Road Cycling - Help.. carbon post seized to Ti

Hello,

I need your advice. My Easton EC70 carbon post seems to have seized to the seat tube of my Dean Ti. I can't seem to budge it - even with a mallet. I think there is an aluminum sleeve in the seat tube.

Anyone experienced this before? What can I do to loosen the post? Would WD-40 work? Help!

You need something that will penetrate well, like PB blaster. My experience with stuck seat posts does not lean to a good outcome. You will probably end up whacking the top off of your seatpost and sawing a slot or two down its length so you can crush it and pop it out. On the bright side, carbon is VERY easy to saw through. Do give the penetrating oil a shot first. You can also pull the BB and dribble lube in from that end as well.

I know they say not to but I grease carbon seat posts. I grease inside the seat tube, stick the post in, remove it, wipe off the grease and stick it back in.

So are carbon posts known to stick any worse than other materials? I've always heard you should remove your seat a few times a year just to prevent any sticking but I thought carbon would not have that problem.

They get stuck in there pretty good, esp with alluminum frames.

Any idea why they are not supposed to be greased?

The carbon is "slick" and if you grease it, it can slip. Many of the newer posts have the clamp area roughed to improve grip.

Any idea why they are not supposed to be greased?

Some chemicals react to carbon. Put a carbon arrow in a can of lacquer thinner overnight and see what happens.... (I've done it) Laquer thinner and petroleum based products are not good on carbon. I don't know how tough the clear coat is on carbon seatposts but I sure wouldn't want to risk my butt to find out.

If your Easton post is like mine and has flat spots on the front and back of the post, be careful not to twist the post when trying to remove it. I learned this the hard way when removing the post after a wet and gritty ride -- little bits of grit had gotten down into the gap between the seat tube and the flat spot on the back of the post, and twisting the post caused the flat spot to act kinda like a cam and crushed the gunk between the post and seat tube.

So I spoke with someone at Easton (actually their distributor Veltec) and they didn't really offer any good solutions.
He DID say to NEVER grease a carbon post as the grease will seep into the carbon and cause seizing.

So I sprayed some WD-40 into the seat tube last night and let it sit. This morning I gave it a good twist and it did unbind. I still had to twist it furiously to get it out, but at least it's out now. But the clearcoat on the seatpost is gone - either from the seizing or the extreme amount of twisting I had to do to it. Because there is no more clearcoat I don't feel comfortable in reinserting it into the frame again. Well this seatpost has bit the dust!

I'll most probably have to go to my LBS to get them to ream out any other gunk left on the inside of the seat tube insert before inserting another seatpost. The insert also came out of alignment, so I'll need them to adjust that also.

I don't know if I want to go carbon anymore (for a seatpost) - maybe just another brand? How about the Thomson Masterpiece seatpost?
It's quite light, but the walls may be too thin. I'd hate to dent the seatpost (which I've done with the heavier Thomson post).

I currently have the Deda Blackstick carbon post on my aluminum Casati - I am kind of weary now of it sticking also.

live and learn...and ride. yeah. definitely ride....

How about the Campy Chorus titanium seatpost?

When did you get the dean?

When did you get the dean?

From Dean directly, about a year ago.

I always use antiseize on seatpost (you can find it at any auto supply store). grease is a petroleum product and it can break down the carbon. When two dissimulair metals seize, it is not just stuck together, the two materials are exchanging electrons.

I use hairspray.

Unless its for looks,get a good alum.

When two dissimulair metals seize, it is not just stuck together, the two materials are exchanging electrons.


that kinda turns me on....