1960 schwinn corvette handlebar stem questions

[Maurice]

Good morning, I'm currently going thru a 1960 Schwinn Corvette. Came to a hurdle in trying to remove the handlebar stem. It was rusted/welded to the fork steer tube... Unfortunately it came off the hard way. Quick couple questions, was this the correct stem? And in replacing it, would any year Corvette stem work? Or what 26" Schwinn from that era? Boys or girls? Thanks much in advance! Happy holiday weekend to all!

 

[GTs58]

That's a Wald stem. Out of all my Corvettes I have never had one made by Wald. I've heard some say they have encountered Wald stems on their Schwinn bikes, so they could have used those at certain times. I only collect Schwinns and have never once come across a Wald stem. Although my project 1961 Corvette 5 speed had a set of bars with a very small W on the end. Starting with the 1966 models the stems had a smaller OD to allow for the new thicker gauge steerer tubes so only the earlier stems will work unless your fork was replaced. The earlier stems were not marked and wedge on the stem was continuous, not squared off at the bottom and not wedged on the side.


This piece was only used in 1961 along with the standard stem. The cinch bold is vertical.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/295071668585?campid=5335809022

This one came out sometime in 1962 and the cinch bolt was horizonal. The earlier 60's piece had the cinch bolt in a slight upward angle and it's somewhat unnoticeable.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334484128112?campid=5335809022

 

[Maurice]

Ahhh so that's what the "W" on the stem must mean... was wondering, and thought it may not have been an original. It also looks different from my 59 corvette stem. Although I'm not sure that its' original equipment... But I guess that's good news with this stem, since now I don't feel so bad about ruining it. Awesome info again brother. Thank you!!! Now off to find a correct Schwinn stem from that era.

 

[GTs58]

I wonder if @49autocycledeluxe has any left. California area??

 

[phantom]

Ahhh so that's what the "W" on the stem must mean... was wondering, and thought it may not have been an original. It also looks different from my 59 corvette stem. Although I'm not sure that its' original equipment... But I guess that's good news with this stem, since now I don't feel so bad about ruining it. Awesome info again brother. Thank you!!! Now off to find a correct Schwinn stem from that era.

This one could work for you. It from a 63

 

[Thee]

This one could work for you.

View attachment 1655707

View attachment 1655708

Isn’t Maurice’s the larger diameter one? The smaller dia works but leaves a noticeable gap in the fork tube, is that pic a large dia one? I recently discovered this trying to interchange neck fork years? P.S. soak/spray questionable parts w/PB Blaster or Something, overnight works wonders!

 

[Thee]

Looks like this one off a 59-60 deluxe hornet?

 

[GTs58]

Looks like this one off a 59-60 deluxe hornet?View attachment 1655735View attachment 1655736

The Hornets came with the rolled stems so that Wald was a replacement.

 

[Thee]

Right? I have some of those larger dia, one off a 57 tiger? Anyhow tiger with wrong dia stem & a repop 21.1mm quill stem? Gap looks lame gonna rechrome one of the older ones

 

[Thee]