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Pro tip: I just read that a seized seatpost can generate over 1000 ft-lbs of torque, which is why they're so brutal to remove.
Found that stat in an old technical bulletin from Park Tool, and it explains why the 'freeze and quench' method with dry ice sometimes works when nothing else does.
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daniel5523mo ago
Over 1000 ft-lbs" is a crazy number. I always thought it was just rust holding it tight. That stat totally explains why normal methods fail.
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skyler_mitchell28d ago
Man, that stat really puts it in perspective. I've seen guys snap cheater bars off trying to break those bolts loose. It's like fighting a steel weld you can't see.
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jesse_cooper3mo ago
Yeah, the rust gets all the blame... but that factory thread locker they use is basically industrial glue. It's designed to never come loose on its own, so even without rust, you're fighting that cured adhesive bond. Heat helps more than just breaking rust, it actually softens that locker compound.
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