seized seatpost on a bike bought off a forum…

Recently bought a lovely secondhand road bike from a forum and it turns out the seatpost is seized. Didn’t notice initially as it was pretty much spot on at the right height already. I’ve since decided it needs to be up a cm or so and discovered it’s seized.

What would you do?

And also, any tips on how to get the thing out short of destroying it!

kettle’s on !

If it’s nearly fine height wise, undo the seatclamp, lube it up with penetrating oil & just ride it till it moves?

I’ve tried that for a day ride but it killed my knees…so, probably not that nealry fine!

hey, at least you got something you paid for on here… like some other poor chap who’s posted up today, i’m still waiting for a pair of tyres i paid for 3 weeks ago!

Seatpost in a vice, twist the frame…..

if the penetrating oil failed then the vice thing as per PP otherwise it may be hacksaw time.

if you do get it freed up then it might be worth a seat tube ream to clean it up before you fit a new post.

If it is just one cm and it really can’t come out, I’d look at replacing the saddle with one with a higher profile. Seatpost removal can turn nasty – been there…

Will a carbon seatpost survive a vice? Always assuming I had a vice that is?!

Will a carbon seatpost survive a vice?

😆

Pour some Plus Gas or similar in from the BB and leave it upside down for a while

Will a carbon seatpost survive a vice? Always assuming I had a vice that is?!

Only one way to find out! 😈

To be honest, its a good job it is a carbon post – dead easy to cut out if needed…

Is the frame alloy or carbon? If alloy apply heat to the frame carefully with hot hairdryer or boiling water. The alloy frame will expand more than the post and you should be able to free it.

Will a carbon seatpost survive a vice? Always assuming I had a vice that is?!

put an old saddle on it and use that to clamp it up/lever it

I like the hairdryer idea – thanks. Finally I get to find a use for the hairdryer my girlfriend left in my flat…

to be fair to the old owner he has probably never moved it in its life – why would he ?

sold complete – buyer beware im afraid

carbon seatpin survive – a vice – from experiance on customers bikes in similar states – no – other local shops greasing up there seatpins mmmmmmmm … but it breaks up and you can ream it out dead easy to fit a new un !

I put the kettle on ages ago

If nobody wants a cuppa, tie a rag round the (metal?) seat tube and pour on the hot water, then have a go at twisting/hitting the saddle. Same as the hairdryer but wetter.

(assume plusgas would be bad for the carbon, would it ?)

Hmm, I would have thought that long term, anything oil / grease based will not be good for the post. Short term i.e. Plusgas should be ok, but clean it off afterwards, then reassemble with some carbon assembly paste (assuming you can get it out)

Stupid question I’m sure…does greasing the post make it stick then?

depends on the grease – carbon fibre will absorb some types of grease and expand causign it to get stuck.

Carbon assembly paste is recommended for all CF components.

I had a similar situation with a bike I was selling, seized alloy post in a steel frame.

Post in a vice and turning the frame about it got it free

Assuming steel/alloy and before reaching for a hacksaw you could try making a funnel shape out of modelling clay or similar around the seat clamp and fillng it with Plus Gas/DW40, leave over night to soak.

Or clamp the frame in a stand/mates hands and get a massive lever in the saddle and twist. Plenty of penetrating oil too! Hey, at least it’s not carbon in carbon.

I have this problem alloy post in carbon frame though. It sucks BiGG time.