Comments on: How to fix a bike seat post in place?

Question: How to fix a bike seat post in place?

spiff101 — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 07:29:46 -0800

How can I fix my bike saddle to the correct position?

I made the mistake recently of picking my bike up by the saddle instead of the frame and the seat post came out. It went back in easily enough but now the saddle moves round - ie, the post revolves around so that the saddle faces sideways/backwards etc - far too easily. I can't see any way of tightening it - the only bolt is for the saddle rails at the top that deal with forwards/backwards tilt. sorry I don't have a digital camera for pics. any ideas?

By: box

box — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 07:32:49 -0800

If it's like most bikes, there's a bolt (or maybe a quick-release) where the seat post goes into the frame. That's the one you need to tighten.

By: handee

handee — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 07:46:44 -0800

By: sablazo

sablazo — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 07:53:34 -0800

Great artwork handee - I second your recommendation. If that doesn't work, or is difficult to figure out (lack of appropriate tools, etc.) then perhaps spiff101 should take the bike to a shop - they'll probably adjust and tighten the post for free.

By: jtfowl0

jtfowl0 — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 08:29:16 -0800

If it doesn't have a quick release mechanism, you'll probably need a hex wrench to tighten the bolt that handee pointed out.

By: cubby

cubby — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 08:59:31 -0800

also, you can use a crescent wrench or adjustable wrench for that same bolt. you may need two wrenches - one to hold the bolt and one to tighten the nut.

By: randomstriker

randomstriker — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 09:58:44 -0800

most succinct answer ever!

By: spiff101

spiff101 — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 08:16:45 -0800

thanks guys, particularly the awesome artwork..but my bike doesn't have the indicated bolt. The only bolt is where the post meets the frame at the bottom..and the problem is higher up, as in handee's pic. There's a kind of collar with a groove in it above where the post separates, but it doesn't screw down onto what look like screw-threads below where it separates. Or at least, I can't make it. Am i missing some kind of bolt or lever? I guess I'll get it to a shop eventually, it's just they're not open during weekends or lunch hours here.

I also altered handee's pic to show my seatpost - how do I post it?

By: handee

handee — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 08:22:26 -0800

You need to put the pic on a website then include it here with an image tag - easy if you have a website and kow a little html. if you don't, email the image to me and I'll stick it up (my email's in my profile).

By: Lazlo Hollyfeld

Lazlo Hollyfeld — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:51:25 -0800

The collar that goes around the seat tube should have a bolt or a quick-release that spans the gap in the collar. It should have a nut that you use to tighten it down. It will not screw down against the seattube collar, which is not threaded. If you are missing the nut, you can buy a new seatpost bolt (measure the gap or the existing bolt first to get the right size) like this one for example.

Here is a picture of a seat post properly installed. You can see the seatpost bolt sticking out through the nut. It may be that on your bike the bolt goes through a collar that is not integral to the frame (as in the in the picture), but the idea is the same.

By: spiff101

spiff101 — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 03:35:29 -0800

thanks Lazlo but the problem is not where the tube goes into the frame, but where the upper part of the tube goes into the lower.

I have now got a raised area hidden under the screw-down collar to go part-way into the groove...then the collar screws down a little, and it's possible to ride without the saddle moving round all the time; but it's still loose and it comes out very easily. any ideas? (see pic to be kindly posted by handee).

By: handee

handee — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 05:45:58 -0800

Here it is!

I'm going to have to step back here because none of the bike seats I've seen look like that. (I checked four in my house before making this rash statement). What make is the bike?

By: spiff101

spiff101 — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 06:19:19 -0800

specialized...I think it's called an 'endurance' or some such. it's a hybrid. no help that I can see on the specialized website.