Bicycle Mechanics - Grease a carbon seatpost?

Just wonder if you grease a carbon seatpost before inserting and, if so, what type? I remember someone mentioning some kind of silicon grease, but it's been a while. I figure, if anything, it should help keep water out of the frame and keep my post from scratching up. Kinda worried about some of the components in the grease dissolving the clear coat, though.

Thanks.

Generally you do NOT grease a carbon seatpost.

Generally you do NOT grease a carbon seatpost.
Thanks, demoncyclist.


EDIT: And since I've already played my hand as a newb, I gotta ask why you don't grease a carbon seatpost?

I don't know that it hurts anything to grease it, but my understanding is that you don't need to grease a carbon post -- because it can't seize to aluminum, steel, or Ti. [shrug]

If you grease it you cannot make the pinch bolt tight enough to hold it from slipping, without cracking the seatpost.:eek:

I found this article (http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/9023.0.html) after a quick search. Mr. Calfee recommends grease.

Yeah, I'd be afraid of cracking the post. But I could use a torque wrench, tighen it down and test it. If it slips, add another pound or two, test it again, then make a note of how many pounds I put on it...

If you grease it you cannot make the pinch bolt tight enough to hold it from slipping, without cracking the seatpost.:eek:

Bit of a generalization, ya think? In my own experience, I've never had a problem with grease in the seat tube causing it to slip (my Felt frameset shipped with a big glop of grease already in the seat tube). It's long gone now though...:)

And, cracking a carbon seatpost?! Have you ever done this? My money is on the chintzy seatpost collar (or even the bolt) breaking before the carbon seatpost cracks.

My Specialized carbon seat post has "Do Not Apply Grease" printed on it. The frame instructions also state that grease should not be applied. Some grease (possibly petrolium based?) can weaken carbon, it says.

My seat post slides easily when the clamp is loose, so there is no need to even think about lubing it.

I remove my seat 2x per week and it used to be a pain to keep working out the seatpost, so I started putting a bit of grease on it. I've had no problems of any kind (grips tight just fine w/o having to add a lot of torque) and it's much easier to move around.

you grease seatposts to stop them from seizing, but i dont think your supposed to with carbon

Several mfgs. recommend NO grease or anti seize on carbon posts. The concen is that the petroleum(grease) will attack the surface of the seatpost. Thus weakening it and you end up in a lawsuit after you crash. I don't grease my carbon post but what if you switched from an alloy post that was antiseized, the stuff is on the frame surface anyway?