Originally Posted by
FastJake
Most new seatposts have the clamp bolt pre-greased. But I always check anyway and add grease if there is none. Especially on single-bolt posts, you want that bolt really tight or it will come loose and ruin the "micro-adjust" ridges on the clamping surfaces. Grease allows getting the bolt tighter without stripping the threads, torque ratings be darned.
hmm.. I always thought grease would make it
easier to strip the threads as less force is needed to thread a greased external thread into the receiving internal thread the same distance as an ungreased bolt. I thought most torque ratings are provided with "dry" assumption. Rule of thumb is that for wet threads (eg. grease or lubed) then reduce torque value by up to 40%.