Stuck Seat Post - What Should I Do? Bicycle Repair - BikemanforU

/ bikemanforu A stuck seat post stands up to KZbin's how-to guru of bike repair. Free shipping www.bikemanforu... on bike parts, tires, tools, and cycle accessories. A Giant Boulder mountain bike that's suffered salt corrosion from Hurricane Sandy stars in this BikemanforU tutorial that asks when does a ride become junk. The camera turns on during the last stages of recovery, after the bike's received numerous transfusions of special sauce and as much TLC as possible. The customer knew beforehand the tune-up and repair might be an exercise in futility yet insisted that every attempt be made to save a favorite ride. But the task is daunting. During these last on-camera efforts, the principals of spiritual beauty - starting with a tap and a nudge, moving on to stalwart guess-and-test methods that include twisting the frame upside down in a vise, pulling out a giant plumbing wrench, and a few carefully delivered cuss words - are applied to no avail."I said we might not be able to move it...We've been turning it upside down inside out...Even after it was done we've been getting salt water out of it," BikemanforU says, adding, "The first thing when you get a stuck seat post, you've got to get as much room in it as you possibly can. I know I'm beating up the frame but you know what? what's the worse that's going to happen? The bike might be done anyway because you can't move the d.... seat post." First step, is take a mini screw driver, tap it and pry out to get more of penetration and more of a cup to get in the special sauce. We've been soaking this thing for at least a day and a half. After that, I took the seat off, turned it upside down on the vise, trying to twist it back and forth. Still stuck. Now we're almost to the point of no return...keep soaking it and soaking it." That's when BikemanforU hauls out a giant pipe wrench and enlists SonofA's help from behind the camera to hold the bike still while he pushes the tool and says, "Let's see what happens." "Nothin'" SonofA observes. "If I had a big enough lever..." And he uses his hip for more leverage. "Holy s...I think I moved it." "You're bendin' it," notes the soon-to-be mighty SonofA. BikemanforU's pretty sure it ain't freeing. He talks about using a sawzall blade next. The bike is a small 26-inch frame, which probably means the seatpost goes down six inches. What should BikemanforU try next? Please tell us with your comments and video responses. Any and all ideas are welcome. We need your help 'cuz the mighty BikemanforU is fixated, so to speak, on getting this bike back to the owner. Thumbs up if you like what you see. Have a look at BikemanforU's Too Tough To Get Off Playlist for pro tips you can use that actually do work when dealing with stuck bottom brackets and cranks. bit.ly/16S90uP Enjoy watching the craziest how-to videos on the planet at BikemanforU DIY Channel / bikemanforu Subscribing's free. New vids posted every week!

[@matthewkeisling2776]

Bikeman! I love all of your videos, and was just catching up on this series about stuck seat posts. I know everyone has a suggestion, and I am no exception. I had good luck with using ammonia on an aluminum post in a steel frame bike. I turned the bike upside-down, and poured in ammonia after removing the bottom bracket. I just let it sit and would occasionally add more ammonia. If you find that the ammonia is leaking past the seat post collar, that means it is working through the gunk. In the end, I used the bench vise method, and it broke free. The corrosion looked almost like mud, after the ammonia did its job. Also, bless you for rehabbing all of those bikes!

[@jeremydwyer2724]

Issue not solved. Closing statement: Never fear, the Bikeman is here.

[@BEEBEE159]

I know this is no longer relevant for the Bike Man; but for anyone who is dealing with this. I would think that hammering the seat post down, with a small sledge hammer would do the trick. Don't hit it too hard, but just keep hitting it until the vibration breaks the rust free. It's the same concept as getting disc brakes off your car, when they are stuck. You just pound the center area until it magically pops free (ping). With a bike you will have to be very patient because the tires are going to absorb a lot of the vibration, as you are hitting downward towards the ground. It might be beneficial to set the frame on something hard, with the wheels off the ground.

[@TheJwdude]

I think for the stuck seat post you should heat it up then spary some penetration oil in the seat post hole with it heated up and try taking out the seat post while there is hot penetration oil in the seat post hole

[@robertoboertje353]

Never install a seatpost without a good coating of grease.

