Stuck Carbon Seat Post

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Bugger, can't see your pic - I'll have to wait til I get home.

BTW the cola trick is genuine and it really does work.

[Michelle]

I'm very glad you are all having so much fun with this one.

Thanks for all the.... err....helpful suggestions.

[Mike I]

Caustic soda works on aluminium seat posts in steel frames, and it's cheaper than coke ...

[url]http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/seatpin-rest.html[/url]

[Careful with this site Mr , it's a bit retro-p0rn ]

All you need to do is find out what dissolves carbon (my money's on Cillit Bang or a Bacardi Breezer - or probably both) and Robert's your mum's brother.

Do let us all know how you get on Michelle. Or, better still, video it and stick the results on You Tube.

[huw williams]

[quote="Mike I"] Do let us all know how you get on Michelle. Or, better still, video it and stick the results on You Tube.

[Marky Mark]

Process now perfected.

Thats taken me all afternoon but I think this is the only method. Glad to of helped Michelle.

After all, it the Addiscombe way to help a fellow ACC member.

[img]http://www.cyclecide.com/beer/uploads/2006/04/JBBroomBike2.jpg[/img]

[Michelle]

Hey, that looks like a bike for my Mother

[Andrew G]

[quote="Mike I"][Careful with this site Mr , it's a bit retro-p0rn ]

[Michelle]

Update...

no it is well and truly stuck, we have had the crow bar on it, and it didn't shift, then tried the commpressed air trick, still no, then the elephant held it in its trunk and a whole load of dwarves attached a rope to the saddle, and they still couldn't move it.

Hmm, pretty stuffed then. It is held somewhere deep inside the frame. It is carbon post inside an aluminium frame.....any more bright ideas?

[Andrew G]

Have you got the hammer out yet?

Twisting can help but also stress, but a vertical whack with a hammer is good too.

First remove any seat tube bottle cage and screws in case the pin is bound on that inside.

Completely undo the clamp on the seatpin, insert a small flat bladed screwdriver in to the crevice (if possible) and try and wiggle it a bit - may do nothing but may loosen the grip a touch.

Squirt WD40 all around the 'pin/saddle junction. Tie a rag below to stop it running everywhere but squirt a reasonable amount on. Then leave it...for a good few hours, overnight or while you're at work is good as it stops you being tempted to go back to it.

Now the good bit, get a hammer , a wooden mallet is good as you won't damage anything accidentally. Then give the base of the saddle clamp a whack with the hammer. Try and keep the motion straight so you'll be knocking the 'pin out in line with the seat tube. Give it a good whack, then repeat, then repeat, etc etc.

I did this once and it took about 4 whacks and all of a sudden out it popped without damaging anything. One word of caution, make sure any bit of you (particularly your head) is not above the saddle when you do this. When my 'pin came free the final whack made it release suddenly and the saddle and 'pin shot up and nearly whacked me in the face .

If WD40 and a hammer doesn't shift something it ain't shifting.

[Michelle]

Ok, may try that.

But I am doing the Sea to Sea ride next week, so I reckon I'm gonna leave it till after then. Otherwise I may suddenly end up with the seat post right on the frame, looking like I am riding a stunt bike

[Ivor]

If you're ready to sacrifice the carbon post, then twisting might be your next best bet. You'll cover the seat pin in scratches and it'll be completely knackered but you'll be able to put a heap more force into twisting it that trying to pull it up cleanly, especially if you put a long bar or lever through the saddle rails to get more purchase.

[Marky Mark]

[quote="Michelle"]Ok, may try that.

But I am doing the Sea to Sea ride next week, so I reckon I'm gonna leave it till after then. Otherwise I may suddenly end up with the seat post right on the frame, looking like I am riding a stunt bike

[Keith]

Success!

The expensive seatpost removal kit is shown below. It consists of a lump hammer and an aluminium "drift" so I could hit the seatpost in the right place. Took about 10 minutes of hitting for it to slowly come out. (By the way, the seatpost isn't bent, it's just the wide-angle lens on the camera.)

[img]http://i33.tinypic.com/hsqlqu.jpg[/img]

Right, next question. What "anti-seizing compound" (should such a thing have been invented) should I put on the seatpost before it goes back in the frame?

[Marky Mark]

Copperslip or Neversieze

Both will stop it from getting stuck ever again.

[size=150]BUT[/size] If you do this method you run the risk of not having enough friction inside the clamp to grip the post. It could then start slipping down as you ride it.

I have some in the garage somewhere if you need some.

Have the other agreeables used this before or should it be kept dry? (disclaimer )

[Andrew G]

[size=150][quote="Andrew G"]Have you got the hammer out yet?...

.... a hammer doesn't shift something it ain't shifting.