Carbon Fiber Seat Posts - Cannondale Bicycle Owner's Manual

PaRt ii
aPPendiX C
Care and maintenance of

Carbon fiber seat Posts

inserting the seat Post
Check the seat tube (1) opening , and slot (2) carefully
for sharp edges or burrs. Anything that can scratch,
score, gouge, or cut the seat post can cause serious
damage leading to structural failure of seat post.
Sharp edges or burrs can be removed by hand by
lightly sanding with a very fine sandpaper (400 grit).
The should feel very smooth without jagged edges
or nicks.
Figure 32.
1. Make sure the seat post, seat binder, and seat
tube are clean.
2. Apply small amount of a carbon seat post gel
(Cannondale part number KF115/) to seat post
surface.
3 Position the seat binder on the seat tube with
the binder slot (A) opposite the seat tube slot
(b). Locating the binder slot opposite the seat
tube slot reduces the chances of cracking from
deformation or accidental overtightening.
4. Insert the seat post and tighten the seat binder
to the specified torque with an accurate torque
wrench. Consult the seat post manufacturer's
instructions for torque information.
5. Check tightening torques of the saddle to seat
post clamp bolts. Too much torque may fail the
bolts. Too little torque will result in movement
which leads to fatigue and bolt failure.
Figure 33.
Periodic seat Post inspection
Frequent seat post checks are necessary to identify
the problems that can lead to an accident. Regularly
or in conjunction with your regular bike maintenance
routine, do the following:
1. Remove the seat binder from the frame seat
post. Clean the binder, the seat post, and inside
the seat tube. Use a clean dry towel. Do not use
solvents.
2 Carefully inspect the seat post for damage (e.g.,
cracks, scratches, scrapes, gouges, splintering).
If the seat post is damaged in any way, (cracks,
scratches, scrapes, gouges, splintering), do not
ride it; discard it. Replace it with a new one.
3. Always properly torque saddle to seat post clamp
bolts. Too much torque may fail the bolts. Too
little torque will result in movement which leads
to fatigue and bolt failure.
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