[@cliffordbrown1926]

I used to try lots of lube and penetrating oil but that never, ever worked on any badly stuck seat post - I doubt the oil can get to where it needs to be. For me, a blow torch has ALWAYS worked, although that's when you have an alloy post and a steel frame where metals expand at different rates. Sometimes you have to heat and cool it 10-20 times and while I will first try and heat the seat post without touching any paint, sometimes you just have to sacrifice the finish and blow torch directly on the frame.

[@tarstarkusz]

Freeze the post with either freon or an upside down can of computer dust blower. It will shrink. You might also blow on the seat tube with a blow dryer (towards the bottom) while freezing the top. The seat tube will want to expand while the seat tube will want to shrink. You might also try Vinegar straight into the opening you made with the screwdriver. Vinegar eats rust very quickly, like 1/2 hour. I'm assuming it's a steel frame and an aluminum seat post?

[@rd946]

Through-drill the post. Insert long rod through the seat post and twist back and forth, or use a slide hammer with clevis attachment. Sort-of like stabbing a stuck oil filter with a screwdriver. Then hope it works.

[@Metal-Possum]

Sheldon Brown it. Cut the top off, make a slice down one side, grab it with locking pliers (vice grips) and roll it up inside of itself. Being aluminium, it should tear the whole length of the post and come out freely.

[@inthenameofjustice8811]

This is an old video so this comment is redundant for this bike but it may be relevant in the future. I wondered if you had thought about the application of heat to the post socket to expand it or, using a pipe freezer agent for the seat post? In terms of the freezing it would depend, I guess, on how much value the customer placed on the bike as to whether or not it was worth the cost of using liquid nitrogen, or buying the pipe freezing stuff in a can that plumbers use. I have not used either product but I have seen the application of liquid nitrogen turn steel so brittle it will smash like glass with a hammer blow. I am amazed at the way steel can weld to itself and that weld be stronger than the steel itself.

[@Krieghandt]

My dad had to remove a 1 1/4" rusted nut from a frame of a tractor. For peoples information, breaker bars break at the pin, and not the handle, even though 12 feet of cheater pipe makes that handle bend something fierce.

[@RichardConradII]

Get the seat post hot enough that it will melt wax.. Take a candle let it melt and work its way into the area where its seized to the bike frame. The paraffin within the wax will eat away at the rust and the heat makes it work its way down into the seized area because all you need to do is heat the frame and post enough to melt wax you wont ruin the frame. We used to do this on race cars to break loose seized head bolts after you would blow a head gasket it would seize in much the same way but would be tighter.

[@Quiltingchaplain]

I've seen the same problem. Saw off the seat post then take and saw score two lines on the inside of the post about 1/4 inch then use a chisel to break the post in two. You use then be able to remove the seat post.

[@stevenmcdonald2060]

use a heat gun or handheld blow torch bikeman,i used a blow torch on a vintage raleigh but was respraying it anyway.oh and thanks for the schwinn speedster restore really enjoyed it.

[@hernanyteles]

Also happened to me but in the aluminum frame and the carbon tube. I put wd40 between the tube and the aluminum frame (enough) to let it absorb and then fastening the frame and turning the seat it released. After taking off, I cleaned and re-lubricated both the carbon tube and inside the frame with wd40 and it was perfect. There was no need to cut or break anything.

[@madisonjoyce5964]

My guess is galling and galvanic corrosion because that stuck seat post was sitting there for so long by the saltwater or any water. I think penetrating oil can work. Penetrating oil isn't the only thing to do. Use a blowtorch to make the metal around the seat post bigger. Propane torch is good.

[@turnersparadise8368]

You're THAT sky Maracle? Wow! What an honor sir!

[@reptilezs]

yup cutting a slot in the post has not failed me yet. usually i start off soaking with the juice then beat on the post with a dead blow mallet. ill repeat this for a day or two then try to twist it out with a bench vise or pipe wrench. also try the pipe wrench and have someone else tap on the post while you try to twist it out.

