squeeky bike seat

[strk9]

everytime i go out and ride my bike seat works its way down slowly. so i attempted to tighten the bracket thing that holds the seat in place it slowed the progression of the seat moveing down but now it makes an annoying squeek like a bending metal sound that resonates threw the entire bike. IT is "the most annoying sound ever" and yesterday i tried tightening it even more to no avail it just seemed to make it louder.
The noise is getting so annoying that is it destroying my "in the woods experience" if annyone has any suggestions please let me know..
Thanks..

[Ymmit]

I assume you're tightening the seat post quick release clamp. Try tightening the clamp on the seat rails.

[strk9]

I assume you're tightening the seat post quick release clamp. Try tightening the clamp on the seat rails.

the seat rail i dont think i have a clamp on the accual post itself.

[Ymmit]

the seat rail i dont think i have a clamp on the accual post itself.

At the top of your seatpost there should be a clamp holding the seat to the post. It will look something like this.

[strk9]

ohh yea i checked that it is the accual post sliding down slowly. that part os nice and tight

[bigwheel]

Make sure that your seat clamp is facing the right way (front vs back). There is a split section of your frame that the clamp goes over. The split should line up with the split (bolt part) of your clamp. If it is backwards, the clamp won't hold very well.

[strk9]

this part

[bigwheel]

this part

I'm guessing that you have two separate problems. 1: The squeak is coming from your seat (or the seat-to-post clamp) 2: The sliding post is because of the clamp that connects your post to the frame.

#2 is easier to solve. Check my previous post. If that doesn't solve it, you might have the wrong size post for your frame.


#1 is tougher. You might have to pull off your seat, clean up the rails and bracket, grease up the rails and clamp it back together. If that doesn't work, the problem might be the seat itself. In particular, the place where the metal rails connect to the plastic under the seat. A make-shift solution that worked for me in the past was to flip the bike upside down, and run some oil down the rails into the plastic on the seat, to lube up the squeaky part.

[strk9]

thanks bob i will try #1 see if that does anything you are saying clean and "oil" the accual post part of the seat. i would think oil would make the clamp alittle inaffective but i will try anything because it is the most annoying sound ever.

[bigwheel]

thanks bob i will try #1 see if that does anything you are saying clean and "oil" the accual post part of the seat. i would think oil would make the clamp alittle inaffective but i will try anything because it is the most annoying sound ever.

Some say oil it. Some say keep it dry. I usually grease everything except for Thomson handlebar stems.

Again, for the sliding seatpost, double-check the clamp that holds your post onto the frame, to make sure that the split in the clamp is pointed in the same direction as the split in your frame. I've seen people make this mistake more than once. If that doesn't fix it, you likely have the wrong size seatpost for your frame.

[manual63]

To hopefully clear up confusion on what areas of the seat we are talking about.

http://www.f-bom.org/images/seatparts.png

[DanB]

As far as the seatpost sliding down you can try the new greases that are made for carbon parts. They are a lubricating grease to stop corrosion and galling just like regular grease but they also have little microscopic plastic pellets (probably a better term for it, but we'll go with that) in the grease so that clamping effectiveness is increased. Carbon parts generally have some fairly low torque specs for clamping and many times they have a very smooth surface, this grease was created especially for these problems, to stop movement, and increase gripping power while still maintaining low torque values. I know plenty of mechanics that use it on alloy parts too (myself included) with no problems and all the benefits. In 50% of sqeaking from the saddle/post area it is due to not enough grease in the seat tube. This will solve both those problems if the squeak is coming from that area, and will also stop your seatpost from sliding down. If I don't keep my seat tube well lubed on my Turner it squeaks like a son-of-a-gun. I am also careful to grease my saddle rails when I install the saddle on the seatpost that also usually eliminates squeaking from that area.

[DanB]

To hopefully clear up confusion on what areas of the seat we are talking about.

http://www.f-bom.org/images/seatparts.png

By the way the bicycle pictured above is 110% efficient, just ask the designer... :eyeroll:

[jitterjepp]

Maybe the squeaking is actually you farting and the seat is moving because its trying to get away.


joking....

[strk9]

DAN
thanks do you know a name brand of this grease i sounds like it is what i may need i greased the seat rail and tightened the seat clamp and it still makes the noise i am pretty shure it is the seat post sliding down.

[strk9]

Maybe the squeaking is actually you farting and the seat is moving because its trying to get away.


joking....

i will keep that in mind. thanks.

[DanB]

DAN
thanks do you know a name brand of this grease i sounds like it is what i may need i greased the seat rail and tightened the seat clamp and it still makes the noise i am pretty shure it is the seat post sliding down.

FSA makes it, as does Ritchey, and also Easton I think. I got a small package from one of the Erik's mechanics one day. I've since tried to find some to buy in the shops and have only seen it online so far.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/CM407B09-Fsa+Carbon+Seatpost+Installation+Compoun.aspx

If you can wait a week I still have some and you can use some of mine, but I will have very limited time in town (due to work :sick:) until July 4th.

I would first suggest calling around to some of the Erik's shops, and seeing if you can find some through their mechanics department like I did (not sales). I have checked Freewheel (main store) and Penn (Lake Street), but they didn't have anything on hand. I do know that Flanders Brothers has it on hand (but not for resale), and if you bring your post in they may be willing to lube it up for you without a charge, or maybe a small one (I am speculating on this, so don't quote me please). You could also try any of the other high end road shops (Grand Performance, Gear West, etc) as I would think they may have some laying around too. If it doesn't work to wait for me, I would let your fingers do some walking and you'll probably have some luck. If you do find a place to buy some local, please post up and let me know as I'd like to have more for just such occasions as this. Good luck, and let me know if you need some of mine, it goes a surprisingly long ways! :)

[strk9]

thanks everyone for all the options i appreciate the help....

[bigwheel]

When you finally get it figured out, please post what the problem was and what ended up fixing it.

[strk9]

i will need to take it out riding and see if it is fixed.