Anyone upgraded/swapped out their seat post clamp?

[Kell]

My bike’s been squeaking and creaking like mad lately and it’s been hard to trace.

Stripped down the suspension block, checked BB, cranks and pedals, added oil into the tube holding the swing arm, and removed the seat post then cleaned inside the tube.

Finally, on Sunday I gave the nut holding the seat post clamp on and extra bit of tightening and Monday morning’s commute was blissfully quiet.

However. After folding down and then unfolding, the creak’s reappeared.

I think it’s because the lever has started to slip on the nut so it never gets really clamped in place.

Obviously, I could just buy another, but like most people, love the chance of an upgrade. So I wondered if anyone’s got any personal recommendations for a third-party clamp.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bikegang]

The H&H ones has multiple colours to choose ... Very smooth clamp action because the special treated contact surface.
No tool required to adjust tightness.

 

[12boy]

I found your post interesting because of the detective work needed to determine the origin of frame noise on a Brompton. I once replaced a BB because the pedal was squeaking, or more accurately the SPD and the shoe. When a kid we made telephones with string and two tin cans, and I've come to think the seat post transmits noise the same way. Is it the seat post sleeve, the rubber suspension block, the BB, the rear triangle hinge, or the pedals? Good job figuring that out while riding in traffic.

 

[Kell]

@bikegang - I did see yours (and know from buying stuff from you in the past that they'll be good quality), but they're very expensive.

 

[Tenkaykev]

@bikegang - I did see yours (and know from buying stuff from you in the past that they'll be good quality), but they're very expensive.

Perhaps we should volunteer to be Beta testers in return for a substantial discount 😉

 

[Kell]

I found your post interesting because of the detective work needed to determine the origin of frame noise on a Brompton. I once replaced a BB because the pedal was squeaking, or more accurately the SPD and the shoe. When a kid we made telephones with string and two tin cans, and I've come to think the seat post transmits noise the same way. Is it the seat post sleeve, the rubber suspension block, the BB, the rear triangle hinge, or the pedals? Good job figuring that out while riding in traffic.

I think part of the reason I missed the crack in my crank was because I thought it was the pedals creaking, and not the crank... When I cleaned the pedals and re-greased them, the noise would go away for a bit. As it turns out, that must have been coincidence.

I got new pedals anyway after my crank snapped, as I don't have a vice at home and could not remove the pedal from the snapped crank as there was no purchase.

And this time around, there was more creaking when I was sat down, but it didn't go away completely when I was stood up, so while I thought it could be something to do with the seatpost/clamp/saddle/saddle rails, it seemed unlikely.

I've ordered another Brompton part now, but now I know what the problem is, I've managed to set it up so that it no longer creaks. But I think that's more by luck than judgement.

 

[Kell]

Somehow, I've managed to order two new seat post clamps.

Anyone need one at a reduced price?

 

[Tenkaykev]

Somehow, I've managed to order two new seat post clamps.

Anyone need one at a reduced price?

What colour is it Kell?
EDIT - Ah, I see you went for the Brompton clamp - not one of the Exotic ones :-)

 

[Kell]

Yeah - standard clamp.

At least I managed to get hold of just the clamp, most places have stopped doing just the clamp and only do the whole assembly including the release lever.

 

[sdawila]

i had the same problem, then I had it replaced with the same seat clamp which didn't last long where I eventually ordered these and solved my problem. you will need the black handle from the old one since it does not come with the package.

the only downside from the free shipping is the wait takes forever but hey patience is a virtue.........

 

[fivelittlefish]

I just replaced my seatpost clamp with one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clip-Out...rompton-Durable/133271333025?var=432646007046
Seems pretty good so far.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Ooh, that looks interesting...
Did you go for the black? ( I looked at the red but don't think it matches the red used by Brompton)

Any idea of weigh saving over the standard Brompton clamp?

 

[fivelittlefish]

Yes, black. No idea on weight, but if you look for similar ones on e-bay sometimes they include a scale shot. It certainly feels much lighter in the hand.