I have a 2001 Trek OCLV frame that seems to get a build up of moisture inside. I just took out
my bottom bracket and found a bunch of "feta cheese" like crud surrounding the sealed
cartridge. Likewise, I inspected my headset and found the bottom has showed signs of rust and
moisture build-up.

I'm guessing the moisture is either coming through the seat post tube and/or the headset (the latter
is tougher to accept because the seal seems so tight). I've had a lizard skin on the head set for
about a year and it looks as though that hasn't helped.

I have an Icon seat post. (that was stock before Trek started using Bontrager components.) The seat
post itself has started to get pitted below the point where the clamp is on the seat post tube. Very
often, it seizes up and it's tough to pull the seat post out of the tube (I extend it to put the
bike in a work stand).

Has anyone else had similar experiences? Should I also try a lizard skin around the seat post clamp?

Does anyone know if Lennard Zinn has a FAQ or open forum somewhere?

John

The only thing I have ever done is unscrew the cable guide bolt underneath the BB and let it drain
for the night. That along with pulling the machine apart for a complete cleaning once a year.

"FLBiker" <mjkelso@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:19b80ea4.0309040927.4a575858@posting.google.com...
> I have a 2001 Trek OCLV frame that seems to get a build up of moisture inside. I just took out my
> bottom bracket and found a bunch of "feta cheese" like crud surrounding the sealed cartridge.
> Likewise, I inspected my headset and found the bottom has showed signs of rust and moisture
> build-up.
>
> I'm guessing the moisture is either coming through the seat post tube and/or the headset (the
> latter is tougher to accept because the seal seems so tight). I've had a lizard skin on the head
> set for about a year and it looks as though that hasn't helped.
>
> I have an Icon seat post. (that was stock before Trek started using Bontrager components.) The
> seat post itself has started to get pitted below the point where the clamp is on the seat post
> tube. Very often, it seizes up and it's tough to pull the seat post out of the tube (I extend it
> to put the bike in a work stand).
>
> Has anyone else had similar experiences? Should I also try a lizard skin around the seat
> post clamp?
>
> Does anyone know if Lennard Zinn has a FAQ or open forum somewhere?
>
> John

"Matt" <matthewgates@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:<DZL5b.267573$It4.125159@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net>...
> The only thing I have ever done is unscrew the cable guide bolt underneath the BB and let it drain
> for the night. That along with pulling the machine apart for a complete cleaning once a year.
>

I guess that's reasonable if you come in from a really sloppy ride, but it seems like this is from
simply washing the bike, or trapped condensation or the like...

Up at the headset, it appeared as though water was getting trapped there. I'm not sure the best way
to handle that issue - maybe dismantle that assembly and let it dry out too?

"Matt" <matthewgates@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:<DZL5b.267573$It4.125159@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net>...
> The only thing I have ever done is unscrew the cable guide bolt underneath the BB and let it drain
> for the night. That along with pulling the machine apart for a complete cleaning once a year.
Maybe you could try using some sort of sealant. The problem would be find a non-adhesive sealant.
Perhaps a silicone based grease might work.
> "FLBiker" <mjkelso@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:19b80ea4.0309040927.4a575858@posting.google.com...
> > I have a 2001 Trek OCLV frame that seems to get a build up of moisture inside. I just took out
> > my bottom bracket and found a bunch of "feta cheese" like crud surrounding the sealed cartridge.
> > Likewise, I inspected my headset and found the bottom has showed signs of rust and moisture
> > build-up.
> >
> > I'm guessing the moisture is either coming through the seat post tube and/or the headset (the
> > latter is tougher to accept because the seal seems so tight). I've had a lizard skin on the head
> > set for about a year and it looks as though that hasn't helped.
> >
> > I have an Icon seat post. (that was stock before Trek started using Bontrager components.) The
> > seat post itself has started to get pitted below the point where the clamp is on the seat post
> > tube. Very often, it seizes up and it's tough to pull the seat post out of the tube (I extend it
> > to put the bike in a work stand).
> >
> > Has anyone else had similar experiences? Should I also try a lizard skin around the seat post
> > clamp?
> >
> > Does anyone know if Lennard Zinn has a FAQ or open forum somewhere?
> >
> > John

>Does anyone know if Lennard Zinn has a FAQ or open forum somewhere?
>

While he might be too busy to reply, try E mailing Mike J at ChainReactionbikes.com Mike is a
frequent poster and has a lot of Trek experience.

"FLBiker" <mjkelso@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>
> I guess that's reasonable if you come in from a really sloppy ride, but it seems like this is from
> simply washing the bike, or trapped condensation or the like...
>
> Up at the headset, it appeared as though water was getting trapped there. I'm not sure the best
> way to handle that issue - maybe dismantle that assembly and let it dry out too?

How are you washing the bike? Is it getting sprayed with water under high pressure?

The pitting could likely be from salty air if you ride near the ocean or gulf.

> While he might be too busy to reply, try E mailing Mike J at ChainReactionbikes.com Mike is a
> frequent poster and has a lot of Trek experience.

