TIL the hard way why you never grease a seatpost clamp bolt

Had a customer's post slip mid-ride last spring in Denver, stripped the bolt trying to fix it on the trail because I'd greased the threads like a dummy. Grease on the bolt changes the torque reading, so it feels tight but isn't, especially with alloy frames. Anyone else use a torque wrench with a dry bolt versus trusting feel?

2 comments

2 Comments

keith9001mo ago

Did you torque it wet like the manual says, or did you just wing it like most of us?

robin5911mo ago

Tbh, saying I "wing it" is generous, I basically just tightened it until my arm said stop and hoped for the best. The manual's wet torque spec sounds great until you realize you've lost the damn gauge somewhere in the garage. Honestly, last time I checked a bolt was still on there, so I call that a win.