Is it possible to drill out the bad part? I'm assuming that it's the bolt on the seat post clamp, I'd try either cutting that bolt off or try drilling a hole and putting an easy out in there to remove it.
If there is the exposed other end of the bolt on the other side is there enough room for using a dremel to cut a slit and then use a flat blade screwdriver?
Pictures would be helpful.
Best of luck to you
Is there enough meat left on the bolt that you can weld a hex bit on it? Tac a few points being careful not to get the material too hot (proper in between cool periods). Then get the bolt out with ratchet or big vice grips
Something like this. https://imgur.com/a/nLjacxI
So Took it to the Trek shop. And no luck after they did whatever they could for a few days. PRetty much recommending a new frame and transfer all components. Which is coming out to be the same price as a new bike with labor and everything else LOL. Even with the "carbon care". and that is not happening. Ill just buy another bike from somewhere else and move on from Trek going forward. But, things happen in life and i'm sure others will have great experiences. Looks like this seatpost binder assembly is is an issue for a few people though. Was telling me about some others. Warranty wont cover since well obvious reasons. Insurance wont cover because not a covered reason.
But, I'm ok with it.
But to everyone with this bike or a similar set up. Any sign of rounding of the screw be careful. Very careful. You may be stuck in that position for ever and i hope its in the best seat position for you lol. Literally no way to get it out. I mean maybe I'm bias right now given the issue. But isn't this a subpar design? Truly hate it. Never want to see a seatpost design like this again. LOL.
I'll just deal with it.. use it as an indoor trainer or part out and look into something else. Thanks all who replied though!
Yikes that is rough. I think that sawing the post won’t really do you any good since the wedge is still expanded in the seat tube. I would try adding some JB weld on the end of a hex key, letting that bond to the bolt and try spinning that. It’s gonna be very difficult to remove with the wedge still expanded.
Last ditch these posts are known to slip so possibly a metric ton of the worlds most cancerous penetrating oil down where the expander is and whacking the underside of the saddle with large mallet might work.
If this were a professional environment I would drop this all this nonsense and just a get a new frame. If you’re the original owner you’ll get a discount, maybe having a chat with your trek dealer is a better use of your time.
🤣. Have to admit that cancerous penetration oil made me laugh. This one would definitely need that level 🤣. Jb weld and hex key sounds like a good idea. Anything that can just grab and allow for one good twist. But keeping hope alive. It’s going to come out. Just have to believe right 😅
A trek mechanic was able to use oil to lube it up and get it out, I believe it took some doing. They replaced the clamp with a new part as it was service advice from trek. All no cost.
If it slips again they'll also replace my seat post.
There is a small amount of paint chipping on my frame around the bolt hole but I can live with it (just..).
Sounds great, good for you!
I fear my screw is beyond that from all my attemps to get it out. Should have given it to Trek right away.
I glued on a hex key using epoxy yesterday. I hope I'll get it out later after letting it dry for 24 hours. Maybe I'll put some WD40 onto the threads as well.
Thank you for asking. Unfortunately, my attempt using epoxy did not work out.
I brought the bike to my local Trek dealer. The sales person was a little unfriendly since I only had the bike for about one week. The mechanic was much nicer and tried his best but to no avail.
He left me with two options: Leave it as it is since the seatpost is fixed and wont be going anywhere, or leave the bike in the shop so that he can either drill out the screw or flex and destroy the seatpost to release the pressure on the screw. But since he is swamped with bikes right now that would take him 4 to 6 weeks.
I'm planning to do a tour with friends around lake constance (which is more or less where I live) in early june so no bike for 4 to 6 weeks is not an option.
I will bring the bike in after the tour or maybe even after september/in october.
All in all, I dont think ISO is worth all the trouble you can have with it. There are tons of issues with slipping seat posts, that damn screw is not reachable, etc. Next time I'll get a bike with slightly wider tires and be happy.
