TweedleDee

I removed my frozen seatpost today by using a sawzall and liquid wrench (what a pain in the arse) so I got all kinds of metal shavings down the seat tube. I have a sealed cartridge style bottom bracket which I have never opened, should I be worried about the metal shaving getting into it and ruining it? It works smoothly and I don't have the splined driver so I'd like to avoid it if possible. Thanks!

mike

Oh man, once you take a saw to a bike, that changes everything. I have been in your situation, though, where nothing else seems to work. For the future, the best method I have found is to keep the saddle on the post, lay the bike down so you can grab the saddle and put your feet on the frame, and twist/pull on the saddle until the post comes out.

As for the metal shavings, since you have a sealed BB, you should be OK. Personally, it would bug me knowing the shavings were rolling around inside the frame. It is up to you, but I can understand it is a pain in the BButt to take the bike apart to remove the shavings.

TweedleDee

Yeah, I tried all that. Ended up twisting the insert out after using a vise, leaving only the round shaft. Had to cut it into 6 pieces and it still refused to come out. Had to get creative in finally pulling it out. What fun!

I'm sure I'll open up the BB at some point, just don't want to do it right now. Also, afraid it will be frozen like my seatpost was. Thanks,
Alan

mike

Ya, I have been there too where nothing works. This is especially true when a steel post gets frozen in an aluminum frame or visa-versa. Anlother one that sucks is when some prior owner pounds a too large post into the frame. You can feel the bulge on the post tube.

Glad to know you managed to deal with it and keep the bike on the road.

freeranger

It would bug me also, knowing the shavings were in there. If I wasn't removing the btm.bracket, then I'd take my shop vac, and duct tape a piece of pvc pipe, small enough to fit into the seat tube, to the shop vac extension and vacuum out all that I could. If you do this, remove the water bottle bolts so it will go past them.

jbrians

Since you KNOW you will have a difficult time getting the BB out, you might as well start now by running oil into it every time you think of it. Over the next year or so it will help.
I know you will be keeping the seat post greased so every once in a while it wouldn't hurt to give the seat tube a shot of something like PB Blaster. The longer it can work on the BB threads the easier a time you will ultimately have getting things apart.

TweedleDee

Both good ideas. I keep hearing about PB Blaster, is that available locally such as an auto parts store. Or is it only available online. Thanks,
Alan

tellyho

Available locally - best stuff on earth.

CharlesC

In 45 years of working on bikes and several years building custom frames I have NEVER had a seat post stick in a frame nor have I worked on any that did. My problem is the reverse, I have problems with seat posts moving unless I really crank down on the seat post bolt. It sorta helps to have the right size post.

mike

Consider yourself VERY lucky! Stuck seat posts are a real nightmare.

dafydd

if the top of the seatpost breaks loose, you can insert a rod of similar ID of the seatpost and clamp it in a vice again, twist away. not that it help you at this point, but perhaps for someone else.