Seatpost. Grease or not to grease?

[steve mercier]

I was told by a bike mechanic that the grease is to keep rain and other water out of the down tube so as to prevent rust in the bottom bracket area.

 

[Sierratim]

I was told by a bike mechanic that the grease is to keep rain and other water out of the down tube so as to prevent rust in the bottom bracket area.

Our local LBS applies Park Tool's assembly paste to all friction fit parts on the new bikes they assemble; seat posts & rails, handle bar stem clamps, etc.

SAC-2 SuperGrip™ Carbon and Alloy Assembly Compound

Create a tighter grip between two slippery surfaces. Ideal for carbon fiber, aluminum and steel seatposts, handlebars and stems.

www.parktool.com

They use an anti-seize compound or 'blue' thread lock on other threaded parts as appropriate.

I use anti-seize in place off the Park Tool assembly paste for a bit of simplicity in my shop.

I've never experienced an issue, though when volunteering at the local Bicycle Kitchen I did encounter a number of bikes with 'frozen' seat posts that due to a lack of a coating on the post had rusted or oxidized to their bike frames. Some could be salvaged. Others had to be scrapped. I vote for avoiding this issue with a bit of precaution on the seat post, stem clamp, etc. I'm not a big fan of riding in the rain, but when I do I don't worry about corrosion, etc, on key bike parts.

 

[Sierratim]

I’ve just bought a Suntour suspension seat post
If anyone has one of these seatposts, any tips would also be welcome - I’ve never had a suspension post before!

My wife and I both use these seat posts. They're both performing well.

Matching the spring to the rider weight is important. I did install the lighter spring for my wife. After that you can dial in the best ride ride for you with the adjustment on the bottom of the seatpost.

We both use the neoprene dust covers to protect the mechanism. Works well.

 

[dougpnirv]

I’ve just bought a Suntour suspension seat post and when I removed my ‘old’ seatpost from my 6 week old bike, it had a fair bit of grease on it. Do I need to apply grease to the new seatpost?
The bike / post is not Carbon, before anyone asks!
Any advice would be appreciated!
If anyone has one of these seatposts, any tips would also be welcome - I’ve never had a suspension post before!

I'm in the anti-seize camp. Grease is great as long as you remove the seatpost from time to time & re-apply. Anti-seize sticks around forever & doesn't change. My rule of thumb on assembling anything is use anti-seize if it needs come apart someday (seatposts, pedals, etc.) and blue Permatex on threads that you don't want to come loose (rack bolts, stem bolts, etc.)