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French Seatpost Slippage

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French Seatpost Slippage

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Old 04-25-20, 03:59 PM
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Revracer
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French Seatpost Slippage

I am currently using a 25.8 seatpost that was squeaking. I applied grease went for a 60 mile ride and found it slipped down almost 2cm. To be fair, the seatpost clamp when tight has no gap. I never had slippage when I had it in dry. I have read about the inconsistency of vintage French bikes regarding seatposts, but curious if any of you have personally fixed this by:

Find a 26.0 seatpost?
How much bigger of a seatpost is likely to fit?
Get a bigger seatpost and lightly sand until it is just right?
Carbon paste?
Anti-seize?
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Old 04-25-20, 04:04 PM
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Is this for your '81 PKN 10? That seatpost size doesn't seem right for that bike.
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Old 04-25-20, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Revracer
I am currently using a 25.8 seatpost that was squeaking. I applied grease went for a 60 mile ride and found it slipped down almost 2cm. To be fair, the seatpost clamp when tight has no gap. I never had slippage when I had it in dry. I have read about the inconsistency of vintage French bikes regarding seatposts, but curious if any of you have personally fixed this by:

Find a 26.0 seatpost?
How much bigger of a seatpost is likely to fit?
Get a bigger seatpost and lightly sand until it is just right?
Carbon paste?
Anti-seize?
What model/year frame?

Google is your friend.
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Old 04-25-20, 04:06 PM
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It is actually for the St. Etienne that I suspect is a straight gauge French 531. I am curious if there is a preferred gap in the seatpost pinch.
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Old 04-25-20, 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Revracer
It is actually for the St. Etienne that I suspect is a straight gauge French 531. I am curious if there is a preferred gap in the seatpost pinch.
For an ideally sized post, the gap at the top of the cinch slot should only be ~0.6mm narrower than the width of the cinch slot at the bottom.
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Old 04-25-20, 05:27 PM
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Revracer -

The 25.8 mm seatposts were what came on PG Carbolite hi-tensile frames on Peugeots like the PB 12 Course. Usually PG 531 was about 26.8 ish. The seatpost definitely seems under sized.
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Old 04-25-20, 06:19 PM
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SurferRosa
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Originally Posted by Revracer
the seatpost clamp when tight has no gap... Find a 26.0 seatpost? ... Get a bigger seatpost and lightly sand until it is just right?
Post a pic of the collar/lug. Can you file a quick solution? Sanding down a larger seatpost is a lot easier when the bike is a keeper. You know exactly how much of the post to file for your riding position. Pretty easy.
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Old 04-25-20, 08:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Revracer
Get a bigger seatpost and lightly sand until it is just right?
...this is what I do, mostly. Make sure you expand the top where the slot has been squeezed down before you fit the new post.
I try for a fit where there's some resistance when I slide the post in and down into the un-slotted portion of the seat tube.

Also, file off any burrs on the interior at the top, because those can confuse you on fit.
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