MTB dropper post quick question

[dave_s13]

Picked up this bad boy today (Whyte T-140 S) and it has a dropper post.

Now, before I picked it up the shop advised it had an issue with the dropper in that it needed a gentle tug up to get it to lock in the top position. But still usable and they've ordered a replacement under warranty....so I'll be getting a new one at some point anyway

But.

Is it normal for them to have a bit of play in the top position because when I sit on this it's got about 10mm travel. I thought it would be solid.

Also the sticky top travel bit seems to have cured itself but I just wonder if this is normal and if I should expect the same when the replacement comes. And weirdly the instructions for it say air can be added via the top of the post with a shock pump.... but there's no valve on the top, or anywhere...are some post sealed and non adjustable?

Cheers.

[GT89]

I'm assuming being a whyte it's got a rockshox reverb stealth post, have a Google and you'll read about the 10mm of sag you've got.
It needs a service/warranty on it to fix it completely.

A quick fix (bodge fix) is to turn the bike upside down with the seat post fully extended, press the dropper button whilst pushing the seat down (bike still upside down) once fully depressed release the button and tun the bike up the correct way.
Don't press the button to extend with the bike upside down though

A lot of people give up on reverbs and opt for the simpleness of a cable operated post such as brand x

[dave_s13]

Thanks..that little trick worked a treat.

I'm not sure what brand it is.



Some sort of Whyte rebranded job?

Appears to be one of these..
https://whyte.bike/products/drop-it-seat-post

Edited by dave_s13 on Friday 27th November 23:03

[Pothole Racing]

Looks to be a Whyte Drop it post. Never heard of one before so not sure if it’s sealed unit or it can take air. I had a sealed Brand X one and couldn’t add air and they look a similar design.

Your replacement dropper shouldn’t have the 10mm sag, if it does then something is wrong with that design. They are supposed to be rigid until you decide to drop.

[Captain Raymond Holt]

What’s the pressure like? Mine wouldn’t return and it’s because the cartridge pressure was about 100psi too low

Had to take the saddle off, pull the bung out and use a shock pump.

Eta: I don’t have the same model as yours, but looked similar

Edited by Captain Raymond Holt on Saturday 28th November 09:36

[Captain Raymond Holt]

Pothole Racing said:

Looks to be a Whyte Drop it post. Never heard of one before so not sure if it’s sealed unit or it can take air. I had a sealed Brand X one and couldn’t add air and they look a similar design.

Your replacement dropper shouldn’t have the 10mm sag, if it does then something is wrong with that design. They are supposed to be rigid until you decide to drop.

You sure? Just checked and mine is a Brand X, has a tiny bung under the saddle

[Bill]

I have Brand X from 2-3 years ago and it has a bung, but older ones didn't AIUI.

[dave_s13]

There's definitely no valve under the saddle so gotta assume you can't add air....but then I'm a total dropper post noob.

[the tribester]

Whyte have very good customer service, drop them a email.

[Pothole Racing]

Captain Raymond Holt said:

Pothole Racing said:

Looks to be a Whyte Drop it post. Never heard of one before so not sure if it’s sealed unit or it can take air. I had a sealed Brand X one and couldn’t add air and they look a similar design.

Your replacement dropper shouldn’t have the 10mm sag, if it does then something is wrong with that design. They are supposed to be rigid until you decide to drop.

You sure? Just checked and mine is a Brand X, has a tiny bung under the saddle

I’m sure I never found one, will check it later it’s been sitting in shed for couple of years after it developed the sideways movement at the saddle.

[dave_s13]

the tribester said:

Whyte have very good customer service, drop them a email.

Yeah the shop have got me one on order from Whyte...but for a different problem than this...as per the 1st post (I don't judge you for not reading)

At the moment though both problems have sorted themselves out it seems ..but I haven't ridden it in anger yet so I'm not about to tell them the post it fine just yet

I'm reluctant to get it mucky actually, and it's filthy outside at the moment.

Edited by dave_s13 on Saturday 28th November 12:28

[Pothole Racing]

Get out on it and covered in the winter slop

[the tribester]

dave_s13 said:

Yeah the shop have got me one on order from Whyte...but for a different problem than this...as per the 1st post (I don't judge you for not reading)

Edited by dave_s13 on Saturday 28th November 12:28

I read this bit
''But.
Is it normal for them to have a bit of play in the top position because when I sit on this it's got about 10mm travel. I thought it would be solid.

Also the sticky top travel bit seems to have cured itself but I just wonder if this is normal and if I should expect the same when the replacement comes. And weirdly the instructions for it say air can be added via the top of the post with a shock pump.... but there's no valve on the top, or anywhere...are some post sealed and non adjustable?

and Whyte could give you an answer.

[dave_s13]

the tribester said:

I read this bit
''But.
Is it normal for them to have a bit of play in the top position because when I sit on this it's got about 10mm travel. I thought it would be solid.

Also the sticky top travel bit seems to have cured itself but I just wonder if this is normal and if I should expect the same when the replacement comes. And weirdly the instructions for it say air can be added via the top of the post with a shock pump.... but there's no valve on the top, or anywhere...are some post sealed and non adjustable?

and Whyte could give you an answer.

Yeah but at the moment I've got a post that the shop has told me has a problem but can still be ridden. So I need to get a new good one to see if this top sag thing is normal, which o know now it's not.

And it a bit like buying a car, you take any issues back to the dealer in the 1st instance (Edinburgh cycles) and they've been cool with me so far. I don't want to waste Whytes time asking questions I now know the answer to.

Anyway, went out in the filth today and the top sag that was fixed by doing the upside down trick came back pretty quick and repeated attempts at said trick didn't fix it.

Can still ride around it though.

The difference between this and my 2012 Scott xc hardtail is just night and day. This thing is probably a bit slower from a to b but is just lovely and plush and just better in every way. Honeymoon ride though so I would say that. My wrists need to get used to the wider bars as well, a bit ouchy after a while.

And how busy are our local canals, bridleways and parks....lockdown my arse....and rightly so!

Edited by dave_s13 on Sunday 29th November 16:56

[webbal]

Welcome to the world of the Whyte internal seat post clamp.

I have had number of whyte MTB bikes with the internal seat clamp and drop post, and their have all given issues. Firstly, the whyte drop post all seem to have plan from new, giving you the feeling that there is excessive wear in the components. Its the norm, as the Whyte states

Regarding the seat post sticking, slow action or feeling notchy, this again can be down to the internal seat clamp causing issues. Max recommended torque setting as stated on the clamp, should not exceed 14Nm. On my T140S, if I exceed 9Nm torque on the clamp, the dropper post locks solid or becomes notchy. To obtain a smooth action my T140S seat post, max tightening torque is 7Nm. I have read that about some Whyte owners only torque their internal clamp to 5Nm, to avoid dropper post issues.

My T140S has had to visit the selling dealer 4 times, regarding a creaking, clicking frame ( very loads ) whilst sat in the saddle going across rough ground or pulling hard up hill under power. This has finally been diagnose to quest what, the internal seat clamp!!!! Remove post and clamp grease. Ok at the moment, but I`m sure it will have to be stripped again at some stage. How to spoil a great bike.

It`s about time Whyte binned the poor design and use a traditional seat clamp, as their have now introduced on the 905 V3

[dave_s13]

Ha...a fellow owner

Mine has also creaked like a bd and tightening up the seat clamp cured it, mostly. This was after I fekkd about taking and reinstalling the BB twice.

The seat post was replaced btw and that's been totally fine.

Other thing I did was upgrade the front rotor to a 225 hope jobby...the standard 180 disc felt dead to me....stops on a pin now.