Bicycle Mechanics - Titanium frame--where should anti-seize compound be used?

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Pendergast
06-20-09, 04:36 AM
I've done some parts switching on some of my bikes and am wondering where it is essential to use anti-seize compound.

I haven't removed the bottom bracket on my titanium bike, but I'm assuming that it should definitely be used there. It's creaking a little, so I think I'm going to be fiddling with it. Planning to buy some of the copper-based anti-seize compound somewhere. Hopefully, it already has anti-seize compound on the bottom bracket, but it's a Motobecane and there have been the occasional horror stories...

What about things like water bottle cage bolts? I just used Phil Wood grease there. Just greased the seat post.

And then I got to wondering about where the front derailleur clamps around the seat tube. I can't remember if I put anything on there. The inside of the clamp(2009 Rival) has the black finish, so I probably figured it wasn't metal to metal contact.

AEO
06-20-09, 05:01 AM
doesn't it have a protective clear coat on the outside?
HillRider
06-20-09, 05:57 AM
doesn't it have a protective clear coat on the outside?
Almost certainly not. Unless the frame was painted (some were), "bare Ti" means just that.

To the OP: Litespeed, who should know something about it, says regular grease is plenty for any fitting threaded into Ti. I've used anti-seize (Ni based) on bottom brackets because I happened to have it around but it isn't essential. I use Phil grease on the waterbottle cage bolts, rear derailleur bolt, seatpost, etc. The front derailleur clamp doesn't need anything between it and the frame.

The best way to keep bottom brackets quiet is to wrap a layer or two of plumber's teflon tape around the threads. It acts as a lubricant, anti-seize and silencer.

jbpence
06-21-09, 06:47 AM
OP: on my TI bikes, anywhere there is anything screwed into the frame I use antisieze or grease.

hillrider: thanks for the plumbers tape on the bottom bracket tip
Pendergast
06-21-09, 02:08 PM
I talked to mechanics in a couple of shops yesterday(one of them a Moots dealer), and they said they use teflon grease. The mechanic at the Moots dealer said they don't initially use teflon tape but will use it if they have to deal with a bottom bracket with a persistent creak.