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PSA: That seized seatpost I fought with for 2 hours last Saturday
I spent a whole Saturday afternoon trying to extract a seized aluminum seatpost from a steel frame. After heating the collar with a torch and using a pipe wrench, I finally got it out, only to find the frame had a crack near the top tube. Has anyone else dealt with a hidden crack after a stuck seatpost removal?
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murphy.barbara19d ago
seized aluminum seatpost from a steel frame" oh man that exact combo is the worst. I used to think heating the collar was always the safe move, like it would loosen things up without hurting the frame. But after I pulled a post out of an old Schwinn and found the seat tube was stretched right where the binder bolt was, I totally changed my mind. The heat and the twisting must have weakened it, and I ended up with a frame that was only good for the scrap pile. Now I'd rather just cut the post out from the inside with a saw or use a chemical penetrant and wait days before trying anything with a wrench.
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jennysullivan18d ago
My own record for waiting is about five days with alternating doses of penetrating oil and patience, and it still fought me the whole way. Your story about the stretched seat tube really hit home, reminds me of a time I put a torch to a Raleigh mixte and ended up with a frame that whistled when I rode it. @martin.paige might have a point about cracks being common on old frames, but I figure there is no sense helping one along if you can avoid it.
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