Tech help required. Carbon frame seatpost insert

[PorkRind]

So, i had a bit of trouble freeing up my alloy seatpost in my carbon frame. So i gt85'd it and left it to soak, then a half hour or so later much wiggling, tapping, and banging back and forth ensued. I got the seat post out, but i think on doing so i've disjointed the seatpost insert away from the carbon frame, the rest of it seems to be attached but theres a 1/8 of the circumference that doesnt seem to be bound to the carbon.

When reseating a greased seatpost and doing it all back up theres a good 2-3 mm play either way, i've not massively noticed it but its obviously to do with this seat post shim / insert being slightly loose.

Any advice on what to do, because just over tightening isnt going to work.

Am going to do my first gran fondo today, even with the slight play in the saddle..

Still it gives me good excuse to buy a new bike, but am hoping i dont have to...

[battered]

Where's the play, between the seat post and the clamp, or is the clamp moving in the frame?

[PorkRind]

battered said:

Where's the play, between the seat post and the clamp, or is the clamp moving in the frame?

The clamp seems to be moving at the top of the inset, the clamp, clamps over the insert - theres like 5mm of the insert that sticks out above the frame, the rest of the insert is stuck further into the frame.

[Composite Guru]

Any chance of some pics?

[PorkRind]

Sure...

[Composite Guru]

So is the black part of the carbon seat post bonded to the white part or is it all one bit? Its not a great picture to see if there is an aluminium sleeve glued inside the carbon tube?

[PorkRind]

The black part sticking out of the frame is bonded to the carbon frame i believe. Its just it seems to have come unstuck with my wiggling to get the alloy seatpost out. I guess i'd need that part rebonding to the carbon? Possible?

[Composite Guru]

PorkRind said:

The black part sticking out of the frame is bonded to the carbon frame i believe. Its just it seems to have come unstuck with my wiggling to get the alloy seatpost out. I guess i'd need that part rebonding to the carbon? Possible?

I see, if there is play in the black part then yes it has become disbonded. It can be repaired but preparation is the key element. Unfortunately these bike companies don't seem to prepare their parts that well so are prone to disbonding.

[PorkRind]

Composite Guru said:

I see, if there is play in the black part then yes it has become disbonded. It can be repaired but preparation is the key element. Unfortunately these bike companies don't seem to prepare their parts that well so are prone to disbonding.

Cheers.

Just a matter of finding a good bike shop / people with carbon knowledge to assist then. Anybody know any good places in the southwest - Bath/Bristol?

[Composite Guru]

PorkRind said:

Cheers.

Just a matter of finding a good bike shop / people with carbon knowledge to assist then. Anybody know any good places in the southwest - Bath/Bristol?

If you lived closer I could of helped out. I'm sure there should be someone in the area to do the job.

[PorkRind]

thanks for the offer, if i find nothing would it be ok to come back to you, you're not that far..


If it helps others, i've found a prev post about it.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=126...

[Composite Guru]

Yeah no probs. Let me know.