Anybody have a “homemade” fix to the cronic stripping issues? (wedge/head bolts)
Or…if Gerard is reading, which I sure hope…when is the “fixed” road post shipping?
For my Soloist.
thanks.
I love my soloist. My only small complaint is this issue. Otherwise for me it is the perfect ride. A fix would be nice.
Bump.
Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE my Soloist as well.
I’m now have had (3) seat head bolts strip and (2) wedge bolts. Not due to over-torque…rather from everyday riding (I’m 170). When the bolts start to creak…I have about 5 more rides left before I’m SOL.
For the seat head, I dremel out the bolt and replace with high-quality bolt/nut. Easy enough. I usually buy a new head, just from the tool box as extra.
As for the wedge bolt, I can’t seem to find a homemade fix. The alum is pretty soft and doesn’t lend well to re-tapping.
Any other ideas?
I have not stripped mine yet but about every 3 weeks it starts to creak so I have to grease the brass shim heavily, replace, and tighted the heck out of the seat post clamp. For me it just gets old having to do this every 3 weeks.
use less torque?
I’m not sure I know what issue this thread refers to, but I got a soloist in June … and it’s a marvel. I love it. But I’m mystified how something as poorly engineered as that seat clamp could end up on a bike that’s so beautifully engineered, otherwise. That clamp is just awful.
Bob C.
Greg, with all due respect…do you have an issue with actually reading my posts or do you just troll around?
It’s not a torque issue, it’s a fatique issue with the tolerence of the cheap hardware Cervelo uses. (Not a knock on Cervelo…as I genuinely would like to find a cure)
i.e - the stripping does not occur when mounting, it occurs from use.
I’m certainly not heavy at 170lbs, but with inflict anywhere from 150 to 1200 watts throughout a typical group ride. Although that 1200 is during the city limit sprints, so I’m not in the saddle…
no, i just troll around. in any case, i appreciate your delay in the use of, ‘fuck off’. your posts can be a bit brief and vague. sorry i am not a genius.
ok, seriously, i have several cervelo posts/bikes as well–the carbon aero posts. so, which bolt strips? the bolt that holds the head to the shaft from the back, or the bolt(s) that clamp the saddle onto the head? and do you keep the head in on your soloist in the ‘traditional’ postiion or the ‘forward’ position? is your post carbon or aluminum?
none of mine have stripped (at least not yet), but i have had to make a modification to some of the bolts (but i don’t think the mod’s have anything to do with this problem, but then again i am not sure). but if you keep your head in the ‘rear’ position on your soloist, it may help you to make the same mod. that i did…
No carbon post…I don’t need one other thing to break! ;o)
Here’s a pix…but should have labelled “screw” as “bolt”. oh well.
Yes, I’m using the “older” seat head. However, this recently happend with the newer style. The other post made reference to brass shim. Where’s that? My wedge bolt is clearly aluminum.
From my understanding, other folks have issues with seat slippage and/or stripping. I’ve stripped that bolt once, but I’ll take the blame for that b/c it occurs from over-tightening. No problems since.
My issue is the wedge and seat head bolt…
What mod did you make? (This is my road bike…no fussing or messing around with different positions…)
Danke!
Its funny that this was just mentioned. I bought my bike used and just stripped the aero wedge that you mentioned yesterday while trying to adjust the seat for a friend who is buying the bike. What sucks is the fact that I live in Guam with no dealer in sight for 4,000 miles! Luckily a LBS owner in Honolulu was willing to pull one off a bike in his shop so that I can race this weekend. My only suggestion is to drill a hole through both sides of the seatpost head, get a longer bolt and a locking nut to try and keep this from happening. It is a pain in thass though!
now i see, you have the old head that everyone (including folks at cervelo) complain about. now i understand. anyway, my mod was to to cut one of the bolts in the head to correct a design oversight on cervelo’s newest adjustable head, but it is nothing you can do, as i have an entirely different seatpost with an entirely different head.
like this one, but with a carbon shaft:
fyi, did you know that cervelo now has another new aluminum seatpost with a ‘fixed’ head in the traditional rear position for the soloist? i believe it is much simpler and also lighter than yours (and mine).
maybe you should get that one, and that could end all of your seatpost stripping problems for good? not sure if it is avail. yet for aftermarket purchase or the cost, but such a thing does exist.
I’ve had both the seat head bolt and the wedge strip. Had a machinist friend make me a new wedge…not using aluminum!..and haven’t had a problem since, this one has lasted over 2 years. No luck with the seat head bolts though.
I have a new head as well…stripped that bolt once since too.
What mod did you make on your post?
I remember hearing Gerard talk about the new post…would sounds awesome, but yet to see it listed on their site or on their ebay store.
Gerard, you around?
What material did he make it from?
My machinist buddy has re-fitted each stripped seat-head bolt with a very nifty bolt/screw combo. However, I haven’t asked him about the wedge. Sounds promising. Heck, he is GOOD. Even machined a derailuer hanger for my old Hed VO3 which worked better than the original!
here is a tiny photo of the new post (but you can expand the photo):
http://www.cervelo.com/bikes/2005%20images/2005-Soloist-Team.jpg
regarding my simple mod: the normal, adjustable head cervelo aero carbon post (for the p3, p2, etc.) is made for bikes with vastly different seat tube angles (the slacker soloist vs. the very steep p3) and is made to hold seats in two completely different positions.
cervelo makes the front bolt (with the “reduced clearance” bolt head) far too long to hold the seat rails for certain saddles (selle italia slr series) when the head is in the rear position on the soloist and p2 series (but not on the steeper p3). the bolt must be inside the head very deep and with those seats it hits the end of the hole in seatpost head. to solve the problem, i carefully cut down the bolt about 3-4 mm. it works fine now.