Titanium seatpost - help please!

GF22
GF22 Posts: 67
edited March 2008 in Workshop
I have just taken delivery of my new custom titanium frame and titanium seatpost. The post seems to be a really tight fit into the frame and I wondered if I should be lubing it with anything to get it in easier?

Obviously, I know you can't lube a carbon post but wasn't sure for titanium. Any help and advice would be much appreciated. Thanks, Gavin

Comments

  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    Hi fella,

    I did read somehwere - maybe the Van Nicholas website, that titanium can fuse to titanium - i,e. seatpost to frame and you need some sort of defense to stop this!

    Check the ti builders websites - I am sure there is something somewhere about this! Otherwise - Just a bit of coppaslip (copper based grease) sorts most problems out!! Best check that copper and titanium can mix first though!

    Cheers

    Geoff
  • notsoracy rich
    notsoracy rich Posts: 229
    I have a VN with a USE titanium post, and used Silkolene Pro RG2 which is a synthetic motorcycle grease on the seatpin.

    However any grease is better than none,as I think you do get some sort of chemical reaction between the 2 titanium surfaces which cause them to weld together, which is more or less what Geoff said.

    Rich.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    when my Airborne arrived it was a bit tight and I ended up opening the seatpost slits on the frame a bit (very carefully.... :oops: ) which sorted it out. Still a squeeze but okay.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • pieinthesky
    pieinthesky Posts: 417
    Titanium will fuse with titanium if in close contact. Copperslip, though not a grease is suitable to prevent siezing but will not help lubricate that much.

    I would be very carefull as if it is very tight, forcing the post in might remove your copperslip from the tight spots and allow it to sieze.

    Best to find out why it is so tight and sort it out before fitting the seat post.
  • cpeachey
    cpeachey Posts: 1,057
    You need to be sure of what size you should be using as the difference between 27.0 and 27.2mm is critical.
    Chris
  • nick hanson
    nick hanson Posts: 1,655
    CPeachey wrote:
    You need to be sure of what size you should be using as the difference between 27.0 and 27.2mm is critical.
    Chris
    I'd be a bit surprised if you can get a 27.2mm pin in a 27mm seat tube,rather a lot of interferance there!.
    When i got my Raleigh timet Titanium,I did have to ream it out slightly,with an adjustable reamer,but the frames were being sold off cheap & i work in engineering,so no worries :D
    so many cols,so little time!
  • cpeachey
    cpeachey Posts: 1,057
    GF22 does not say how far in he has got the seat pillar. Quote ""The post seems to be a really tight fit into the frame and I wondered if I should be lubing it with anything to get it in easier? "" If it only goes in an inch or two it could be too big. Just how tight is it? Push fit or hammer fit? Steel tubes can distort when brazed and I imagine Ti is the same. Can Ti be reamed?
    Chris

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