Bicycle Mechanics - random question about carbon seatpost, grease, steel frames, and frame saver

i just got an easton EC-70 carbon seatpost and am going to install it on my steel serotta.

i've heard a hundred times not to use grease for a carbon post (and easton says this in the instructions, as well), but i recently applied jp weigle frame saver to my frame and it leaves this somewhat slimy kind of film on the inside of my tubes.

think that will cause the post to slip? should i clean some of the frame saver residual off before installing the post?

I wowuld call or email Serotta directly with this question.

i could, but serotta doesn't stock this post on their bikes, and this would apply to every steel frame owner who uses frame saver (and every one should).

So what? If ANYONE would know the answer to your question, they would. Or they would know who to ask. And they would want to know because it's a potential warranty situation. Call, they want you to call.

Actually, I feel like this is more of a question for Easton to field since it is their post and their directions you are following by not using grease. Serotta wont know diddly about the specifics of an easton post, all they can tell you is what size the hole is and that it was indeed a good idea to use frame saver in that work of art. I personally have a steel Cervelo that I have frame saved and I use a Deda Black Stick Mag Head seatpost in it which is carbon with no grease and no problem whatsoever. Just make sure that the inside of your seattube is VERY smooth or you will scratch the **** out of your new carbon post.

-Ryan

Since Serotta does sell (or did) CF seatposts they
would know what to do with Steel frame and
Frame Saver (which they recommend).
The other option is to post to the Serotta Owners
forum (and Serotta employees, including Ben, monitor
that board) I'm sure someone there would have an answer.

Serotta Owners Forum (http://www.serotta.com/forum/)

Marty
(steel serotta owner, no CF on it)

Actually its kind of irrelevant. Clean the frame saver from the portion of the tube where the post will be. i've seen lots of steel/steel steel/aluminum reactions but not carbon/steel. Besides If some of the finish wears off I dont think you want framesaver absorbing into the carbon post.

Remember, you dont necessarily need the framesaver...its an option...so the framesaver is the limiting variable here....I mean what are going to do...get a different frame?

Jim...Easton carbon post owner...mounted in a carbon frame..

FWIW, the advice from a poster on the Serotta forum is to clean the Frame Saver from the portion of the tube where the post will be and then apply Turtle Wax or similar and insert the post.

I'm not sure about that wax thing... I would think that would increase the chances the post will slip

The post is only secured by the first 1-inch of the clamping area, so just make sure that this area is clean of the frame saver solution and the issue should be done.

Marc

i just got an easton EC-70 carbon seatpost and am going to install it on my steel serotta.

i've heard a hundred times not to use grease for a carbon post (and easton says this in the instructions, as well), but i recently applied jp weigle frame saver to my frame and it leaves this somewhat slimy kind of film on the inside of my tubes.

think that will cause the post to slip? should i clean some of the frame saver residual off before installing the post? The deal with grease is it makes a slick post slicker. Frame saver is tacky when set up.Want to worry about it, then clean the framesaver out.Seems simple enough to me.

"The deal with grease is it makes a slick post slicker. Frame saver is tacky when set up.Want to worry about it, then clean the framesaver out.Seems simple enough to me."

NO! I hope everyone else here knows the real reason you don't use grease on carbon...it reacts with the carbon resin/lacquer and causes it to bond with another material, including carbon.

Example, guy bought a CAAD 5 frame from my shop years ago, and wanted a carbon seatpost fitted. The mechanic, who was new and ignorant thinking it would oxidize like steel or alu , removed the alu one, did not clean out the tube, and also greased the new carbon post. One week later the guy returned saying he could not adjust the height anymore. I was not surprised. Had to cut the post out of the frame, and chisel the rest out that was firmly adhered to the inside of the seat tube. He was not pleased at all.

About the frame saver- well I do not know about that, but if it is going to react with the carbon resin/lacquer then do not use it. I think it will be far safer to not use anything that even has a tiny potential to react, including turtle wax. Be safe: Leave the surface area around the inside of the seat tube bare. You just do not need it with carbon.

Hey BikerBB....so if you have a steel frame, that previously had a metal post, with grease, but now want to switch to the CF, what is the best way to clean out that seat tube, so that there is no grease left? Degreaser on some kind of rag/stick contraption? im not convinced that ive gotten the stuff that has been pushed way down, and my new seatpost is pretty long.