You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I've got a Sonder Signal Ti frame built up that, while it is an excellent ride, just isn't getting used much. So I decided to strip it and sell. Great idea Rikk, cracking. Right up until I decided to remove the Oneup V2 dropper...
Well you know what's coming here. Stuck fast.
This was a while ago. I've tried soaking it with WD40, used as much force as I think I can and it's going nowhere. Even built the bike back up and have since been on a few rides to see if it will unjam. It will not.
I'm torn between just listing it for sale as is, and sending off somewhere to have the seatpost extracted (with no guarantee the seatpost will be usable if I do).
Thoughts or things I can try very welcome!
Years ago I had a normal seatpost that stuck into a 456Ti frame, I cut it out - what a PITA and for years there was a sliver at the bottom that use to rattle...
Remove the bottom bracket. Turn the frame upside down and squirt lots of penetrating oil into the seat tube. Get a butane torch and gently heat the seat tube, starting at the bottom and moving up. This should break the bond between the seat post and seat tube and allow the oil to penetrate. Leave the saddle attached and twist the seat post. As soon as it moves, you should be able to work it back and forwards and get it out.
Google "The Seatpost Man"
Or, when I was looking re my stuck dropper in my Ragley BigWig, I came across Cycle Fast in Sowerby Bridge (if thats local to you). Think the quote was £94. He has a YouTube video showing how he does it.
(I tried using PlusGas inserted from the BB upside down, plus a heat gun. No good. So fat, I'm just putting up with it!)
Counterintuitive maybe, but have you tried hammering the post into the frame a bit? Might not work quite so well with a dropper and there's a chance of damaging the post but it can be enough to break the bond.
Worth trying the penetrating oil thing, then riding with the seatclamp undone and/or exerting some sharp sideways blows to the saddle.
WD40 isn’t really an anti-seize, just a light oil in a solvent carrier, so PlusGas or something like ACF50 is going to be better. The post will be stuck due to a build-up of aluminium oxide on the post, mechanically ‘locking’ it in place, so you really need to dissolve/lubricate the oxide build-up to release the post. If the post is sacrificial and you can get to the inside of the seat tube, then a strong alkali like sodium hydroxide/caustic soda will help do the job - messy job though.
Ooh could be interested if you fancy shifting it on, depending on size
Anti freeze from the top down
Patience.
Try lubricants as suggested and then each day give it a nudge. It could take a week or two. I rode around on a Cotic with a oneup without a clamp for a while and did this. Eventually it came free.
Had a similar issue with my aluminium seatpost in a Enigma Ti road frame. Couldn't shift it. Bike shop couldn't. However the nice people a Argos Cycles (Bristol) worked some magic to get it out. Definitely worth give them a call if you are south west based.
Oh, I also have a Signal Ti and a One Up dropper. Dunno why, but the getting the seatpost in and out of the frame is a right bugger, and I've had all sorts of issues with the dropper getting stuck down. Maybe it's a tolerance issue?