[GA1911]

I got a deal on a new in the box FSA OS115 stem for my upcoming build, but while cruising around the web I ran across a couple of problems and wanted to see if anyone on here has heard anything. The first was a report from a couple of years ago that you need to beware of this stem when using it on a carbon steerer. According to the report there is not enough surface area on the stem and it may cause the steerer to crack. The other report was of the titanium bolts snapping when tightening to the recommended torque. Anybody heard anything like this? I know this could be a couple of isolated instances, but the stem is a pretty critical piece to the puzzle and I want to be sure.

Thanks...

 

[carveitup]

I've had one for a few years and haven't had any problems (and I do have a carbon steerer).

 

[Ventruck]

IIRC, the steerer issue was on the Trek Madone. Fault was the steerer, although Trek made silly claims of improper installation and stem spec. Other stems failed on those steerers as well. Keep seeing the same Bontrager RXXXL fork for dead-cheap on craigslist. Surprised hipsters haven't sucked into it.

As for Ti bolts, I've gotten away with them on two stems already and several re-installations. I torque by feel as opposed to using a torque wrench.

 

[backinthesaddle]

Nope, not just the Madone. The LBS here had a Specialized Tarmac and a Colnago CLX brought in with cracked steerers due to the FSA 115 stem.

The stems themselves don't have enough contact area with the steerer and don't disperse the clamping pressure enough, thus creating indents in the steerer.

 

[zsir]

I was considering this stem as well and came across a thread where a guy was saying his shop had three of these stems cause steerer failures but replies where blaming him for install error..... intrestingly fsa seems to have replace it with the os150 a heavier stem