How to Clean a Bicycle Seat Post Tube

Bike seat post tubes are exposed to water and sweat, which leads to rust. Rust that is allowed to remain on the post can corrode the metal, which makes it extremely difficult for you to remove the post tube. Clean your bike seat post tube once a month to prevent rust buildup.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Electrical tape
Cola
Bike lubricant
Cloth rag
Toothbrush

Step 1

Wrap a piece of electrical tape around the post tube to mark the height setting of your seat. By doing this, you can easily reposition your seat at the correct height when you reinstall the seat post tube.

Step 2

Loosen the seat post binder bolt or quick release bolt, whichever is installed on your bicycle.

Step 3

Pull the seat post out of the bike. If the bike seat post is stuck in place because of rust, pour cola on the tube to eat away the corrosion. If the cola does not work, try squirting bike lubricant on the post and letting it sit overnight. Take your bike to a professional repair shop if neither the cola nor lubricant loosens the tube.

Step 4

Wipe the entire surface of the post with a cloth rag. If the rag does not remove the rust, pour more cola on the tube and scrub the tube with a toothbrush to loosen the rust.

Step 5

Rinse off the cola, if you used it, with plain water. Dry the seat post tube with a cloth rag.

Step 6

Lubricate the part of the seat post that sits inside the bike once a year or if rust is present on the tube, unless the seat post is made of carbon. Carbon seat post tubes typically do not require lubrication.

Step 7

Reinstall the seat post tube, using the electrical tape as a guide to adjust the seat height. Tighten the seat post binder bolt or quick release bolt. Wiggle the seat to make sure it is installed correctly. If the seat wiggles or tilts back and forth, retighten the bolt.

Step 8

Wipe the seat post with a cloth rag to remove any bike lubricant that is exposed, if applicable.

Article Written By Rose Kivi

Rose Kivi has been a writer for more than 10 years. She has a background in the nursing field, wildlife rehabilitation and habitat conservation. Kivi has authored educational textbooks, patient health care pamphlets, animal husbandry guides, outdoor survival manuals and was a contributing writer for two books in the Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Series.

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