[@patwang84]

In my oppinion there are only 2 ways to solute this problem. A: use heat like you said and try to pull it out, be carefull pull it out as long as the seattube is heated if it is cold it won't get out anymore B. Cut it off and hammer it inside with a metal tube like you said and use another seatpost or use a seatpost which is thinner. either that is 2 ways with super stucked seatpost we deal in Germany, other possibilities like you said Bikeman or you mentioned we don't know good luck!

[@zodd67]

Could you possibly hack the seat post off flush with the frame then place a thinner new seat post inside of it and use a shim to get it tight?

[@samson_BNR32]

"we've been shooting it up with special sauce up the wazoo" hahaha seriously sounds exactly like my dad. Made me laugh, thank you

[@turnersparadise8368]

That is a good point. But this thing is beyond any penetrating oil. Twisting seems to just be bending the top of the post and in order to pound it down you would have to somehow support the frame...I would not take the chance of damaging especially the BB shell...Draino and dry ice sound good in theory but...Just strip the frame and get to work with the sawzall or a hacksaw blade. The post is not that thick and it is the safest way out of this mess. Provided the two pieces can be separated.

[@MR5er1]

I dealt with this once, I gave up on pulling on it and I cut it out with a reciprocating saw

[@EklekTek1]

It's a seat post. Don't mess up the frame. Drill some holes, machine twist it out and replace the seat post. Done deal.

[@quickguesswho]

Derpalicious i was saying same thing... and make sure u got some better "sauce" than he has

[@FieroGTXX]

Invest in some AeroKroil spray. SpecialSauce is great and all but to penetrate, youre gonna need something stronger. Pblaster or somethin. Could you drill a hole through seat post, stick rod through and pull and twist? I dunno. Tough

[@colddirt1]

Like Peter Gabriel once said - SLEDGE HAMMER

[@BikemanforU]

This turned out to be a great series. THX for the comment

[@nightfly222]

BikemanforU first episode use a rocket launcher to remove seat post.

[@stewartbootles2434]

very entertaining as usual :) no ideas though on how to remove the post just damaged my hand getting my pedals off

[@mrfisknugen]

I had the exact same problem with a bike I bought. It had the seatpost stuck all the way down to the bb. I tried everything exept heating. I think it's worthless, If you can't get it up I'd buy another tube as a seatpost that goes inside the old one and try to make a seatclamp somehow.

[@StevenCook]

drill a hole through the seatpost inline with the pedals put a rod through that is 3 feet only using 6-8" levee your bodyweight on one side for some seesaw action- hammer the sides of the seatpost to jolt the frozen area...

[@amadokhoury]

If you have an air chisel you can put a hammer hear and hit it from the top and the vibration should free it, while you spray special juice.

[@cup_and_cone]

BEST method is to heat the frame's seat tube, using an electric heat gun (at least 800watt) to prevent damaging the frame; whereas an open flame propane torch would completely ruin the stickers, paint, etc. The idea is to heat the seat tube as uniformly as possible in the area around the seat post. Use an infrared thermometer to monitor temperature to make sure you don't get too hot, ideally 250-350F is good. After evenly heated go back to pipe wrench to try and free; reheat + relube often.

[@BikemanforU]

So many great comments keep them comming

[@pakan357]

Clamp the post into a vice and twist the frame. Worked for me. It broke free with such a loud crack my ears were ringing for a few minutes. But the feeling was so liberating.

[@mosslimbayter277]

The video showed him doing exactly that 1:57 and it not working.

[@licustoms]

Also, if you don't care about saving the seat post, flatten out the seat post on two opposing sides with an anvil and a good small sledge and then try the large wrench on it again.

[@krisreed1943]

try drilling 2 holes through the seat post and then put a long strong piece of threaded bar through, bolt it on , then use a bar extension for leverage

[@Ucceah]

legit plan, but dont use threaded bar, it's much more prone to snapping , than a solid rod or a pipe

[@CptMishMashVonRandom]

Hammer it in a tiny bit more to break the seal, then use the pipe wrench on it again. If that fails then you'll want a slide hammer.

