New Boardman Pro 29er seat tube issue

I picked up a new Boardman Pro 29er a couple of weeks ago. On removing the seatpost I noticed the post is badly scored and the inside of the tube is a little rough. Took it back to Halfords who gave me a new seatpost and whacked some grease in the tube but on removing the new post its similarly scored.
I’ve noticed a few tiny bits of debris, like filings,on the post when removed.
I’m going to take it back again tomorrow but wondered if anyone else has experienced this with their Boardman and whether it can be fixed or if I should reject the bike?

If it’s just a cosmetic, non visible issue, then I’d probably just take a gentle file to it and clean it up.

It’s a mass produced bike, and the issue sounds like it has no bearing on function or aesthetics.

If you want something perfect, then commission something hand built at four times the cost for a similar spec.

I don’t mean to sound harsh, but hey.

Experienced the same with a brand new Orange 5 frame, so it’s not just the budget brands. Wasn’t impressed but sorted it myself with a bit of wet and dry.

Im going to take it back tomorrow and see what they say.It seems as though the seatpost wasn't finished properly during manufacture. Maybe Im expecting too much but it’s still annoying that the seatpost is badly scored.

Saw this on another Boardman 29er recently. Seatpost was mutilated. Was rectified by filing/sanding inside the seat-tube iirc.

I think we should have some pictures before passing judgment, a seat post is always going to get scratches on the part that fits into the seat tube, if it didn’t get scratches id be worried it would slip.

A picture tells a thousand words, as they say.

Stick finger in side seat tube and feel for any burrs. Then file them away.
Pretty common but should have been sorted during pdi. But does seem to be somthing that’s missed now

The one I saw was pretty bad. Proper scoring, not the usual.

I think it’s fair enough to expect it to be sold burr free. It sounds above ‘normal’ scratches from putting in or moving the post.

Either file yourself or ask the shop to, and perhaps ask for another post if the second is equally damaged.

If you want something perfect, then commission something hand built at four times the cost for a similar spec.

Well that’s one of the most pointless and unhelpful things I’ve read today.

Giving you a replacement seatpost kind of missed the point tbh, they’ve fixed a symptom not the cause. It’s a fairly minor finishing defect usually (might even be just a bit of grit or something) but it shouldn’t be there. My Dune had something similiar, albeit right down in the seattube past where the OE post could go.

I’ve owned a fair few bikes before and not experienced this issue before.Both if the Giant bikes which proceeded this one week well finished so wouldn’t relate the issue to cost…….I have a photo which I will try to share later, but the seatpost is heavily scored rather than scratched, and there’s traces of metal filings on the seatpost and within the seat tube, which would seem to indicate it’s more than a slight cosmetic issue.

To me it seems as though the inside of the tube wasn’t finished. Thinking back the demo bike also had similar scoring. I wonder if it’s a general problem during manufacture or it’s not being picked up when the bikes are be built in store.

I’ve fired off an email to Boardman customer services just now to explain the issue as I’m not wholly confident that the local Halfords won’t just try to palm me off with another seat post.

If no one removed the rough edge on the seat tube then put the new seat post in then it was bound to happen again. Go back and get a new seat post but remove the rough edge with some sand paper

Mines scored to buggery. Meh tis a small scratch.

I have had the same issue and a massive amount of inconvenience from it. Brought it up to store who dismissed it as normal because I’m moving the seat post up and down a lot. Submitted a customer service thing online and was told they would send a new post to store and get them to file down seat tube.

I was told I would be waiting 4 months but instead TWO MONTHS later the post arrives and is scratched the same way almost instantly. Went to CS again just asked for them to send me a new post and I’ll fix it. Was asked to send photos which were conveniently lost 4 times and had someone hang up the phone on me, due to a technical issue… Even though I gave them photos which they eventually found I was told to go to store for an inspection to find out what the problem was *sigh*.

Went to store last week and was told I’d either be getting a dropper post or a new bike which I thought was brilliant either way. Phone call today to say my new bike was ready to pick up. Went to store, deliberately asked for the ‘bike mechanic’ to adjust my post and same issue again. After explaining that moving the post is normal and I should not be expecting heavy scrapes the guy told me to look into a dropper post if I’m wanting to adjust my bike on the go!

Its the quality of the post mainly, not just the poor inside frame. I got the guy to take a more matt finished post from the boardman 650b hardtail and put it in and it was ok with very very faint scratches. So it’s the poor gloss finish that’s the issue.

Worked out with them after about 30 mins and they’re paying for a new richey post which will hopefully not scratch. If it does I’m going for a refund.

Pic below of the first bike and first post.

Interesting .My post is similarly scored to yours 7600e. I will try my local store armed with the knowledge of your own experience, but I’ll also watch with interest to see how Boardman customer services respond. I keep finding bits of aluminium debris so not sure it’s the post but more the inside of the tube.
Have you tried Boardman rather than Halfords customer service?

Have a go with both. I found O. Glover from CS very unhelpful and i assume thats who’ll deal with yours – he dealt with both of mine. I was finding that on the first one like saw dust.

I originally reached out to Boardman who directed me to Halfords as they dont deal with the mtbs or something.

Have you tried just wrapping a bit of sandpaper round a stick or dowel and running it up and down inside the tube. It’s clearly a burr inside.
Am I missing something, are you just hoping they do it instead of you?
Every post you stick in will scratch like that until you sand the inside a bit.
It would save you a lot of hassle having to deal with customer services.

