Carbon seatpost snapped and stuck in frame

nottscobb
nottscobb Posts: 147
edited October 2009 in Workshop
While out on a ride last weekend I heard a worrying crack sound and felt my seat move. It turned out that my carbon seatpost had cracked right by the clamp. I've just tried to remove the seatpost and it just broke off in my hand leaving me with part of a carbon seatpost seized into my aluminium frame.

Has anyone got any bright ideas on how to remove the remains of my seatpost without damaging the frame? Would a machine shop or frame builder be able to help? Or, am I totally screwed and in need of a new frame?

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    You could try breaking it out, piece -by-piece. Alternatively, a framebuilder or machine shop would be able to jig-it and progressively bore it out - need to be done carefully, otherwise you just end up with an oversize or damaged seatube
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    remgrit blade and cut the tube into three pieces, should be easy to avoid damaging the aluminium due to the difference in hardnesses.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • fast as fupp
    fast as fupp Posts: 2,277
    carbon burns, right..............................................? :shock:
    'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'
  • brucey72
    brucey72 Posts: 1,086
    My carbon seatpost was stuck in my aluminium frame and I cut it out using a reciprocating saw without any problem. Because the carbon is much softer than the aluminium you can immediately tell that you are through the seatpost and I didn't damage the frame at all. It took 5 minutes.
  • Fat Head
    Fat Head Posts: 765
    Brucey, I had the exect same problem a couple of years ago. The saddle had snapped too close to the seat colar to get it out, and the carbon was all shattered near the tip of the remaining seatpost so could not get any leverage.

    I just used a hammer and chisel to chap the remaining seatpost into bits which then settled nicely inside my frame, ready for a new alu seatpost to be insterted. Not too bothered about this as it's a winter bike.

    Remember in the future not to overtighten carbon seatposts!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Cut it open with a hacksaw.

    With the clamp fully loosened, use a J shape piece or metal or similar to hook under the bottom of the post and pull the post out...
  • oxoneil
    oxoneil Posts: 147
    Just make sure you don't breathe any of the dust.

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