Need help with a stuck seat post inside the frame
#1
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Need help with a stuck seat post inside the frame
So I bought this brand new road bike and put everything together, and when I was putting the seat on, the seat post slipped out from under the seat and got stuck inside the bike frame, like actually inside the tube itself. I have tried everything to get it out, both with WD 40 and turning it upside down etc etc.... It's really frustrating when everything was going smoothly yet this had to happen. Before I take it to a bike shop are there any alternative methods anybody could suggest, please? thank you.
#3
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Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Elite Disc, 1983 Trek 520
I would first try to hook it with a bent coat hanger wire. Be careful not to bend the hook open so it jams in there.
Worst case is removing the bottom bracket, drilling a small hole in the shell, and pushing up with a small steel rod.
Worst case is removing the bottom bracket, drilling a small hole in the shell, and pushing up with a small steel rod.
#4
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Joined: Nov 2018
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From: Maryland, USA
Bikes: 2007 Specialized Tricross Sport
Get a star nut into the seat post and pull it out with a bolt?
If it's stuck, make sure to use some penetrating fluid (not WD-40, ATF + acetone makes a good DIY penetrating fluid.) Also could try applying heat.
If it's stuck, make sure to use some penetrating fluid (not WD-40, ATF + acetone makes a good DIY penetrating fluid.) Also could try applying heat.
#8
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: South shore, L.I., NY
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL7, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
So I bought this brand new road bike and put everything together, and when I was putting the seat on, the seat post slipped out from under the seat and got stuck inside the bike frame, like actually inside the tube itself. I have tried everything to get it out, both with WD 40 and turning it upside down etc etc.... It's really frustrating when everything was going smoothly yet this had to happen. Before I take it to a bike shop are there any alternative methods anybody could suggest, please? thank you.
Did perhaps the post get pushed down too far into the seat tube ?, and is now stuck ?, as in jammed tight ? Or is it a part from the seat post that got stuck ?
#9
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: San Diego
Bikes: 84 John Howard, 85 Raleigh Kodiak, 84 Ross Mt whitney, 74 Masi, 82 Allez
It may be jammed up on the water bottle boss, I would use a nail or small screwdriver through the boss to try to pry it up a few mm then turn it upside down and see if gravity will do the rest.
#10
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Joined: Sep 2017
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I’m kind of not understanding what happened. What you are describing is the ENTIRE seat post fell down inside the seat tube. How can that happen ?. The post has the seat clamp on the top, that cannot get caught inside, won’t fit.
Did perhaps the post get pushed down too far into the seat tube ?, and is now stuck ?, as in jammed tight ? Or is it a part from the seat post that got stuck ?
If it is just a matter of the seatpost being stuck inside the seat tube, then you need elbow grease to get it out. You could clamp the top of the seatpost in a vise (bike upside-down) and then try twisting the frame and pulling.
#11
Oh good idea I forgot about the water bottle bosses. In fact, maybe the bottle cage is installed and it's stuck on the bolt?
#12
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Joined: Jan 2013
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From: South Jersey
I'm pretty sure he's talking about a straight steel seatpost with no clamp at the top. The type that typically come on big box store bikes with a sheet metal clamp that holds the seat to the top of the post.
The only way to get that out is to hook the bottom of it with something to pull it out or some type of expander that will grip the inside of the post.
The only way to get that out is to hook the bottom of it with something to pull it out or some type of expander that will grip the inside of the post.
#13
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: South shore, L.I., NY
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL7, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
I'm pretty sure he's talking about a straight steel seatpost with no clamp at the top. The type that typically come on big box store bikes with a sheet metal clamp that holds the seat to the top of the post.
The only way to get that out is to hook the bottom of it with something to pull it out or some type of expander that will grip the inside of the post.
The only way to get that out is to hook the bottom of it with something to pull it out or some type of expander that will grip the inside of the post.
#14
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: San Diego
Bikes: 84 John Howard, 85 Raleigh Kodiak, 84 Ross Mt whitney, 74 Masi, 82 Allez
#17
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From: South shore, L.I., NY
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL7, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
OK, got it now, the kind with a tapered top that the seat clamps to. Old style, haven’t seen or used one in 30-40 years.
And as all I’ve ever purchased is high end and more expensive bikes, I could not at all recall what the OP was using.
@ OP, I would be removing the crank and bottom bracket and pushing from below.
And as all I’ve ever purchased is high end and more expensive bikes, I could not at all recall what the OP was using.
@ OP, I would be removing the crank and bottom bracket and pushing from below.
#18
#19
Those posts usually have a hole in the top. If this one does, I'd just try to hook it and pull it up. Or, send a long threaded rod down through it and thread on a washer and nut through the bb shell and pull it up that way.
#20
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Joined: Mar 2014
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From: City of Angels
Bikes: A few too many
Where is the OP...any news to report?
Ben
Ben
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#21
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Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Eastern Iowa
Bikes: 2014 Trek Allant drop bar conversion, modified Schwinn MTN commuter, 2015 Trek 520, Soma ES, Salsa Journeyman, 1980 Trek 414
What is the frame material?....if not carbon, can you put the frame upside down in a stand and simply heat up the seat tube with a hair dryer and maybe give the post binder a tap with a mallet? I would think the seat tube would expand enough before transferring the heat to the seatpost for this to work.
#22
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Salt Lake City, UT (Formerly Los Angeles, CA)
Bikes: 2008 Cannondale Synapse -- 2014 Cannondale Quick CX
- Thread a heavy duty bike tube into it with a strong nylon cord tied to it.
- Use a pump with a straight hose connected to the Schrader valve (12v auto pumps often have straight screw on hoses).
- Once entire tube is pushed into seatpost, start the pump for long enough to assure the tube is good and stuck.
- Pull the nylon cord.
OR jam one of those plumbing de-cloggers that attaches to a garden hose into seat post (if narrow enough is made). Stand back. Turn on water. I think the bike tube method has a higher likelihood of working out though.
#23
Old Bike Craphound

Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Vancouver, Canada
Bikes: 1974 Teledyne Titan, 1970's Sekine, 4 tandems including 1980's CounterPoint Opus III, plus a few dozen
1. set up video camera
2. remove BB.
3. insert cherry bomb into seat tube with fuse leading out of BB.
4. point top of seat tube away from living creatures, glass windows, airplanes and pinatas.
5. put on helmet, gloves, safety glasses and lead-lined suit.
6. program robot to light fuse
7. run like hell
8. watch video to see where seat post landed
9. post video on this thread.
What could go wrong?
2. remove BB.
3. insert cherry bomb into seat tube with fuse leading out of BB.
4. point top of seat tube away from living creatures, glass windows, airplanes and pinatas.
5. put on helmet, gloves, safety glasses and lead-lined suit.
6. program robot to light fuse
7. run like hell
8. watch video to see where seat post landed
9. post video on this thread.
What could go wrong?
#24
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From: Fredericksburg, Va
Bikes: ? Proteous, '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, 'Litespeed Catalyst'94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster
Seat Post or pillar:

P1000590, on Flickr
Application:

1972 Bottecchia Giro D'Italia (Professional conversion), on Flickr

P1000590, on Flickr
Application:

1972 Bottecchia Giro D'Italia (Professional conversion), on Flickr
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#25
A lot of over-thinking - Just get a piece of stiff wire with some spring to it (coat hanger, etc.), and bend a little hook on the end, at an acute angle.
Push the wire down through the seat post, and when the little hook goes past the swaged-down neck of the post, it will spring back and grab the inside of the post - Pull up, and Bob's-yer-uncle.
Takes longer to describe, than to do ........
Push the wire down through the seat post, and when the little hook goes past the swaged-down neck of the post, it will spring back and grab the inside of the post - Pull up, and Bob's-yer-uncle.
Takes longer to describe, than to do ........