[@damienarkley9203]

Drill through the back of the seat post in the gap on the frame maybe if you put a screwdriver or something in it will give you some extra leverage, although tbh I tried this myself and was unsuccessful but that might just be me

[@turnersparadise8368]

I was screaming at you but you hit on it with the sawzall. Take the BB out, you will contaminate it. Cut the seat post almost flush with the seat tube. Then use a hack saw blade (be careful with a sawzall or other power tool) and saw vertically through the post. You can hear when you break through. When finally through make another cut the same way a couple CMs to the left or right. Then work this freed "slug" out and the post should collapse. Lots of work but it is really the only way.

[@hoah]

Frame is steel, seatpost is aluminium? Sodium Hydroxide, drain cleaner. Take the bb out, plug/wrap the seatpost to where it enters the frame, and put the bike somewhere safe, upside down. Pour a strong hydroxide solution into the seattube from the bottom bracket, drain it out and repeat when it stops fizzing. Seatpost will melt away if it doesn't come free first.

[@calvinjonesyoutube]

If you hapen to have access to liquid nitrogen, cooling the seat post while insulating the rest of the frame might give you enough temperature difference for it to pull right out....will certainly make it very fragile though!

[@Crispies364]

cut the top portion of set post and torch inside so that paint of the frame will not damage.hammer the set post up and down.use monkey wrench so that u can hammer upward the set post..

[@gamerdude0]

Hi bikeman, sonofa, there's always the caustic soda method to dissolve the old seat post, check out some videos on here for more info. Regards.

[@CChallinor]

What is the internal diameter of the seat post, could you cut it off flush and cut the slit in the back and effectivly use the old tube as a shim for a slightly narrower tube ?

[@jeffreyjames7212]

take it to the bike shop

[@darrenjs92]

freeze and release works. But I have never had a bike used in salt water. or Leave it for a week or even 2 weeks. hit with WD40 every day.

[@milkoborkovic7549]

When dealing with stuck seatposts, bbs, stems etc I always had the most success by boiling the shit out of the seazed part. Bring water to the boil in a huge cattle, give it some salt and vinegar, then put the stuck part into the boiling water (as far as the frame allows, keep the water on max heat) for 10 min or so, let it cool. Repeat this couple of times and it should come lose without destroying the frame

[@sub96vortec]

Try some PB Blaster penetrating catalyst. It works wonders.

[@zayacha]

if the frame is steel, and seatpost is aluminium, chemical treatment works great. Walmart sells something called "Drain out" ($3) which is sodium hydroxide pellets. A whole jar of this stuff in a gallon of water dissolves a stuck seat post or stem within a couple of hours. Just be careful - this stuff is dangerous and chemical burns are a real possibility of care is not taken. Other problem is - if the frame is aluminium, it will dissolve the frame as well.

[@m00nbugs]

Penetrating oil and a slide hammer.

[@thomaspridmore106]

Seems best

[@jeremycudi]

Or you could drill a hole across the seat post horizontally and put a metal rod across. Then pry it out?

[@MissHitAllTheTime]

i can't get my steel seatpost out of my chrome frame. i tried hot bowling water and placed my seatpost in the water for 10 mins while taking out the seat and then using adjustable wrench along with a hammer to hammer it no luck in moving it. i even tried wd-40 no luck. any other ideas? heat gun or propane or butane some kind of torch?

[@dillonginsky930]

Never fear except if your seat post is stuck then fear

[@cup_and_cone]

Absolutely. When I was at the OTC, this is how all the USA Cycling mechanics would address a stuck post. I added in the pipe wrench bit since it's clear this guy doesn't care one bit about destroying the post (and plus you can't use a pipe wrench on carbon posts). You wouldn't take a hack saw or torch to carbon frame, would you? Well... maybe you would. But you shouldn't.

