My 26.6 seatpost would only go into the tube about an inch or so (with grease of course). I could not get it in farther by hand and I am not a weakling. So I thought it was the wrong size, got a 26.4 but this slipped right through to the bottom - apparently it was too small.
I then took a hammer to the 26.6 and had to whack it into the tube (don't worry, I protected the seatpost). It required a good deal of hammering force.
I have never had this type of experience with the seatpost and was looking for some feedback as to whether it is okay to have such a tight fit. Thanks.
Seatpost query
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 2:10pm
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 2:21pm
#1
"I wasn't worried about the seatpost. I was worried about the frame.
All seatposts are made with some tolerance. A 27.2 seatpost is nominally 27.15mm +/1 0.02mm in OD. However, some seatposts are larger than that, and can be hard to insert. The best course of action in this case is to
1) find another variant of the correct size post and see if that fits.
2) if that is impossible, you can lightly sand the entire post and shave off a 1/10th of a mm or so.
I'm afraid you've irreperably damanged the seattube, but you might be in luck. The easiest way to check is to close your eyes and run your finger along the seattube where the seatpost ends inside the frame. If you feel a bump there, you've hurt your frame. If not, gently extricate the post, and find another or sand it down gently.
I really hope this is all a cruel ruse to see who would reply first. It's a French bike, right?
Put away the hammer,
- Christian
BTW, I really loved the phrase ""It required a good deal of hammering force."" I don't know why, but that just made my day. It's fantastic."
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 2:40pm
#2
"I tried ""gently tapping"" but that did not work so I had to resort to ""heavy hammering"". I realize now I should have sanded down the seatpost a little but I may have been WWI (working while intoxicated) last night. Plus my only tool is a hammer (just kidding).
I was able to extricate (the perfect word, thanks) the seatpost after all this so hopefully I did not damage the seattube. It sounds like if the seattube is perfectly smooth with no ridges or bumps then I am okay.
I do not know much about the frame except that it is a Benotto - I am assuming from the 80's but perhaps it is older. It has an Italian-threaded bottom bracket. I plan to convert it to a 3-speed commuter bike (flip-flop hub with the White Industries Dos Eno freewheel on one side and fixed cog on the other - hence 3-speeds)."
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 4:51pm
#3
"1. Cool. Once Sheldon gets the Eno fixed cog, I'm thinking about going 16-18 fixed 17-19 free on my commuter. It'll be a four-speed single-speed. Next, I might invent something I call the ""Derailer."" Your Benotto sounds like a very cool project.
2. I thought it was French 'cause they're fond of 26.4 and 26.6. But an inexpensive Italian makes sense too.
If the seattube is ok on the outside, it's very likely ok on the inside. This may be one time when a little bit thicker tubing wall was a very good thing. Sand that post a bit, and away you go, I bet.
Cheers,
- Christian
PS: Beware of the right cup on that bb unscrewing due to precession/bearing drag. Best to use teflon tape or two little dabs of Loctite blue."
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 7:31am
#4
That's hilarious. I'm going to have a 3-speed single speed! Who needs a derailler when you can stop and change gears with your wrench?
Thanks for the tip with the bottom bracket. I will use it.
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 7:42am
#5
WOW!!!
"'Next, I might invent something I call the ""Derailer.""'
Sounds facinating, I wonder if this ""Derailer"" device might help me on climbs.
Let me know how you make out, I know a good patent lawyer.
George"
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 8:03pm
#6
It's French
Derailleur.
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 10:14pm
#7
It's a not-very-inside joke.
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 11:17am
#8
not just French or Italian
"I have one that's Japanese - Ishiwata tubing, some mystery repaint 25 y.o. NOS frame. You've seen it, the grey bike with the old Shimano Tourney cantilevers.
There were a whole bunch of them, an eBay ""Dutch"" auction ~5 years ago, and if you look carefully thru the photos at fixedgeargallery.com, you'll see that more than a few of them ended up as fixies (21"" silver or black, 23"" dark blue.) I bought two of them - how could you go wrong for 49 bucks each? - but the black one has gone to the same place as your orange Rivendell. RIP.
But I digress. It has a 26.6mm seatpost."
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 11:27am
#9
"The ""derailer"""
"Christian wrote:
""Next, I might invent something I call the 'Derailer.'""
Would it be anything like a derailleur? :-)
(edited to add smiley)"
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 12:29pm
#10
Sheldon Brown's spelling suggestions
Call it a duh-ray-YOOR and you're entitled to spell it the French way, but if you pronounce it derailer you should spell it derailer. Makes sense to me.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer.html
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 1:10pm
#11
"""Derailer"" vs. ""derailleur"""
"I don't think the inventor, Edmond de Railleur, would be very happy with this Americanization of his name. ;-)
The British have it easier. They just call it a ""mech"" or ""changer."" The latter is used more often for the front, the former for both front and rear."
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 1:43pm
#12
Edmond de Railleur, yeah right
Yeah, next you're gonna try to tell me about Albert Broccoli and the family vegetable biz. Sell me a bridge ;^/
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 1:44pm
#13
derailer vs derailleur
I've often wondered why Sheldon, a Francophone who probably knows more about bikes than all of us combined, would use the former spelling rather than the latter.
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 8:05pm
#14
Sheldon
Hmmm, he's a former pot smokin' hippie.
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 3:12pm
#15
Seat Post Dilema
"""My 26.6 seatpost would only go into the tube about an inch or so (with grease of course).""
Did you have a saddle installed on the post? Twisting the the saddle left and right while pushing down usually does the trick.
""Chainwheel"""
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 7:26am
#16
touche
No I did not have the saddle on the post. I've twisted and turned posts in before, but never hammered then. Now I think I know why.
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 11:03am
#17
amazing ingenuity
I'm forwarding this thread to MacGiver.
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 3:08pm
#18
Chris,
If you ride a Brooks saddle, I recommend installing the Brooks on the seatpost and then lubing it all with Neatsfoot oil and hammering the combined assembly into the bike. That way, the seatpost will insert, and you'll break in the Brooks.
- Christian
