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KevinNC
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Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
06/30/14 at 3:31pm
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I broke a carbon seatpost this weekend. It sheared off at the frame, so I can't get a grip on it. I don't have access to it from anywhere but the top.

It's 27.2, so not a lot of room to work with.

The carbon is rotten in the frame, flaking off and cracked.

I've been chipping away at it and pulling pieces out, but I have to ask if there is any better method to extract it?

It's in there very tight as well. Took a lot of elbow grease to install it 2+ years ago.


Any advice?



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sager
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #1 - 06/30/14 at 3:55pm
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what's the frame material?
  
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KevinNC
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #2 - 06/30/14 at 4:40pm
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Frame is aluminum.
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #3 - 06/30/14 at 5:08pm
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I've seen the same thing happen and watched as Enoch eventually extracted the seatpost in a bunch of pieces.  It wasn't pretty.  He may be able to give some pointers.
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #4 - 06/30/14 at 5:16pm
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Piece by piece is the way to go. Take you time and keep flaking off layers.

I had to remove a Aluminum post out of a Carbon frame and that was not so pretty. I had about 4 hours in it, but we saved the frame.
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #5 - 06/30/14 at 5:59pm
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Burn it out?
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #6 - 06/30/14 at 7:45pm
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i still vote potato
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #7 - 07/01/14 at 1:36am
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How about using an expandable carbon fork plug? It will add more friction to the frame but it could work...
« Last Edit: 07/01/14 at 1:37am by Screaming Knees »  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #8 - 07/01/14 at 3:06am
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Would using a penetrating product such as WD40 help to loosen the carbon fiber in the aluminium? Not as if you want to save the carbon at this point, and the aluminum won't be hurt.
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #9 - 07/01/14 at 10:30am
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what about getting a wedge (or something similar to removing some shock fork leg bushings) through the seatpost catching the bottom side of the seatpost and pulling out?
  
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KevinNC
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #10 - 07/01/14 at 2:53pm
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I've been slowly chipping off pieces. It's just going to take hours to get it all out, and pouring sweat over it in the 80%+ humidity is not as fun as riding my backup bike Wink

FYI, the carbon post was from Hylix, that china company on the eBayz. It lasted just around 2 years. I bought it because I am a cheap bastard, and it was like 170 grams.

I will not buy it again, but I did get my money worth out of it.




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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #11 - 07/01/14 at 2:58pm
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Depending on the ID of the seat tube, maybe get an old quill stem, expand it out and pull. If it doesnt expand out enough maybe try wrapping the wedge in duct tape or electrical tape. Something that will allow the wedge to still expand relatively evenly while maintaining some grip on the inside of the tube.
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #12 - 07/01/14 at 3:02pm
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You could try heating up the seat tube with a heat gun or hair dryer.  The aluminum will expand, carbon won't, and it might get a little looser.
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #13 - 07/01/14 at 5:21pm
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I  have seen this done before, early on in SC Blur days.  AL frame, broken carbon post.  Anyway here is my description of the procedure.

1)  make a clean cut of the seat post above the seat collar if possible
2)  Get a mini hacksw or drywall saw, or even a hacksaw blade if you can grip it tight enough
3)  saw from the inside of the post until you hit aluminum.  You may have to do this in 2 or 3 spots.
4) Use a pair of pliers to squeeze the pieces together and they should now fall to the bottom of your seat tube
5)  Turn bike upside down and watch fancy bits fall out (hopefully)


I am a big fan of Carbon, but I doubt I will ever have a Carbon post or Handlebar because of failures I have personally seen end badly.
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #14 - 07/01/14 at 9:10pm
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RobP wrote on 07/01/14 at 5:21pm:

1)  make a clean cut of the seat post above the seat collar if possible
2)  Get a mini hacksw or drywall saw, or even a hacksaw blade if you can grip it tight enough
3)  saw from the inside of the post until you hit aluminum.  You may have to do this in 2 or 3 spots.
4) Use a pair of pliers to squeeze the pieces together and they should now fall to the bottom of your seat tube
5)  Turn bike upside down and watch fancy bits fall out (hopefully)


This is the method I've always used for a stuck seat post. 2 or 3 cuts usually gets the job done.  a slide hammer with a small edge bearing puller on the end can also help get the job done, depending on the length of the post.
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #15 - 07/02/14 at 12:48am
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Heat will help a lot, the coefficient of expansion of aluminum is significantly higher that Carbon.

However, this delta is also there on cooling.  If you pour some liquid Nitrogen into the seat-tube, until it stops boiling off, I would bet that the post would pull out.

(use gloves and goggles)

  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #16 - 07/03/14 at 2:40pm
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renoirbud wrote on 07/02/14 at 12:48am:
Heat will help a lot, the coefficient of expansion of aluminum is significantly higher that Carbon.

However, this delta is also there on cooling.  If you pour some liquid Nitrogen into the seat-tube, until it stops boiling off, I would bet that the post would pull out.

(use gloves and goggles)


I like that idea better but would be concerned about the liquid nitrogen leaking into the BB shell.  You could stuff some plastic or a stopper of some kind though.  I think the local welder's supply house should carry it.
  
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Re: Broke seatpost - stuck in frame
Reply #17 - 07/04/14 at 2:56pm
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Got it out.

Took heat, pb blaster, and a skewer with vice grips attached to yank on the bottom of the post lip.

Took about 2 hours.

Checked my original order, and found that the warranty was still in effect. I contacted the company I bought it from, and they are sending a replacement. Won't put it on a mountain bike, but on my road bike.... sure why not.


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« Last Edit: 07/04/14 at 3:29pm by KevinNC »  
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