Kars 

Has anyone ever seen this type of seatpost binder bolt? Can a different more standard one be used here ? There is no slit in the seat tube that can be clamped down on.Thanks in advance

Yan 

Don't use that with a carbon post. Obviously.

Crankycrank

Not unusual, notched side goes against the seat tube.

Kars 

does it clamp as well as a standard one? Sorry for my ignorance. All my bikes except this one have a bolt that squeezes down on the seat tube.

Crankycrank

I have only spoken to about two riders that have this setup and they said there were no problems. Make sure the seatpost is the correct size and, as mentioned, no CF posts.

Andrew R Stewart 

There are usually more than one reason why a design isn't used commonly. In this case the lesser ability to hold the post in place, compared to the usual slotted clamp design, is likely a big reason. Just look at the surface contact area of this design and look at a common slotted clamp and think about the huge difference. Less contact surface area means greater pressure will be needed for the same ability to hold the post.

This pinching internal binder has been done quite a few times over the bike industry's history. A well known version is the Fregus from the 1960s and 1970s. Try to find a replacement binder bolt set these days, oh and you better know which subtly different version your bike needs. Andy

alcjphil

Looks like a Look to me. I have a Look 481sl that uses a binder bolt like that. The bike comes with a carbon seat post

Andrew R Stewart 

I hope the carbon post has been designed with the pinching binder in mind. Carbon isn't best used when localized compressive forces are at play. Andy

Kars 

I definately agree with you on that. I dont like this method and wish this bike just used a more common method but that being said I cannot change it and will only hope it continues to clamp properly. Also, a 27.2 mm post only went into the frame partially and had to push kind of hard. I tried a 27 mm and that went in nice and easy and so likely that is the correct size.

Kars 

it's not a Look but that is interesting to know that Look did this also. Mine is a Carrera.

Kars 

In the few searches I did I could not find a replacement and so I guess I better not lose this bolt.

Andrew R Stewart 

This binder doesn't look too hard to make. A motivated person with basic metal working skills and tools (Tap, drill, file, hack saw) could do it. A machine shop would likely do it nicer and want more than a few dollars. If you're near Rochester, NY drop me a PM. Andy

Kars 

Thanks very much for the help. Not near Rochester but if I lose it I may call upon you for guidance. I wonder if the factory hand made this bolt because it looks kind of rough or maybe the previous owner made it.

Andrew R Stewart 

Please do who ever has to duplicate this binder and record the dimensions and take better photos for reference. Otherwise a fairly simple fab job turns into a bigger design and hope it works one. That bigger job will be best done with the frame in the hands of the fabber. Andy

alcjphil

The seat post that came with the frame is a Look product. I have owned 3 Look frames that used the same seat post and binder bolt arrangement. I assume that Look knows what they are doing

Kars 

Do you have a picture of that bolt ? Does it look (no pun intended)like the one I have or is completely different?I am not planning on using a carbon seatpost but am still curious.