Carbon seat posts

scotthunter

I have a carbon seat post on my Giant TCR - I took it out completely to inspect it and whilst I was at it gave it a clean as it was covered in grit. The clamp is a kind of small aluminium 3 piece mechanism that slots into the carbon seat tube in front of the seat post. My question is, do I need to coat the post and clamp in grease before I tighten it or is it ok to tighten it dry?

whyamihere

It's ok to tighten it dry because it's a carbon post in a carbon frame. You use grease with metal seatposts and/or frames essentially to guard against corrosion making them stick - Carbon components won't corrode. What can be a problem, though, is the post slipping because of the lower torque you need to use, so the optimal installation uses carbon assembly paste.

I would put a bit of grease on the aluminium bits where they come into contact with one another to ensure they stay corrosion free.

scotthunter

oxoman wrote:

Suspect the gritty paste you removed was actually the carbon assembly paste. Not sure if the tcr uses the D fuse seat post but sounds like it does. The assembly you mention sounds like the wedge type clamp that they use, ensure you don't overtighten the clamp.

I don’t have carbon assembly paste. Yeah it’s D fuse. Should I get some paste on it then? Does this serve to add grip as it seems to creep down when I go over manhole lids and potholes.

OnTheRopes

As above the "Grit" will be carbon paste designed to stop the seat post slipping. I would suggest you do not grease it as it is more likely to slip. Use carbon paste on it.
I tightened mine dry but make sure you know the correct maximum torque and use a torque wrench.

Matthewfalle

you've removed the carbon assembly paste.

we suggest that you replace it and then torque the bolts in place properly.

#carbonassemblypaste

Alejandrosdog

I suggest you consult your local bike shop. \You have no mechanical affinity at all
#headinhands

scotthunter

Alejandrosdog wrote:

I suggest you consult your local bike shop. \You have no mechanical affinity at all
#headinhands

This is true

Matthewfalle

Alejandrosdog wrote:

I suggest you consult your local bike shop. \You have no mechanical affinity at all
#headinhands

this. please do not touch anything else. ever.

scotthunter

Matthewfalle wrote:

Alejandrosdog wrote:

I suggest you consult your local bike shop. \You have no mechanical affinity at all
#headinhands

this. please do not touch anything else. ever.

I assumed it was grease and read that you shouldn’t use grease on carbon components.

Matthewfalle

grease is not gritty so it is obvious it was not grease. it was probably also the wrong colour.

you can use grease on carbon. of couse you can. why should you not be able to? people have used copperslip on carbon in place of carbon paste for years and they have not died.

i do not follow your reasoning.

i am sorry if that sounds harsh.

please do not attempt anything again.

OnTheRopes

Matthewfalle wrote:

you've removed the carbon assembly paste.

we suggest that you replace it and then torque the bolts in place properly.

#carbonassemblypaste

Who are "we"? Is Mathewfalle more than the individual? Are you using "we" in an attempt to give your post more clout? Or are you in the habit of using the Royal we?

people have used copperslip on carbon in place of carbon paste for years and they have not died.

I am no expert but afaik copperslip is an anti seize compound whereas Carbon paste is an anti slip compound so not really comparable?

scotthunter

Matthewfalle wrote:

please do not attempt anything again.

Don’t worry, I will never pick up an allen key ever again. It’s mechanically inept idiots like me that keep the bike repair shops in business.

Matthewfalle

eh? only recently popular? halfords were selling full carbon boardmans on c2w 10 years ago.

its just a bicycle.

#justabicycle

Matthewfalle

scotthunter wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

please do not attempt anything again.

Don’t worry, I will never pick up an allen key ever again. It’s mechanically inept idiots like me that keep the bike repair shops in business.

no! no need to do that. 87% of shops are inept and will try and sell you stuff you don't need and fill you full of marketing hyperbole. 95%of clubbies are inept.

just research what you are doing before starting any jobs - none of this is very difficult - it is, after all, just a bicycle. anyone who says anything else is lying.