Edit.. interesting pic, have they put far too much paint on it, hence the scratches..?

I could try a bit of emery on a stick myself but if that doesn’t work and I still have the problem i might jeopardise getting it fixed under warranty.

If they can’t fix it I’ve a better chance of getting a replacement. If I was dealing with a proper lbs I’m sure they’d use a reaming tool to fix it but doubt Halfords have access to them.

Could be, there is a fair bit of resistance going up and down, I was expecting it to move free-er. Or just poor quality paint? There are two holes in the frame about 5cm down (from top of seattube) opposite each other which are somewhat sharp.

As the scoring goes all the way to the top of the post I would thik its at the top of the tube or seat collar try sand emery paper fine grade or a womans nail board might do jut needs de burring often seen it.

lucky it was not a carbon post.

Ask them to use a seat tube reamer, problem should be resolved then.

Would a reamer risk making the tube a bigger diameter or can it be used to just clean up the inside? Would your average lbs be able to do this and what sort of cost? Somehow I can’t imagine Halfords having the necessary tool and if I’d trust them to do it…………

As has previously been said ( multiple times ) until the cause of the issue is resolved, no amount of new posts will remain unscratched.

Shine a torch down the seat tube and you’ll see any burs or swarf causing the scratches.
They look to be coming from the top of the tube so reaming probably isn’t nessesary, just a file or sandpaper.

For what it’s worth, I had this on a 2k titanium frame. 2mins with a file and I moved on with my life, riding into the sunset with a scratch free seat post 🙂

I have had this issue on a couple of frames in the past. I got my lbs to sort with a reamer. Was not expensive, you just need to make sure you use someone who knows what they are doing.

If there are burrs sitting proud of the ID of the seattube them a reamer will smooth them out without opening the ST up any further.

If the ST is undersized then a reamer will open it up a bit, but you wouldn’t be getting a post in there anyway.

As Halfords to ream it to the correct ID, or if they don’t have the tools as your LBS and then reclaim it from Halfords (if they won’t play ball you’ll be down a tenner maybe but at least problem is solved. Might not be ‘right’ but life’s too short)

The issue isn’t so much whether a bit of emery paper will fix it more that Halfords ought to be able to provide a £1000 bike that is perfect.
Looking at the seat tpost mine is possibly worse than 7600es, and a look down the seat tube reveals traces of aluminium debris and scoring approx 5-10cm down the tube. To me it would seem that the frame simply wasn’t cleaned up or reamed at the factory. I am going to enquire about the cost of getting the seat tube reamed and see of Halfords will cover the cost of that and a new seat post.

I do sympathise with the OP but as most people have said the problem could have been fixed with five minutes and a file.

Does anyone know of a competent LBS with a reaming tool in Herts/Beds area?

it doesn’t need reaming, it just needs a half round file or bit of sandpaper to take off the offending protruding bit of metal from the inside of the seat tube.

If you don’t want to do this yourself, any LBS or taking it back to Halfords will do it.

If it was an old frame I’d happily do it myself but will take it back to Halfords and let them do it in case they argue that I in anyway contributed to the problem or made it worse.

Out of curiosity i looked at another Boardman in Halfords and it too had a very scored seatpost. It’d be interesting to see how common this is.

My seat post is covered in scratches too, I’ve not got round to taking it back yet though. Seems to be a common issue.

I’m liking the bike though!

This is the issue in photos =65634082&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=2]Scored seatpost

Loving the bike, rides great, but the photo hopefully illustrates that the problem is a bit more than a few scratches……..

Quick update.I took it back to Halfords.They have cleaned up the inside of the seat tube and top of the seat clamp, and swapped the seatpost from a Boardman CX they had on display. Seems OK for now.

The Pro 29er thy had on display was missing its saddle and had some fine swarf in the seat tube so it points to a manufacturing problem.

Stop pissing about complaining. 😉
If you want to sort the problem just buy one of these and run it up and down your seatube a couple of times then bang the new post in.
Job done.
Some things are just easier and better to sort yourself than waste time messing about.

http://www.ciponline.co.uk/air-and-garage-tools-c184/auto-service-c449/draper-25mm-57mm-cylinder-hone-model-no-ch25-57-p57833/s59484?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=draper-25mm-57mm-cylinder-hone-model-no-ch25-57-dra56244&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=CJ2-iarIm80CFcrjGwodOfgHow

cp – Member
it doesn’t need reaming, it just needs a half round file or bit of sandpaper to take off the offending protruding bit of metal from the inside of the seat tube.

If you don’t want to do this yourself, any LBS or taking it back to Halfords will do it.

It does need reaming, they clean up and “size” the bore, they don’t increase the diameter. Sometimes You can get excessive weld that is difficult to consistently remove with “sandpaper” and a stick.

I have had several expensive frames inc. Turner & Cotic which had to have the seat tubes reamed.

So would this kit do it?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEALEY-VS029-Engine-Cylinder-Hone-Honing-Kit-4-in-1-/161979844801?hash=item25b6c048c1:g:S3kAAOSwPc9Ww0jo

Would a cylinder honing kit fit inside a 31.6mm diameter tube?

Would a cylinder honing kit fit inside a 31.6mm diameter tube?

I did phone up a few lbs earlier. None of them had a reaming tool, so the honing kit isn’t a bad idea ………

Of course none of this should be necessary.