How tight?

Bianchi Boy
Bianchi Boy Posts: 323
edited December 2007 in Workshop
Took my new Scott CR1 Pro out for it's first ride before the roads get too bad the other day. When I got back I noticed that the seat post had slipped down half an inch from my original setting. Maybe I was being over careful by not over tightening the clamp, so my question is how tight should you tighten th seat clamp on a carbon frame with carbon seat post, and is it worth investing in a specialist torque wrench?

Celeste is best

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Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Tacx carbon assembly paste or the old favourite hairspray. The likes of Ritckey do a pre-calibrated 4mm torque key to make sure you don't overtighten those little bolts for about £15 rather than £50-60 for a decent torque wrench.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    If it's a standard alloy clamp with a 4mm AK head, then I tighten mine to 7Nm, which is the torque spec on the one on my Scott Genius - slightly surprised there is no spec on yours. Yes a specialist torque wrench is useful with the lightweight parts on current bikes, as it's easy to overtighten.

    That RItchey tool is set at 5Nm, which is the torque spec on their stem - only really useful if that's the only torque level you require.
  • sward29
    sward29 Posts: 205
    Check to see if there is any grease on the seatpost as that will cause it to slip. There is no need to grease a carbon post so you can safely get away without it.
  • heavymental
    heavymental Posts: 2,091
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Tacx carbon assembly paste or the old favourite hairspray.

    Whats this then? Do I need to put anything on the surfaces when it comes time to assemble my CR1 with carbon seatpost, stem and bars?
  • canamdad
    canamdad Posts: 165
    www.swinnertoncycles.co.uk/Carbon-Assem ... l4760.aspx
    This is the stuff. You can probably find it being sold from a variety of retailers. It provides for some stickiness to the seatpost and, combined with the proper torque for the binder bolt, will prevent slipping. Slipping of carbon seatposts is common even with proper torque.
  • heavymental
    heavymental Posts: 2,091
    Hmm, thats a tenner then and I'll only need a couple of dabs. Is hairspray a cheaper optiopn or does it not do the same job?
  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    Probikekit are doing some for under £4.
  • heavymental
    heavymental Posts: 2,091
    Cheers Joe, thats a bit more reasonable.

    By the way, I'll be flying around on a nice shiny Scott come springtime so look out for me :)

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