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Spent three hours on a seized seatpost that should have been a ten minute job
A customer brought in an old steel frame with a steel seatpost that was completely frozen. I tried the usual tricks, like penetrating oil and a bench vise, but it wouldn't budge. I ended up having to build a jig to clamp the frame and use a slide hammer on the post, which I had to borrow from the auto shop next door. The whole thing took my whole afternoon, and I only charged for a basic seatpost swap. Anyone have a better method for the really stuck ones that doesn't risk wrecking the frame?
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lopez.wren15d ago
My shop swears by the ammonia trick for steel on steel.
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the_hugo3d ago
Yeah, the ammonia trick is no joke! I tried it once on an old vise and nearly passed out from the smell in my tiny garage. My wife thought I'd started a secret chemistry lab out there. It did work, but now I just use a torch and oil like ruby494 said. Less chance of me accidentally gassing myself, which is always a plus.
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