Stuck Seatpost: The Solution

[slowtwitch]

We have gone throught the debate about how to get a stuck seatpost from the frame in previous threads. Here is my story:

 

Alu Seatpost is stuck in alu frame to the extent that Vise Grip/ hammer doesn't move it. The bike is only 1 year old!!!!

Tried Q20

Tried removing the BB and pooring into the seattube Coke

I did not try boiling water - I heard it worked successfully on Alu/Carbon combo's due to differensial heat expansion rates

Firstly I cut the post above the color with some of the post sticking out...EISH THIS BETTER WORK, OR I'LL HAVE TOSS THE FRAME

Using a blade I started the process

 

[slowtwitch]

6. Using a torch I checked the groove every once in a while. The fist groove I made did not go through completely (I found out afterwards). I used a piece of wire with a hook to establish how deep the post was in and made a mark on the blade. You can't feel the bottom of the post with the blade.

I tried "rolling" up the tube wall without avail- it is way too thick to do this with pliers....so I started sawing a second groove.

 

7. Once the second groove was completely through (I made sure this time), I started working the section of tube with the vise grip, pliers and eventually a hammer.

 

8. I noticed the post moved ever so slightly with when hitting with the hamme, and I knew there was light!!!

 

9. Vise Grip and working the post free and this was what it looked like...

 

 

You can see the amount of corrosion which looks like white powder - no Coke or Q20 will penetrate that deep.

 

Time to remove the Post: approx 2-3 hours

 

Time to make the decission to cut the post: 6 months

 

Moral of the story: Loosen and move your seatpost every once in a while

slowtwitch2009-09-19 02:46:50

[Dragu]

Well done!!

[Li Mu Bai]

yes well done. its horribly stressful going through what you did above. I used the boiling water method to get my stuck carbon post out of the alum frame - very slow process, but it worked and I still have the use of the carbon seat post.

DO NOT put grease on the seatpost before installing it in a frame. the grease turns to wax and then hardens till you cannot budge the post at all - could explain what looked like'corrosion' on yours.

[Ginger_Ninja]

The white powder is... well, "rust", or what would have been rust in the case or any other iron. Alu doesnt rust, it corodes into the white powder we see in the pics.