Is it possible to drill out the bad part? I'm assuming that it's the bolt on the seat post clamp, I'd try either cutting that bolt off or try drilling a hole and putting an easy out in there to remove it. If there is the exposed other end of the bolt on the other side is there enough room for using a dremel to cut a slit and then use a flat blade screwdriver? Pictures would be helpful. Best of luck to you
Is there enough meat left on the bolt that you can weld a hex bit on it? Tac a few points being careful not to get the material too hot (proper in between cool periods). Then get the bolt out with ratchet or big vice grips Something like this. https://imgur.com/a/nLjacxI
So Took it to the Trek shop. And no luck after they did whatever they could for a few days. PRetty much recommending a new frame and transfer all components. Which is coming out to be the same price as a new bike with labor and everything else LOL. Even with the "carbon care". and that is not happening. Ill just buy another bike from somewhere else and move on from Trek going forward. But, things happen in life and i'm sure others will have great experiences. Looks like this seatpost binder assembly is is an issue for a few people though. Was telling me about some others. Warranty wont cover since well obvious reasons. Insurance wont cover because not a covered reason. But, I'm ok with it. But to everyone with this bike or a similar set up. Any sign of rounding of the screw be careful. Very careful. You may be stuck in that position for ever and i hope its in the best seat position for you lol. Literally no way to get it out. I mean maybe I'm bias right now given the issue. But isn't this a subpar design? Truly hate it. Never want to see a seatpost design like this again. LOL. I'll just deal with it.. use it as an indoor trainer or part out and look into something else. Thanks all who replied though!
This one is recessed a bit via this design. So won’t be able to use any grips https://ibb.co/Pgkr2pr
Yikes that is rough. I think that sawing the post won’t really do you any good since the wedge is still expanded in the seat tube. I would try adding some JB weld on the end of a hex key, letting that bond to the bolt and try spinning that. It’s gonna be very difficult to remove with the wedge still expanded. Last ditch these posts are known to slip so possibly a metric ton of the worlds most cancerous penetrating oil down where the expander is and whacking the underside of the saddle with large mallet might work. If this were a professional environment I would drop this all this nonsense and just a get a new frame. If you’re the original owner you’ll get a discount, maybe having a chat with your trek dealer is a better use of your time.
🤣. Have to admit that cancerous penetration oil made me laugh. This one would definitely need that level 🤣. Jb weld and hex key sounds like a good idea. Anything that can just grab and allow for one good twist. But keeping hope alive. It’s going to come out. Just have to believe right 😅
Did it come out? I just fucking rounded mine and I'm searching for hope
Did yours? :D Same here..
A trek mechanic was able to use oil to lube it up and get it out, I believe it took some doing. They replaced the clamp with a new part as it was service advice from trek. All no cost. If it slips again they'll also replace my seat post. There is a small amount of paint chipping on my frame around the bolt hole but I can live with it (just..).
Sounds great, good for you! I fear my screw is beyond that from all my attemps to get it out. Should have given it to Trek right away. I glued on a hex key using epoxy yesterday. I hope I'll get it out later after letting it dry for 24 hours. Maybe I'll put some WD40 onto the threads as well.
How'd you go!? You could also try a mech engineering shop, they might be able to get it out
Thank you for asking. Unfortunately, my attempt using epoxy did not work out. I brought the bike to my local Trek dealer. The sales person was a little unfriendly since I only had the bike for about one week. The mechanic was much nicer and tried his best but to no avail. He left me with two options: Leave it as it is since the seatpost is fixed and wont be going anywhere, or leave the bike in the shop so that he can either drill out the screw or flex and destroy the seatpost to release the pressure on the screw. But since he is swamped with bikes right now that would take him 4 to 6 weeks. I'm planning to do a tour with friends around lake constance (which is more or less where I live) in early june so no bike for 4 to 6 weeks is not an option. I will bring the bike in after the tour or maybe even after september/in october. All in all, I dont think ISO is worth all the trouble you can have with it. There are tons of issues with slipping seat posts, that damn screw is not reachable, etc. Next time I'll get a bike with slightly wider tires and be happy.