Creaking Seatpost - solutions?
 

It's an aluminum Thomson Elite 27.2mm seatpost in an aluminum '04 TCR with no shim.There is no removable collar, it has two built in bolts on the frame. It's not slipping, it's just creaking. It's definetly at the post where it enters the bike - not the rails. I've tried cleaning it really well, applied shimano grease, spit (works temporarily), and diferrent tightnesses (if that's a word). I actually overtightened one post and dented it slightly. I now have a brand new post in there and it's still creaking. It's just annoying as hell! What else can I try here? Loctite, plumbers tape, different grease, I dunno...

Are you just butt-sure you've pinned down the location correctly? Something you've done should have worked.

If you're sure . . . how are you sure?

Has anything you've done made any diff?? You said spit worked temporarily. Did the grease?? Did you clean the seat tube with a rag relatively soaked in something like WD-40 (or ~) until spotless inside??

When do you notice the sound? Sitting? Hammering up a hill? Whether pedaling or not? When the bike's in the other room??

Might be/could be/oughta' think about looking south . . . toward the bb/crank bolts/chainring bolts/etc.

Check this $hit out:

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/...queaking.shtml

Double butt 100% sure I've pinned down the location correctly. It's the forward/back / pushing/pulling while seated on the saddle that causes the creaking noise. Pedaling, moving forward, sliding back, hitting a bump, shifting weight, etc all will cause the little creaking click sound. Grease was working in the past but then I tried out a new seat and had to change the height and it started creaking again. I've since gone back to the original seat. The past couple times grease has worked for awhile, 5 to 15 miles maybe, but then it starts again - 1 creak, then another, then another, then 20 minutes later it's creaking on every damn pedal crank and over every bump. I've checked the bolts at this point and they are still very snug. I've then tried spit and it quieted it for maybe another 5 to 15 miles. I'm getting very frustrated at this point as a brand new post, grease, and tightening should have solved the problem but it hasn't. I'm afraid to overtighten as I don't want to damage the new post.

Crap. Starting to pi$$ me off, too ;)

First, you're right: never overtighten the post clamp. Seatposts only need enough torque on the clamp to stop you from pushing the seat clockwise/counter-clockwise *with one hand*. That's not much.

Second, you mentioned that you overtightened one bolt once. Possible that you cracked the top of the tube when you dented the other post?? Get a real good look, maybe with a bright light and a magnifier (or any eyes better than mine!). Grease isn't *going* anywhere once you put it in, so if it worked, it should continue to work . . . unless only a touch of it is getting into the noisy bits. That's why I'm thinking small crack (again: ?)

Third, hate to say "LBS" on this one, but . . . you . . . could....

Fourth, you say you're sure it's not the rails, but have you swapped for another saddle, greased and reinstalled those fasteners just to be sure?

Fifth, have you removed and cleaned (WD-40 and a rag) the two seatpost binder bolts, then greased them with a good quality grease prior to reinstallation (shoulda' thoughta' that one before :rolleyes: )

Sixth, [this space left intentionally blank]

Back to you....

Bright flashlight and magnifier sounds like an idea - take the CSI approach. I'm gonna try some Phil Wood grease next time to see if that has better results. I'm wondering if new bolts could help. I'm getting close to taking it in to the LBS where I bought it but I hate to do it over a stupid creaking noise. What's he going to tell me other than what I've done?

I'm having the exact same problem on my Trek 4300. I haven't done as much homework on the noise as you have but if I grab the stem in one hand and the rear of my saddle in the other and flex up and down I can easily recreate the problem. I'm 90% sure it's coming from where the seat post enters the frame. I've got my seat post quick release clamped very tight because I'm heavy (250 lbs) and I was having trouble with my seat post sliding down into the frame. Perhaps I've damaged my seat tube? I'll look into it a little further. I'll be royally PO'ed if I've cracked my frame. Let me know if you get it solved on your end.

Some seat designs make a creak noise from the rail/seat body joint. Is the post anodized or is it polish/bare? Is the seat ti-rail or steel?

Hello

I'll piggy-back on this thread instead of starting a new one since I'm also having this issue.

It's a brand new folding bike and the seat creaks when I'm riding. I sprayed some 3-in-One at the top of the seatpost and around the shim, but although it's slightly more quiet, it's still creaky unless I'm riding on a flat road and not moving on the seat.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=437844

What do you recommend I do?

Thank you.

The first thing I do for chirping posts is to record the seat position (fore/aft, angle, height) and then take the seat clamping assembly apart. Clean each part well, fine steel wool cuts through baked on grime. Then reassemble with a thin film of grease on each part including the seat rails where they are in the post's clamp. Many noises are just dry or loose clamps. Next up is the seat tube/post/binder clamp area. Do the same take apart and reassembly. A long screwdriver with a solvented rag does a good job in the frame. carbon parts get friction paste instead of grease. This is the next most common area to creak.

But there are other possibilities. The seat rails as they attach to the seat body can be a source. The seat tube might have a sleeve, not always meant to be removeable, that is now chirping. (Cannondale had this problem in the 1990s. they suggested soaking the frame upside down in a vat of linseed oil). I've also had seat posts creak between the shaft and the pressed in top piece which has the rails clamp.

The Op says he replaced the post so post clamp source is doubtful. Andy.

Just released the age of the OP's first post. I wonder what he did to fix the problem. Andy.

could be the saddle rails , try a different saddle?
How about upgrading the seat post ? those are cheap cast heads I like the 2 bolt or Brompton Pentaclip on a straight Post better .

Mix up a small batch of oil and light petroleum distillate -- OMS, naphtha, lighter fluid, diesel fuel, or even gasoline if using outdoors. You want a high solvent ratio so it pours like gin. Use a dropper to apply between post and frame and let it wick in. Ride the bike. If the creaking changes or stops, you know the issue. This quick job ill last a while, and repeated applications will eventually result in a permanent solution. If you want, try using a heavier oil, with more thinner, which would leave more residual film.

BTW- for my own edification only, am I right in assuming that this is a frame where the seat tube extends up above the top tube by more than an inch or so?

Thanks much for the infos.

Indeed, it's a folder, hence the very long seatpost.

Problem solved by 1) smearing grease on the seat rails and 2) applying some oil around the shim, where it enters the seatpost:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=438438