[@fatboybfg]

while ur turning it the way u were doing hit the top with a heavy hammer at the same time ur turning it hope it workes from belfast northern ireland

[@J4K_Shred]

I consider my self the remove a stuck seat post king, why you might as? well... A while ago a friend showed up, now i have a lot of tools, I'm not a bike shop, I weld, I wood work, I Work on motorcycles, I mess around with cars, and sometimes kids would show up that wanted there bike to ride better most of the time they just had no maintenance, so he told me he just kept hammering in an old bike frame, this bike was his grandfathers, and he just kept hammering in the post to the point were it was deforming and he wanted me to remove, the thing had a piece of metal sticking out inside the tube, I manage to pull it out and I was sweating bullets, the seat post came out with a giant grove were metal to metal was just grinding upon on, Most seat post get stuck beacuse of rust and is kinda fuses as one, this was wedge in there by a piece of metal inside

[@pinocchiocozad1222]

old paint is ready for the walk behind the barn... take a 12 gauge, er, tools for teardown of good parts. TAPS PLAYS SOFTLY...

[@rentatrip1videos]

BMFU -I SEE A THRU BOLT GOING LATERALLY THROUGH THE BICYCLE'S SEAT TUBE AND THE SEAT STAYS? HELLO? HAVE YOU TRIED TAKING OUT THAT BOLT ? LOOKS LIKE IT IS AT LEAST CLAMPING TIGHT THE SEAT POST IF NOT HOLDING IT SO TIGHT AS TO KEEP IT FROM COMING OUT ...PLEASE REMOVE THAT THRU-BOLT

[@MrQuinn1012]

Either WD-40 or some lube about every 30min for about 6hrs shoot it with some lube all around the seat post giving it time to really get down into the sides always works for me.

[@licustoms]

One more idea... weld a piece of scrap metal onto the side of the seat post that would give you a better purchase on turning that seat post free from the frame and then proceed with a removal attempt again.

[@BikemanforU]

YES. He is son of a bikemanforU. SonofA for short

[@skymaracle]

Remove the bottom bracket... Turn upside down.... Spray solvent into seat tube... Release all works well... Flush with isopropanol... Repeat.... Repeat again if debris and rust still coming out... Allow to dry... Use penetrating oil next... And that should be that...

[@DGCoinPusher]

You should of drilled a hole threw the seat post and put a steal cable in there and hooked it up to a truck and strapped the frame to another truck with the E break and pulled it out.. Worked for me EASILY and i just uploaded a video of it..... My seat post was aluminum and broken all the way off !!! Please check it out because it WORKED GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@not2fast4u2c]

The vice or pipe wrench usually works for me i would try to hammer it down if it starts moving try the vise if it won't turn Hacksaw it off flush with the frame and pound a new seat post into the frame as long as you have about 4 inchs in it will work

[@moonchild22]

what should I do is put the bike in to direct sunshine, when the frame is hot, just flood the tube with diesel, wait 10 minutes, drink a beer, then try to use the pipe wrench. I´m sure that will work!

[@mosslimbayter277]

All at the same time; use the cheater on the pipe wrench to twist on it while someone heats the tube with a heat gun while someone else bangs the seat post downwards with a hammer. Once it moves rotationally or vertically the seize will be released.

[@jeremycudi]

Try hammering it down since it won't barge. Maybe it'll start moving?

[@tom8181]

heat up with torch and or use visegrip brand locking pliers on seat post and smack vise grips with heavy hammer

[@blogger2620]

i have a flat tire at the back, but the problem is that bolt is impossible to remove and its hard to resolve the problem. it would be appreciate if I had simplistic solutions

[@tonibaloni12]

wd-40

[@ke7dnv]

Cut off the seat post just above the top of the seat tube then use a air chisel to slice down the the side of the post, works without to much work!

[@licustoms]

Did you try Kroil?

[@turnersparadise8368]

maybe 250-350 heat would do something for CF, but you might as well use a bick lighter on an aluminum seat post that is corroded by salt water into a steel seat tube. The amount of heat you would need to do anything would trash any finish, blow your brazes and probably blow out the steel seat tube. I think you are talking about apples in the middle of an orange grove here, watch the video.

[@rentatrip1videos]

so remove them, if it is a thru bolt the pressure is clamping on the seat tube

[@not2fast4u2c]

Blow It Up Blow It Up ...REAL GOOD !!!

[@turnersparadise8368]

Hey Renta, those are the bosses for a bike rack. :-) But good thought.

[@BAAMRanch]

Smack downwards with the BFH!