#justabicycle

imposter2.0

Dismantle stuff, break stuff, mis-use stuff - it's actually a great way to learn, but can be expensive..

Alejandrosdog

Imposter wrote:

Dismantle stuff, break stuff, mis-use stuff - it's actually a great way to learn, but can be expensive..

On the plus side think of the lovely tools you can buy...

Matthewfalle

oooh. tools. did some one say tools?

#tools

Alejandrosdog

#wera #beta #knipex #abbey #mmmm

Matthewfalle

Nina bearing Snap On and a fresh labcoat

#joy
#mess

Alejandrosdog

Matthewfalle wrote:

Nina bearing Snap On and a fresh labcoat

#joy
#mess

#papertowels

Ignore them all MF. In fact #facom

Rubber gloves

Matthewfalle

oooh. we like a bit of Facom. the 1/4" ratchet i do everything with is Facom and its lovely. its like Nina on a fresh summer morning, the flutter of labcoats on the line, the joy of her voice rnging across the valley.

《sigh》

#tools

Alejandrosdog

Matthewfalle wrote:

oooh. we like a bit of Facom. the 1/4" ratchet i do everything with is Facom and its lovely. its like Nina on a fresh summer morning, the flutter of labcoats on the line, the joy of her voice rnging across the valley.

《sigh》

#tools

Ah the 1/4 inch ratchet you loves longs
For a 3/8 it’s bigger you see

#size matters
#3/8 or 1/2

keef66

I have both a carbon post in an alloy frame and an alloy post in a carbon frame (with an alloy shim, but don't tell Scott) and I use carbon assembly paste on both which prevents any slipping without having to gorilla tighten the clamp bolts.

I take the seatposts out at least annually for a quick wipe down and reapplication of the paste.

It does feel gritty. If I'd never encountered it before I too would assume it was grease contaminated with grit. I have a lot of prior experience with genuinely gritty grease from my brief flirtation with MTBs 30 years ago...

step83

Carbon post in a Titanium frame, used carbon paste an its not budged torqued to the specified number of torques which in this case was 6nm. Actually measured it off last night post ride to be certain.

Also, I was using a Teng one, red handle an everything so its clearly faster, being red an all that.

edward.s

I love my Wera Torque wrench. Such a nice thing to use.

Matthewfalle

Step83 wrote:

Carbon post in a Titanium frame, used carbon paste an its not budged torqued to the specified number of torques which in this case was 6nm. Actually measured it off last night post ride to be certain.

Also, I was using a Teng one, red handle an everything so its clearly faster, being red an all that.

would that be a carbon seat post in an incredidbly sweet & dope ti frame?

#kindadope

Alejandrosdog

edward.s wrote:

I love my Wera Torque wrench. Such a nice thing to use.

mmm Im thinking of getting one of those the 20 to 100 version as well as the little one

Matthewfalle

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - she be a purdy little thing. we like that here.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wera-050753930 ... B00BT0F7JE

imagine Nina in a fresh lab coat stroking that into action.

#nina
#nicetool

step83

Matthewfalle wrote:

Step83 wrote:

Carbon post in a Titanium frame, used carbon paste an its not budged torqued to the specified number of torques which in this case was 6nm. Actually measured it off last night post ride to be certain.

Also, I was using a Teng one, red handle an everything so its clearly faster, being red an all that.

would that be a carbon seat post in an incredidbly sweet & dope ti frame?

#kindadope

Deda Superzero of course, debate over bars still weighs on my inept mind

Matthewfalle

Step83 wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

Step83 wrote:

Carbon post in a Titanium frame, used carbon paste an its not budged torqued to the specified number of torques which in this case was 6nm. Actually measured it off last night post ride to be certain.

Also, I was using a Teng one, red handle an everything so its clearly faster, being red an all that.

would that be a carbon seat post in an incredidbly sweet & dope ti frame?

#kindadope

Deda Superzero of course, debate over bars still weighs on my inept mind

you may as well - if you are going for that cool tape do both at once.

#twojobsonecup