Seat post torque

andy46

Just a quick question, I've got a Ritchey torque key that is pre set to 5Nm which is the recommended torque on my seat post clamp.

I am changing the seat post from alloy to carbon, will this be ok to still use the Ritchey key or will the torque required be different?

Wirral_paul

Carbon parts are typically 5Nm so should be fine. Carbon assembly paste is a very worthwhile investment as it reduces the torque required to hold

chrisw12

So all carbon parts are 5Nm? Then you use paste to reduce the torque needed, so what torque is needed now? So what's the point of using a torque wrench?

nicklouse

The torque figure is more to do with the bolt strength than the clamping force created by the bolt.

andy46

So I'll be ok tightening it to 5Nm? I am slightly more confused now.

Wirral_paul

Yes stick with 5Nm. The carbon assembly paste will just give extra security against the post slipping

andy46

Great, thank you.

desweller

nicklouse wrote:

The torque figure is more to do with the bolt strength than the clamping force created by the bolt.

Handy table showing what Nick means.

nicklouse

andy46 wrote:

So I'll be ok tightening it to 5Nm? I am slightly more confused now.

the fact you have changed from Alloy to carbon has nothing to do with anything. the tightening force for the bolt is still the same.

juggler

After using a Ritchey torque key, both the seatpost and bars slipped down while i was riding (colnago carbon post and frame, Deda alloy bars and stem). So i reverted back to my old method of tightening by hand with an allen key, plus applying some carbon paste to the seatpost and have had no problems since. I can only conclude that either the torque key was faulty or the bolts need to be tightened more.

andy46

I'll use the torque key and see how I go. Can anyone recommend me some carbon paste?

I've looked on the Evans website but had no luck.

Wirral_paul

I use Tacx Carbon Assembly Paste - around £10 - £12 for a tube that will last for years.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=75810&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom

andy46

Thanks very much

west green

You could also google the seatpost name/ cat number and if you're lucky the manufacturers instuctions will come up, and they should have the Torque specs. I did that with an FSA seatpost that I bought second hand.

bus_ter

juggler wrote:

After using a Ritchey torque key, both the seatpost and bars slipped down while i was riding (colnago carbon post and frame, Deda alloy bars and stem). So i reverted back to my old method of tightening by hand with an allen key, plus applying some carbon paste to the seatpost and have had no problems since. I can only conclude that either the torque key was faulty or the bolts need to be tightened more.

5NM is actually quite a lot. Were you using the Ritchey torque key until it clicked? You really shouldn't need to go any tigther than that, especially with carbon paste.

bus_ter

andy46 wrote:

I'll use the torque key and see how I go. Can anyone recommend me some carbon paste?

I've looked on the Evans website but had no luck.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ritchey-liquid-torque/

This is enough to do several bikes.

andy46

west green wrote:

You could also google the seatpost name/ cat number and if you're lucky the manufacturers instuctions will come up, and they should have the Torque specs. I did that with an FSA seatpost that I bought second hand.

Thank you, I've found it printed on the very bottom of the seatpost in very small letters.

It says 6Nm. I'll get some carbon paste hopefully at the weekend the use the Ritchey torque key as my seatpost clamp has 5Nm wrote on it.

andy46

bus_ter wrote:

andy46 wrote:

I'll use the torque key and see how I go. Can anyone recommend me some carbon paste?

I've looked on the Evans website but had no luck.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ritchey-liquid-torque/

This is enough to do several bikes.

Silly question time, do you apply this to the whole seatpost as you would grease an alloy post and frame or do you just put some around the area to be clamped?

Wirral_paul

Just the lower inches to be clamped inside the frame. It doesnt need loads as it will only get pushed off when inserting the post. I put a smear around the inside of the frame where i can reach also

andy46

Wirral_Paul wrote:

Just the lower inches to be clamped inside the frame. It doesnt need loads as it will only get pushed off when inserting the post. I put a smear around the inside of the frame where i can reach also

Thank you, you've been very helpful. Hopefully all will go smoothly tomorrow.

juggler

bus_ter wrote:

juggler wrote:

After using a Ritchey torque key, both the seatpost and bars slipped down while i was riding (colnago carbon post and frame, Deda alloy bars and stem). So i reverted back to my old method of tightening by hand with an allen key, plus applying some carbon paste to the seatpost and have had no problems since. I can only conclude that either the torque key was faulty or the bolts need to be tightened more.

5NM is actually quite a lot. Were you using the Ritchey torque key until it clicked? You really shouldn't need to go any tigther than that, especially with carbon paste.

Don't want to hijack the thread, but since you ask. I think i was wrong about the seatpost clamping on the colnago - it's one size up from the Ritchey torque key in terms of bolt size, so i could not use it. Anyway the post slipped no matter that i was tightening pretty tight by hand. A little bit of Tacx carbon paste solved the problem.

For the Deda bars and stem i tightened all 4 bolts until the torque key clicked, but the bars did not stay in position until i reverted to tightening the bolts using a standard allen key. I just checked and the recommended torque for these bolts is 8nm - might explain something!

rake

juggler wrote:

bus_ter wrote:

juggler wrote:

After using a Ritchey torque key, both the seatpost and bars slipped down while i was riding (colnago carbon post and frame, Deda alloy bars and stem). So i reverted back to my old method of tightening by hand with an allen key, plus applying some carbon paste to the seatpost and have had no problems since. I can only conclude that either the torque key was faulty or the bolts need to be tightened more.

5NM is actually quite a lot. Were you using the Ritchey torque key until it clicked? You really shouldn't need to go any tigther than that, especially with carbon paste.

Don't want to hijack the thread, but since you ask. I think i was wrong about the seatpost clamping on the colnago - it's one size up from the Ritchey torque key in terms of bolt size, so i could not use it. Anyway the post slipped no matter that i was tightening pretty tight by hand. A little bit of Tacx carbon paste solved the problem.

For the Deda bars and stem i tightened all 4 bolts until the torque key clicked, but the bars did not stay in position until i reverted to tightening the bolts using a standard allen key. I just checked and the recommended torque for these bolts is 8nm - might explain something!

get a blowlamp on the bit whilst pulling it hard with some locking pliers and it will come out. its only glued in. you can then use any hex bit you like in there.

rake

rake wrote:

juggler wrote:

bus_ter wrote:

juggler wrote:

After using a Ritchey torque key, both the seatpost and bars slipped down while i was riding (colnago carbon post and frame, Deda alloy bars and stem). So i reverted back to my old method of tightening by hand with an allen key, plus applying some carbon paste to the seatpost and have had no problems since. I can only conclude that either the torque key was faulty or the bolts need to be tightened more.

5NM is actually quite a lot. Were you using the Ritchey torque key until it clicked? You really shouldn't need to go any tigther than that, especially with carbon paste.

Don't want to hijack the thread, but since you ask. I think i was wrong about the seatpost clamping on the colnago - it's one size up from the Ritchey torque key in terms of bolt size, so i could not use it. Anyway the post slipped no matter that i was tightening pretty tight by hand. A little bit of Tacx carbon paste solved the problem.

For the Deda bars and stem i tightened all 4 bolts until the torque key clicked, but the bars did not stay in position until i reverted to tightening the bolts using a standard allen key. I just checked and the recommended torque for these bolts is 8nm - might explain something!

get a blowlamp on the bit whilst pulling it hard with some locking pliers and it will come out. its only glued in. you can then use any hex bit you like in there.be sure to pull hard and direct the heat only at the end of the barrel put a wet cloth over the plastic end so the heat doesnt travel to the plastic mechanism. it wont get hot if your carefull and quick about it.