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Conference noted::bicycle

Title:	Bicycling
Notice:	Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:	JAMIN::WASSER

Created:	Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3214
Total number of notes:	31946

2700.0. "Seatpost snugness?" by GALVIA::STEPHENS (Hills are just flats at an angle) Mon Nov 01 1993 13:00

Yesterday I replaced my seatpost. The one I had was 27mm -- I had to order a new
one because the bike shops I tried said that this was an unusual size for a
racing bike. 

I had to pull a bit at the existing seatpost to get it out, but since there was
the minimum amount of stem in the frame it wasn't much effort. 

But it took a hell of a lot of effort to push the new (much longer) seatpost
into the frame. I had to "screw" it in, removing little slivers of the metal in
the process. I hope I never have to take it out again, but it did make me wonder
whether the existing 27mm seatpost was the correct size, or should it have been
26.8 after all -- how snug should a seatpost be (in my other bike it's very easy
to remove)? And is it now causing any stress to the frame? (I doubt it, but want
to be sure)

Patrick

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2700.1		JURA::PELAZ::MACFADYEN	All you have to do is ask	`Tue Nov 02 1993 04:05`	13
	> how snug should a seatpost be What you want to avoid is a seatpost that can't be tightened enough to stop it slipping. Yours sounds to me like it might be too big - it shouldn't be that difficult to get it in (we're still talking about seatposts btw). But perhaps the inside of the frame tube isn't smooth. You could get a bikeshop to ream the seat tube, a frightening operation but one that might make seatpost insertion a lot easier. Rod
2700.2		WMOIS::GIROUARD_C		`Tue Nov 02 1993 06:20`	8
	A little trick I use... Reverse the seatpost binder screw and place a butter knife or putty knife (narrow) into the split where there screw passes. You can turn screw and spread the down tube. Of course, you need to go slow but it sure take the wraslin' outa pulling and inserting a seatpost. My Merlin is tough in this category too...
2700.3		ISLNDS::SCHWABE		`Thu Nov 04 1993 11:04`	3
	Is the bike frame French? I seem to recall my Motobecane Grand Record has a 26.8mm seat post.
2700.4		STRATA::HUI		`Thu Nov 04 1993 12:54`	4
	Did you also grease the seat post with White Lithium grease befire inserting it? How did you know it was a 27mm. Did you measure the old one with calipers? Dave
2700.5	grease	REPAIR::CARTER		`Fri Nov 05 1993 03:18`	6
	Dave, Why should the seat post be greased with white lithium grease ? ....Simom
2700.6		MOVIES::WIDDOWSON	OpenVMS engineering, Ecosse	`Fri Nov 05 1993 03:37`	1
	Ever tried freeing a siezed seatpost ?
2700.7	answers	GALVIA::STEPHENS	Hills are just flats at an angle	`Fri Nov 05 1993 03:51`	6
	It's an English manufacturer (an inexpensive Raleigh). 27mm is written on the seatpost. And no, I didn't use lithium grease, but in retrospect it wouldn't have been a bad idea. Next time I feel like some tough exercise and it's raining outside I'll attempt to remove the seatpost and grease it up :-) Thanks for the advice, all.
2700.8		WMOIS::GIROUARD_C		`Fri Nov 05 1993 05:58`	12
	Let's follow on the lithium grease question a little further... When inserting something or putting a screw/bolt back in always put some grease on it - lithium or other anti-sieze product... I never grease a BB spindle, but the rest is open game. I don't mean don't do the crank bolt (always do that one). With Ti stuff the problem is exacerbated. It will bond with other materials so over the year I do a few of the goodies over to avoid this...
2700.9	Grease = less work	CARTUN::VINCENT		`Fri Nov 05 1993 08:12`	14
	Grease the Seatpost!!!! I once cleaned the seatpost (and the frame seat tube) on a MTB. A few months later, I tried to adjust the seat height and it was frozen solid. After trying a few hours myself to free it (heat, pipe wrench, hammer, cursing), I brought it to a bike shop. They were still at it when I went to pick it up (it was a slow day and it became a personal challenge - they didn't want to get beat by something as "simple" as removing a seatpost! They tried penetrating oil, a BIG pipe wrench (with a 4' extension on the handle) a BIG hammer, etc. By this time, the seatpost was looking like it went through a bomb blast, but still stuck solid. Took the bike home and had to cut the seatpost out with a Sawsall (sp?). I now grease Everything......
2700.10		STRATA::HUI		`Fri Nov 05 1993 10:47`	5
	If you don't GREASE, you will get GREASED ($):-) Dave