JJ_Jaroo

Situation: I moved away from home and left my bike. My little brother left it out in the yard for about 2 years, literally. I eventually move to NYC and realize I have a bike at home. Bike comes to NY and I find that the seatpost is rusted to the frame.

Question: Does anyone know of a way that I can separate the seatpost from the frame without completly destroying my bike. I've tried WD 40 and vice grips, but beyond that I don't have the capacity to go further. Please let me know if you can think of anything. I love bikes and I want very much to ride mine again.

Thanks.

Retro Grouch 

Try some Liquid Wrench. I've found that to be much more effective with rusted and frozen parts than WD-40.

Has your little brother recovered from his beating yet?

demoncyclist

I recently removed a seatpost from a friend's Maillot Jeune by using a good spray of PB Blaster, letting it sit overnight, then twisting the post out with a carefully placed "persuader"

JJ_Jaroo

Thanks, I'll try that. As far as my little brother is concerned: No but he's got a big one coming. He used to erase my video game files all the time too. So I'm thinking that come his wedding night some very incriminating, photoshop'd pictures will arise. Effective putting down any hanky-panky and possibly getting him punched. Which is very possible considering that we are from Tennessee.

supcom

If neccessary, the seatpost can be cut out with a carefully applied hacksaw blade inserted down the inside of the post. Depending on the value of the bike, you might want this done by an LBS.

blonde

See Sheldon Brown's advice...

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/stuck-seatposts.html

There is a longer (but similar) decription in 'zinn and the art of mountain bike maintenance' to which the general conclusion is take it it a machine shop and let them drill it out.

JJ_Jaroo

Word. I'm going to try the amonnia method, because I believe that my seatpost is made of aluminum. Awesome, thanks science. I'll stop making fun of your thick glasses now.

sch

Also you can get a lot more leverage on the post by mounting a seat on it
and wrestling with the seat, rather than trying to grip the post. If you can
get the BB out turn the bike upside down overnite and dribble a few ounces
of penetrating oil down the seat tube to let it penetrate bottom up. Steve

DieselDan

Remove the wheels, chain, and seat from the bike. Apply a liberal amount of a good penatraing oil around the seatpost. Turn the bike upside down and clamp the seatpost in a good bench vise. Apply a twisting motion to the frame with the seatpost clamped in the vise.

cryptid01

Any updates? Did the ammonia work?

steveknight

this is the best stuff out there for rusted/frozen parts.
https://www.kanolabs.com/