The "99% Win Rate Tool" extracts seized seatposts with almost 100% reliability, but from now on I'm going to have the win-loss record reflected in the name.
When it wins (seatpost comes out), the win rate goes up by 0.1%, and when it loses, it goes down by 1%.
It fluctuates by simple addition and subtraction, not actual probability.
I've already thought about what happens when we reach 99.9%, but
I'll talk about that when the time comes. (If that time ever comes.)
A customer brought in a Deda Nerisissimo for repair.
Actually, this is right before the Tour de Okinawa, and
the customer only noticed the seized seatpost
I'm not sure if that's related to packing it for travel.
I installed the 99% Win Rate Tool.
Whether the seized seatpost comes out depends first on
"whether it rotates," and second on "whether it moves even 1mm."
If it moves 1mm, continuing that should allow it to come out 1cm, 10cm, or however far.
And the more it comes out, the lower the pressure between the seatpost and frame becomes,
so the force needed to extract it decreases.
With the bamboo frame that's no longer the "100% Win Rate Tool,"
there were five of us total — the customer plus people who were there —
and we rotated both ends of the rod in the image above, two people on each end,
with one person holding down the frame so it wouldn't lift.
We got it to rotate, but it wouldn't budge even 1mm.
Scared the frame would break,
we straightened the saddle, tightened the seatclamp again, and called it a day.
This time, with a sharp "crack!" the seatpost started rotating.
The customer was surprised, saying "Oh! It moved!"
and when we kept at it, it pulled out about 1mm, so victory was basically guaranteed.
In the image above, it's already come out about 1cm.
Nearly out.
The frame is slightly warm from the friction.
Oh, and let's not put gross stickers on the frame, okay?
Some kind of powder is coming out though...
Got it!
From today on, your name is "99.1% Win Rate Tool"!
↑This isn't a crack, but more like a rust scab.
I removed it with wet sanding, but
a seatpost that's reached this state is a seized candidate in waiting, so
it's really better not to use it anymore.
About the clamping part of the current 99.1% Win Rate Tool.
I'm using a DMR SECT-grade stem (clamping component).
SECT has frames, grips, seatclamps, and more, but
when I checked the distributor's site just now, the stem had been discontinued.
The handlebar-side clamp diameter is 31.8mm, but
when clamping 31.6mm seatposts or smaller diameters with shims,
two conditions are particularly important to prevent slipping and rotating:
Four M6 bolts
and a short stem length.
The M6 bolts are designed so the lower one tightens from the front and the upper from the back, but
there's one more crucial thing:
the hex socket needs to be 6mm allen-key compatible.
This is the FSA stem that was the clamping part before.
It had four M5 bolts, but the hex socket was 4mm, so
when I tightened it hard to get a good grip on the seatpost,
I rounded out the hex socket.
Back when there was a seatpost on a Bruno folding bike that just wouldn't come out,
I switched from the FSA stem to DMR.
I was using shims to accommodate the 27.2mm diameter, but
even that was slipping, so I figured out the cause and fixed it,
and the Bruno job ultimately came out a win.
This stem is designed so the upper part clamps tight first,
then the lower part tightens to secure the handlebar,
and even with a 31.8mm-diameter handlebar, the upper clamp doesn't crack.
A 31.6mm-diameter seatpost even less so.
So, to get clamping splits on both top and bottom even when mounting on 31.6mm diameter,
I shaved down the stem body itself.
Since then, the stem has never slipped on the seatpost.
When it wins (seatpost comes out), the win rate goes up by 0.1%, and when it loses, it goes down by 1%.
It fluctuates by simple addition and subtraction, not actual probability.
I've already thought about what happens when we reach 99.9%, but
I'll talk about that when the time comes. (If that time ever comes.)
A customer brought in a Deda Nerisissimo for repair.
Actually, this is right before the Tour de Okinawa, and
the customer only noticed the seized seatpost
I'm not sure if that's related to packing it for travel.
I installed the 99% Win Rate Tool.
Whether the seized seatpost comes out depends first on
"whether it rotates," and second on "whether it moves even 1mm."
If it moves 1mm, continuing that should allow it to come out 1cm, 10cm, or however far.
And the more it comes out, the lower the pressure between the seatpost and frame becomes,
so the force needed to extract it decreases.
With the bamboo frame that's no longer the "100% Win Rate Tool,"
there were five of us total — the customer plus people who were there —
and we rotated both ends of the rod in the image above, two people on each end,
with one person holding down the frame so it wouldn't lift.
We got it to rotate, but it wouldn't budge even 1mm.
Scared the frame would break,
we straightened the saddle, tightened the seatclamp again, and called it a day.
This time, with a sharp "crack!" the seatpost started rotating.
The customer was surprised, saying "Oh! It moved!"
and when we kept at it, it pulled out about 1mm, so victory was basically guaranteed.
In the image above, it's already come out about 1cm.
Nearly out.
The frame is slightly warm from the friction.
Oh, and let's not put gross stickers on the frame, okay?
Some kind of powder is coming out though...
Got it!
From today on, your name is "99.1% Win Rate Tool"!
↑This isn't a crack, but more like a rust scab.
I removed it with wet sanding, but
a seatpost that's reached this state is a seized candidate in waiting, so
it's really better not to use it anymore.
About the clamping part of the current 99.1% Win Rate Tool.
I'm using a DMR SECT-grade stem (clamping component).
SECT has frames, grips, seatclamps, and more, but
when I checked the distributor's site just now, the stem had been discontinued.
The handlebar-side clamp diameter is 31.8mm, but
when clamping 31.6mm seatposts or smaller diameters with shims,
two conditions are particularly important to prevent slipping and rotating:
Four M6 bolts
and a short stem length.
The M6 bolts are designed so the lower one tightens from the front and the upper from the back, but
there's one more crucial thing:
the hex socket needs to be 6mm allen-key compatible.
This is the FSA stem that was the clamping part before.
It had four M5 bolts, but the hex socket was 4mm, so
when I tightened it hard to get a good grip on the seatpost,
I rounded out the hex socket.
Back when there was a seatpost on a Bruno folding bike that just wouldn't come out,
I switched from the FSA stem to DMR.
I was using shims to accommodate the 27.2mm diameter, but
even that was slipping, so I figured out the cause and fixed it,
and the Bruno job ultimately came out a win.
This stem is designed so the upper part clamps tight first,
then the lower part tightens to secure the handlebar,
and even with a 31.8mm-diameter handlebar, the upper clamp doesn't crack.
A 31.6mm-diameter seatpost even less so.
So, to get clamping splits on both top and bottom even when mounting on 31.6mm diameter,
I shaved down the stem body itself.
Since then, the stem has never slipped on the seatpost.