[@Doitall1983]

best thing to do is heat. thats the proper way. you heat it up evenly . the post comes out. then repaint the frame.:)

[@rurkeyza]

im converting my old road bike to fixed gear, i got a fixed cog .,.but i cant seem to figure how to get me crank to go with the way rear wheel goes btw its the orginal crank set it came with somebody please help me figure this out ?

[@keysboater1]

It's easy to split the post with a sawzall and long blade takes 15 minutes

[@luvspud1]

You could try reaming out the inside of the old seat post until it becomes thin enough to break away with a chisel.

[@A3203503]

How about drill a hole through the seat post (only the seat post) and insert a rod, flip the bike upside and hammer the rod.

[@Waelalshami]

Use anti rust spray, only and best solution for such problems.

[@mangaoangdavid]

Take the whole chain ring and crank arms off and flip the bike upside down then spray some wd40 into the bottom bracket so the wd40 can leak into the seatpost therefore it can loosen the bottom of the post

[@joziemolody3592]

Special sauce recipe?

[@jack002tuber]

Worst bike repair problem ever.

[@thewhitekid8139]

+jack002tuber no id say a seized crank or bottom bracket.

[@mickeyrussell7872]

can i just say that you remind me of the announcer at redbull joyride

[@not2fast4u2c]

Leave it on the side of the road and hope someone steals it

[@rentatrip1videos]

besides after removing those "bosses" BMFU may be able to squirt secret sauce into those 2 holes !

[@hyd8788]

you see the problem is that mine went completely in

[@b8bpattson]

To apply heat to seatpost without ruining paint jobh, why not apply boiling salt water (230 degrees F) while using pipe wrench

[@nightfly222]

What is your special sauce? Trade Secret?

[@BikemanforU]

That is to FUNNY. gonna try that

[@rentatrip1videos]

this treatment would require disassembling the entire frame - so the chemical will not - melt all the aluminium parts -

[@karlos6628]

Today January 21 2015 -I have a road bike trek 360 -bike store tells me it was made around 1985-90 I am restoring it-new paint/tires etc-I took everything off the bike-Except-the seatpost- I put wd40 -heat it-hammer it-no luck finally I took it to my garage where I have my 60 galloon air compressor-I hook my air happer and started shocking the seatpost-guess what people ? I got that seatpost out in like 5 minutes(wait till the compressor is fully charge) what if u don't have a compressor ? take it to a mechanic shop or someone who has a compressor-and to use a air hammer to get it out-it works 100 % I called the bike store today-they told they charge 60 per hour-it can take about 2 weeks. other bike store let me know its almost impossible to get the seatpost out sometimes well people-stop breaking your head-a air compressor hammer will do the job-not sure how much a mechanic shop or someone with a air compressor would do it for(I would do it for free if u lived in my areas(IL)

[@mennovenema2108]

Can you tell me exactly how you did it. I have an aircompressor what do I do now?

[@karlos6628]

Menno Venema- I made a small video for you where I explain it-I have the seat post-the frame and my air hammer/chisel give your email and I will send it to you I will try to post it on you tube-if I have any luck I will let you know so u can check on you tube.

[@karlos6628]

Menno Venema-I posted a video on you tube on how I remove the seat post from my bike trek 360-i did that video for you my friend-let me know if u have any other questions-thanks

[@mennovenema2108]

thanks!

[@karlos6628]

Menno Venema-you welcome

[@MiguelRodriguez-ih5jv]

TENGO UNA GIANT BOULDER CASI IDENTICA CREI QUE NUNCA ,MIRARIA UNA GIANT BOULDER DE CROMOLIO

[@ACMDevils]

do you call the cameraman 'son of a' ? :D

[@franciscogarcia-bu5bn]

to remove that seat post remove cranks and botttom bracket and tap it out from there it´s waht i did on my bike ;)

[@GOTSWAG110]

Put a W d40 on the seat post

[@skymaracle]

You will not contaminate the bottom bracket if you remove it... Msg me I train pro mechanics at Wbi...

[@olguinmarcelo]

A stick of dynamite might work but seeing as how stuck it was it may or may not work.

[@GOTSWAG110]

Then keep turning the post