Newbie Question: Greasing a Seatpost

[Webby]

Hi all,

Can somebody please explain to me what "greasing a seat post" means and why do you do it?

Many thanks

Webby

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[Ken]

[email protected] (Webby) wrote in news:[email protected]:
> Can somebody please explain to me what "greasing a seat post" means and why do you do it?

Just wipe a thin coat of grease onto the seat post before inserting it into your frame. Any type of
mechanical grease will do; I use the same stuff I use on my bearings. White lithium auto grease is
always popular.

The grease prevents corrosion, which can be a big problem, especially if the two parts are different
types of metals (steel frame and aluminum seatpost, etc).

Ken

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[Tell]

Originally posted by Ken
[email protected] (Webby) wrote in news:[email protected]:
> Can somebody please explain to me what "greasing a seat post" means and why do you do it?

Just wipe a thin coat of grease onto the seat post before inserting it into your frame. Any type of
mechanical grease will do; I use the same stuff I use on my bearings. White lithium auto grease is
always popular.

The grease prevents corrosion, which can be a big problem, especially if the two parts are different
types of metals (steel frame and aluminum seatpost, etc).

Ken

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rec.bicycles.off-road is moderated by volunteers. To find help solving posting problems, or contact
the moderators, please see http://rbor.org/ Please read the charter before posting:
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Okay, here we go again, the oldest mistake in engineering is greasing things that should hold together by friction.
For seat-posts, all kinds of threads, stems and handlebars use an anti-seize compound, usually copper-based. The most widely available is made by CRC. Grease is for bearings and other surfaces which should glide against each other.
Let your saddle stay up!
Tell

 

[Peter Cole]

"Tell" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
> Okay, here we go again, the oldest mistake in engineering is greasing things that should hold
> together by friction. For seat-posts, all kinds of threads, stems and handlebars use an anti-seize
> compound, usually copper-based. The most widely available is made by CRC. Grease is for bearings
> and other surfaces which should glide against each other. Let your saddle stay up! Tell

Anti-seize is a lubricant, just one that typically uses powdered metal to prevent displacement by
heat and static loads. The problem with seatposts is corrosion, the products of aluminum corrosion
causing the seatpost to effectively swell and lock itself in place. Greased seatposts don't slip if
tight, loose ones will, greased or dry.

 

[Jim Adney]

On 10 Mar 2003 09:31:22 +1050 Tell <[email protected]> wrote:

>Okay, here we go again, the oldest mistake in engineering is greasing things that should hold
>together by friction. For seat-posts, all kinds of threads, stems and handlebars use an anti-seize
>compound, usually copper-based. The most widely available is made by CRC. Grease is for bearings
>and other surfaces which should glide against each other. Let your saddle stay up!

Grease will work fine, as will anti-seize. While this is not a moving part and does not require
lubrication, neither is it a high pressure application where galling is a problem.

A seat tube that is cylindrical and is mated to the proper sized seat post will not slip even if it
is greased, while a seat tube that is out of round and fit to an undersized post will probably slip
even if dry.

The purpose of whatever you put in there is to exclude water and oxygen to prevent corrosion. Most
greases and anti-seizes will do this just fine. The anti-seize DOES have a slight advantage on the
threads of the seat post bolt, however, where the pressures can be higher.

-
-----------------------------------------------
Jim Adney [email protected] Madison, WI 53711 USA
-----------------------------------------------

 

[Pete Biggs]

Jim Adney wrote:

> The anti-seize DOES have a slight advantage on the threads of the seat post bolt, however, where
> the pressures can be higher.

Is that to prevent seizing or to enable the bolt to be tightened further?

~PB

 

[Paul Southworth]

In article <[email protected]>, Webby <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>Can somebody please explain to me what "greasing a seat post" means and why do you do it?

Most places where you have two metal parts touching each other, and wish to be able to take them
apart again (ever) then some kind of lubrication is a good idea. Seatposts and stems are important
to lubricate because water or sweat can penetrate the area very easily, and stem or seatpost
extraction can be laborious if highly corroded. I usually put a thin film of grease on the seatpost
and then liberally grease the inside of the seat tube as far down as my finger can reach. If you
slather too much on the post it will be wiped off as you insert it. For stems I take it all apart
and grease every part that touches anything (unless it's attached to a carbon-fiber part). Stems
often have a big gap in the steer tube, I like it to be sealed with grease.

--Paul

 

[Peter Cole]

"Paul Southworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:vlpba.33382$A%[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, Webby <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >Can somebody please explain to me what "greasing a seat post" means and why do you do it?
>
> Most places where you have two metal parts touching each other, and wish to be able to take them
> apart again (ever) then some kind of lubrication is a good idea. Seatposts and stems are important
> to lubricate because water or sweat can penetrate the area very easily, and stem or seatpost
> extraction can be laborious if highly corroded.
>
> Stems often have a big gap in the steer tube, I like it to be sealed with grease.

As Jobst often points out, stems are particularly vulnerable to corrosion (ask me how I know) since
the small movements creates a pumping action that will mix the water with grease over time. The
consequence is that stems should be periodically removed, cleaned and regreased.

 

[David Kunz]

Ken wrote:
> [email protected] (Webby) wrote in news:[email protected]:
>
>>Can somebody please explain to me what "greasing a seat post" means and why do you do it?
>
>
> Just wipe a thin coat of grease onto the seat post before inserting it into your frame. Any type
> of mechanical grease will do; I use the same stuff I use on my bearings. White lithium auto grease
> is always popular.
>
> The grease prevents corrosion, which can be a big problem, especially if the two parts are
> different types of metals (steel frame and aluminum seatpost, etc).
>

It also keeps it from creaking when you shift your weight. Most "Bottom Bracket" creaks are the
seat post .

David

 

[Jim Adney]

On Tue, 11 Mar 2003 14:33:52 -0000 "Pete Biggs" <pLime{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote:

>Jim Adney wrote:
>
>> The anti-seize DOES have a slight advantage on the threads of the seat post bolt, however, where
>> the pressures can be higher.
>
>Is that to prevent seizing or to enable the bolt to be tightened further?

Well, I suppose both, but I should add that if the seat tube is reamed properly, and if the seat
post is a proper fit, then it will not be necessary to tighten this bolt very hard. If you find that
you can't get your seat binder bolt tight enough then there is probably a fit problem that you
should get fixed.

-
-----------------------------------------------
Jim Adney [email protected] Madison, WI 53711 USA
-----------------------------------------------