Seat Tube machining

[capner2112]

A bike I'm working on has a seat tube that is extremely tight for a post. I used a vice and ruined the previous post that was inside it.

I plan on using a hone to smooth out the ID of the tube and slightly enlarge it. It'll be a challenge putting a bike frame to this machine. Does anyone have any alternatives to reworking the ID of a seat tube that are maybe hand fixes?

[ghost]

Are you sure you have the correct seat post diameter? I have been a bike mechanic for a long time and have only used a reamer for corrosion build up. Go to a bike shop and get the post and seat tube matched.

[capner2112]

(09-12-2011, 11:44 AM)ghost Wrote:  Are you sure you have the correct seat post diameter? I have been a bike mechanic for a long time and have only used a reamer for corrosion build up. Go to a bike shop and get the post and seat tube matched.

The post and tube match. I will look into a reamer. I work in a machine shop where we do not use reamers too much and a hone provides a smoother finish. Downside is it is a fixed spindle machine.

[trevgbb]

it will be much easier to reduce the size of the seat tube!!! especially if it is alloy, you can do it just by rubbing down by hand with sandpaper.
but I ditto Ghost.

[Painkiller]

depending on the size of the seat tube one can match a seat tube shim and a smaller seatpost to suit your needs. many bikes come stock with seat tube spacers and they come in a variety of sizes.

[KC-Steve]

I like "ghost's" suggestion as well. Machining, sanding, or altering a seat tube in any way can be dangerous. It would tend to weaken the seat tube possibly resulting in bodily injury.

Steve

[capner2112]

Thanks for all the replies. After all the messing around I found a post to match the tube.