Stuck Seat Post

El Capitano · June 2007

(I know we've done this before, but a search for "Stuck Seat Post" didn't bring up any of the topics)

Steel Frame - of the road bike variety
Alloy Post - been in there for the best part of 20 years.

It's stuck - even smacking it downwards (to get some movement) with a wooden mallet hasn't budged it.

IIRC you can heat the frame with a hair dryer?

Or, with the frame upside down put loads of WD40 from the B/B openeing?

Is there anything I've missed or should/shouldn't be doing?

I'm not worried about the post (although it would make a useful spare), but I definately don't wish to damage the frame.

[:D]

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whyamihere · June 2007

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/stuck-seatposts.html

El Capitano · June 2007

Thanks, looks like I need to piss down the seattube then:

"Aluminum seatposts frequently become stuck by corrosion also, and penetrating oil is almost useless against aluminum oxide. Fortunately, aluminum oxide can be dissolved like magic by using ammonia."

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whyamihere · June 2007

Worth a try. [:D]

homers_double · June 2007

No, alloy will contact faster than steel, best way is to cool it rapidly.

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nicklouse · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by El Capitano

Thanks, looks like I need to piss down the seattube then:

"Aluminum seatposts frequently become stuck by corrosion also, and penetrating oil is almost useless against aluminum oxide. Fortunately, aluminum oxide can be dissolved like magic by using ammonia."

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<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

When you do this please please wear the correct safety clothing and Film it.

nick
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ride_whenever · June 2007

nothing wrong with ammonia, it's nowhere near as evil as petrol. But do wear the correct safety clothing, and if you wear contacts take them out and use your glasses, plus wear safety goggles if you have them, you know SOP.

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Tartanyak · June 2007

Am I wrong in thinking that normal, old fashioned bleach will do it better than ElCapPee?

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gravityengine · June 2007

Bleach is hydrochloric acid, not ammonia.

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Tartanyak · June 2007

It's not, but I was thinking of the wrong thing anyway.

Ammonium hydroxide is what I was thinking of, bleach is usually used to stop things smelling of ammonia... That's what I was confused about [:)]

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breezer · June 2007

I seem to recall putting my saddle in a vice before and then twisting the entire bike, bit more leverage although there are probably more subtle ways of doing it

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nicklouse · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ride_whenever

nothing wrong with ammonia, it's nowhere near as evil as petrol. But do wear the correct safety clothing, and if you wear contacts take them out and use your glasses, plus wear safety goggles if you have them, you know SOP.

My Scott

My Single Speed

Always remember to pick your Uni according to the local trails or you'll be stuck with nowhere to ride for three years!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

you have never done this have you.

If El Capt does i i asked and it does what i expect it will be fun to watch.

nick
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El Capitano · June 2007

Efin thing still won't budge! [:(!]

Have tried prising the clamp (which is part of the frame) apart and putting down WD40 and penetrating oil.

Have tried the uber-cooling method (erm we sort of had a spare CO2 fire extinguisher lying around).

Removed bottom bracket and sprayed copious amounts of penetrating oil and WD40 down there, left for an hour upside down.

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UH DH · June 2007

I had an old frame with a stuck seatpost. It went to the local blacksmiths and they heated it with blowtorcges and hammered the bas<s></s>tard out while it was still soft. Might be a last resort.

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El Capitano · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by UH DH

I had an old frame with a stuck seatpost. It went to the local blacksmiths and they heated it with blowtorcges and hammered the bas<s></s>tard out while it was still soft. Might be a last resort.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Read the Sheldon Brown article - heating an alloy post in a steel frame will only make matters worse - alloy expands more than steel.

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ride_whenever · June 2007

I'm a chemist, deal with ammonia regularly. The reason i say petrol is worse is because it attacks the nerves and is absorbed through the skin whereas ammonia is on the whole kept out.

My Scott

My Single Speed

Always remember to pick your Uni according to the local trails or you'll be stuck with nowhere to ride for three years!

extreme__dude · June 2007

on the ammonia note - you can buy it from boots for a couple of quid, but its quite a weak concentration. something like 9.5% or something. its with the laundry aids. its near impossible to get anywhere else mind...

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El Capitano · June 2007

Bike is currently upside down, with the seat tube filled with WD40 - well, up to the bottle cage bosses anyways, which should be well over the post/frame joint. I'll leave it overnight and see how it is in the morning.

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El Capitano · June 2007

Update:

It's still stuck.

Tried fitting the saddle in a vice and twisting - broke saddle.

Tried fitting the saddle clamp in a vice and twising - broke clamp (it now turns in the post)

Tried a pipe gripper/spanner/thingy + 4ft pry bar - deformed the seat post.

I've been recommended to stick a bottle of coke in the seat tube and leave it to soak for a few days - I may try that as I'm running out of ideas.

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david28031982 · June 2007

Did u try ammonia as it keeps getting mentioned but you didn't mention it

El Capitano · June 2007

Did look for it today, but the local Boots, which is quite small, didn't stock it. I'll see what I can get my hand on tomorrow.

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david28031982 · June 2007

just asking cos ive got the same problem waiting for me at work tomorrow so guess i'll boots it

El Capitano · June 2007

I'll update how the Coke does tomorrow.

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El Capitano · June 2007

Update:

Coke didn't work.

Sawing down the post tube to slit it didn't work.

Hopefully Argos Cycles can remove it.

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Milkie · June 2007

I had the same problem with an Orange P7 frame.. From what I remember, 10+ years or so ago, my friend fitted a seatpost, which had rusted in there, I remember it being rusted in there 9/10 years ago!!

Anyways, what I did was drilled a 12mm hole through the post right near the frame. I got a 6ft bar, stuck it one end through the hole I just made.. Then all i did was gradually apply more pressure...

Then all of a sudden snap! Checked everything over, the rust seal had been broken, no signs of the frame/seat post breaking or anything. I then left it soaking in oil over night. The next day, stuck pole in it, moved it around a bit, after working it for about 10 mins it started to get easier, then i was able to gradually lift it up as I twisting the post.

rubber side up · June 2007

maybye a silly question. but did you try hitting it downwards to try and free it? as milkie says, once the initial corrosion has been broken up a bit some of the other ideas may be more effective [;)]

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Milkie · June 2007

I tried hitting my seatpost downwards.. It didnt budge! But that didn't surprise me, its been in the frame the whole time (10+ years) without a seat clamp, it was wedged in there!

I did give the frame a good ole whack, around the seat tube with a dead weight hammer to try and help free it... Obviously I have no idea if this actually helped!

haroexone · June 2007

the ammonia hydroxide is available in dry powder form from some diy stores.its VERY potent.be very careful!special glasses are essential

fizik · June 2007

As stupid as this is i once got a post with a larger diameter stuck in my bike, it was a tight fit so i just hammered it in, and yes you dont need to tell me how daft this was. To rectify i sawed off the top of the post with the clamp bit on, stuck in a piece of wood dowel that was roughly the same size as the inside of the post which stopped the post from getting crushed when i put it in a vice. Put the bike upside down and viced the post super tight putting a big steel tube over the vice handle to get it as tight as i could. I then just got some help and over 10 mins we used the bike as a lever and finally got the post out by twisting back and forth. It was bloody hard work but we did it.

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Stuck Seat Post

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