkskin--not exactly the "chrome finsih" advertised. Not that i'm
complaining for $20. Report back on how you like the Marys!

Best,
joe broach
portland, or

[Earl Grey]

Not sure there is enough space for this, but can you try a 26mm
Technomic, and after you have gotten the bars in place, slide in a
shim?

Good luck,

Gernot

On Jun 18, 4:11 am, Joe Broach <joebro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> It seems to be accepted practice to spread closed face stems a little
> to insert the bars. There is/was actually a special "stem pry" tool
> made for the purpose. Jan Heine has a neat trick to accomplish the
> same with bolt+nut+coin:
>

> http://janheine.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/inserting-a-handlebar-into-a...

[velomann]

Thanks for all the advice. I just tried Jan's coin trick and it worked slick as a whistle. Didn't have to go to a 26.0 stem, and didn't even have to use the masking tape. A couple turns of the screw and the bar slid right in. But I dented my penny ;-) I also discovered I have another 25.4 Technomic in one of the parts bins; I might have to pick up another Mary bar to go with it. Not mounted on a bike yet, but that bar/stem combo sure does look comfy and inviting on the workbench. 

[Michael_S]

did you get the bars from on-one website across the pond?

~mike

[rw1911]

I don't know where the OP purchased his, but the bars are on sale for
~20 on the US site. I just put one (31.8) on my 29er SS and really
like it!

[velomann]

Got the bars from the U.S. site here: http://shop.titusti.com/

 And since they are in PDX, I can just go pick them up locally and save shipping.

Mike