Just had a dude in the shop w/a problem that's only started to come up in the last couple of years - a CF frame with what appears to be a CF seat pillar and the seat pillar's stuck. In the past alloy seat pillars wd get stuck in steel frames b/c of the chemical reaction between the 2 metals. Geting them aout was a pita, but always achievable, you could use brute force and heat, usually both. Obv, you can use neither w/CF.
Having done this job before, I quoted the guy 100 quid/200 $ as I know it's a minimum full day's job to get out. Cause of the problem is this:
Many CF seat pillars aren't actually what they appear to be - in a lot of cases they are actually a narrow-diameter alu pillar covered w/a skim of CF. some water gets between the alu and CF, the alu corrodes a little, swells up, and yr seat pillar is stuck fast. The methods used on steel frames will result in trashing the frame. What I do is this:
Hacksaw the top off the seat pillar
measure the length of the seat pillar that remains inside the frame, cut a hacksaw blade so its 1-2mm longer than that, then spend hrs and hrs carefully cutting through the alloy part of the pillar in 2 places
Collapse the alloy pillar inwards, the collapse the CF skim, clean up the inside of the frame tube, to make sure it isn't scored or scratched.
TBH this is a "don't try this at home" job, or at the very least "don't try it at home unless you've already mentally written the frame off"
As well as charging heavy for this job, I also only take it in on the understanding that I will not be liable for any damage to the frame under any circumstances.
The message being, if yr buying a CF frame DO NOT fit a CF seat pillar unless you can guarantee that it's 100% CF.
Personally speaking, I wouldn't sell, ride or own a CF frame/forks, but there y'go.
― Pashmina, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:30 (seventeen years ago)
I really don't understand this CF (that's carbon fibre, right?) seatpost where all you're actually getting is a normal seatpost with some carbon on the outside. Is it just to trick people into thinking they're getting CF or is there some sort of science reason that makes it slightly better than a standard post?
― Bocken Social Scene, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:05 (seventeen years ago)
Ha, I do actually have a pair of wooden rims downstairs somewhere, waiting for a wooden frame (that'll never show up if I'm honest w/myself)
I should take some pics of the weird archaic shit I have lying around here, I have a 1911 dursley pedersen in the shop, a bates BAR w/cantiflex tubing etc etc.
― Pashmina, Friday, 2 November 2007 18:22 (seventeen years ago)