Hei Hei alu seatpost shims

[hotbuns]

Anyone reading my other post on how to get one of these out will understand this post! Assuming they were factory-fitted, does anyone know why these were necessary? Was the Ti wall thickness not enough, or were there other reasons behind them?

 

[Jones]

They were factory fitted, why do you want to remove it ? their either very tight interference fit or bonded so I wouldn't even think about removing it :shock:

 

[hotbuns]

I need to remove it as it doesn't hold a 27.0 seatpost tight any more - there's play all over the shop, but it's too tight for a 27.2. I've got a few USE shims that may fit but only if I can ascertain the ti tube inner diameter first - any ideas what that may be? Qaundry!

 

[Tallpaul]

Can you not just ream out the insert to 27.2mm?

 

[john]

Have a similar issue on both litespeeds frames I own - a 97 and 06. Both have the alloy seatpost shims and on both the shims have worn. Assume the shims are intended to be sacrificial in as much as they prevent damage to the ti frame itself (although if replacements aren't available). Seem to also recall the alu shims preventing certain corrosion issues although I don't 100% recall.

Tallpaul's idea of reaming to 27.2 is a very good one. The posts on mine are 27.2 and 31.6. In both cases I ended up shimming with coke cans. Not a 'nice' fix but effective and not visible.

 

[Andy R]

Seem to also recall the alu shims preventing certain corrosion issues although I don't 100% recall.

The main benefit that I can see is that if you were to use a Ti seatpost then having the shim would remove the risk of "picking up" or galling between the two similar metals (which titanium is very prone to).

 

[hotbuns]

Well,

I ended up removing it. Sacrificial or not, this sucker was tricky. Obviously used the 'softly softly catchy monkey' approach so as not to terminally stuff the frame. Used a small one-ended hacksaw and carefully cut a lot of vertical cuts, then peeled back with a soft edged 'blade'. Patience was the key - and coffee! The shim itself had a machined surface to enable grip to the ti tube, not unlike the surface of a Thomson post, and was also affixed with I guess some type of Loctite. Will replace with alu shim then fit a USE post, I think. Thanks for all the tips and advice.

 

[24pouces]

The seat tube of my heihei was cut :cry:
But I could have the frame for a very good price, and I restore it.

In the seat tube, there were shims. First thing, for cleaning the frame, removing the old shims and to change them for new ones.

But impossible to remove them : they are made in titanium, like the frame , and they are welded in it somewhere.

 

[ekiborter]

I had the same problem with my Hei Hei so I set at it with the 27.25 reamer and the shim just spun in the frame as the glue/loctite failed, so I hiked it out and fitted a USE shim and jobs a good'un

 

[hotbuns]

Ah, so many things I could have done! The ream and spin option sounds good, eki. Do you know what the inside diameter of the seat tube is without the shim? It'd make my life a lot easier!! Glad to know someone else has tried the USE shim approach.