That would be the same MikeJ who removed his bottom bracket (from his OCLV) in the spring and had a
minor flood on the floor? Never heard of him!

The water most likely gets in past the seatpost, as you surmised. The problem is due mostly to the
fact that you cannot grease the seatpost in a TREK OCLV frame, because the grease will break down a
special coating on the inside of the seat tube. Trouble is, grease is what would normally seal off
the seat tube from water intrusion.

Best thing to do would be to simple remove the seat post once in a while, turn it upside down
and drain it.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com

"PMaszak" <pmaszak@aol.com> wrote in message news:20030904173755.06364.00000314@mb-m10.aol.com...
> >Does anyone know if Lennard Zinn has a FAQ or open forum somewhere?
> >
>
> While he might be too busy to reply, try E mailing Mike J at ChainReactionbikes.com Mike is a
> frequent poster and has a lot of Trek experience.

I have had several Trek OCLV frames. This is a similar water story that has nothing to do with one
of them. Today I was harvesting parts off an old Schwinn Super Sport that has a Kestrel EMS front
fork. I had it hanging from a bike hanger on the ceiling of a storage room and I took off the front
brake caliper. It was like I removed my finger from the dike. I couldn't believe the amount of
greasy fluid that came out and went all over the place. This is a bike that hasn't been ridden in
well over a year and has been indoors all that time. Strange.

Bob C.

"FLBiker" <mjkelso@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:19b80ea4.0309040927.4a575858@posting.google.com...
> I have a 2001 Trek OCLV frame that seems to get a build up of moisture inside. I just took out my
> bottom bracket and found a bunch of "feta cheese" like crud surrounding the sealed cartridge.
> Likewise, I inspected my headset and found the bottom has showed signs of rust and moisture
> build-up.
>
> I'm guessing the moisture is either coming through the seat post tube and/or the headset (the
> latter is tougher to accept because the seal seems so tight). I've had a lizard skin on the head
> set for about a year and it looks as though that hasn't helped.
>
> I have an Icon seat post. (that was stock before Trek started using Bontrager components.) The
> seat post itself has started to get pitted below the point where the clamp is on the seat post
> tube. Very often, it seizes up and it's tough to pull the seat post out of the tube (I extend it
> to put the bike in a work stand).
>
> Has anyone else had similar experiences? Should I also try a lizard skin around the seat
> post clamp?
>
> Does anyone know if Lennard Zinn has a FAQ or open forum somewhere?
>
> John

> >
> > Up at the headset, it appeared as though water was getting trapped there. I'm not sure the best
> > way to handle that issue - maybe dismantle that assembly and let it dry out too?
>
> How are you washing the bike? Is it getting sprayed with water under high pressure?

I'm using just a regular garden hose with a low pressure spray head on
it.
>
> The pitting could likely be from salty air if you ride near the ocean or gulf.
I ride near the ocean, but the wierd part about the pitting is that it's on the portion of the
seatpost that *isn't* exposed. It starts from the point where the post clamp is and extends the rest
of the length of the post. From the clamp up to the top of the post, it's clean.

FLBiker wrote:

> I have a 2001 Trek OCLV frame that seems to get a build up of moisture inside. I just took out my
> bottom bracket and found a bunch of "feta cheese" like crud surrounding the sealed cartridge.
> Likewise, I inspected my headset and found the bottom has showed signs of rust and moisture
> build-up.
>
> I'm guessing the moisture is either coming through the seat post tube and/or the headset (the
> latter is tougher to accept because the seal seems so tight). I've had a lizard skin on the head
> set for about a year and it looks as though that hasn't helped.
>
> I have an Icon seat post. (that was stock before Trek started using Bontrager components.) The
> seat post itself has started to get pitted below the point where the clamp is on the seat post
> tube. Very often, it seizes up and it's tough to pull the seat post out of the tube (I extend it
> to put the bike in a work stand).
>
> Has anyone else had similar experiences? Should I also try a lizard skin around the seat
> post clamp?
>
> Does anyone know if Lennard Zinn has a FAQ or open forum somewhere?
>
> John

Not that I've ever looked at the underside of a Trek OCLV bottom bracket, but why no drain hole?

>Not that I've ever looked at the underside of a Trek OCLV bottom bracket, but why no drain hole?

I was wondering the same thing. Way, way back when all of the better frames had the bottom bracket
shells cut out. Presumably manufacturers aren't doing that any more. Why?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PirateJohn@aol.com Keeper of the Humour List at http://members.aol.com/PirateJohn/pirate1.html

"Mother, mother ocean... I have heard your call" - Jimmy Buffett, A Pirate Looks At Forty.

I had the same problem. Use a 2" long piece of MTB tube stretched over the collar. Wrap electrical tape around the top to seal it to the seat post. Do it right, and you barely even notice it.

I've got a 2000 OCLV with the same problem. Cost me my headset the first season from rust in the
lower race, now I grease it every couple of months. The BB also started creaking from the water
buildup. I discovered it when hanging my bike by the rear wheel and having a couple of cups drain
out the headset. Now I always drain my bike after wet rides. Funny, I wonder what a pound of water
in the BB does for handling...

chris