PSA: A customer's stripped seatpost bolt taught me to check for corrosion first

Had a guy bring in a vintage road bike from Seattle last week, said the seat wouldn't budge. I grabbed my hex key and gave it a turn, felt that awful crunchy slip. The aluminum bolt was totally fused to the steel binder. Instead of forcing it, I stopped and soaked the whole clamp area in penetrating oil for a full day. Came back, gentle heat with a heat gun on low, and it backed out clean. I would have wrecked that part for sure. How do you all handle seized components when a customer is waiting?

3 comments

3 Comments

bettykim2mo ago

Ever had that sickening crunch feeling?

james921mo ago

Ugh, @bettykim, I just try to forget it fast.

richard13721d ago

Ever had that sickening crunch feeling" - man just reading that sentence made me flinch. I was messing with an old laptop once, trying to pry the case open, and heard this horrible crack like I'd snapped a bone or something. Turned out it was just the plastic clip breaking, but @james92 you know that split second where your stomach drops and your brain goes "yep, you just broke something expensive." I literally sat there frozen for a good ten seconds before I even looked to see what I'd done.