Using rugged trails whereas easily shifting between hills has by no means been extra comfy, all because of dropper seat posts. They’re a game-changing revolution that has made biking way more adaptable. Nonetheless, this has additionally led to the start of sure points which might be irritating. Reminiscent of a sinking dropper submit or one that may simply not transfer.
Though it’s an upsetting scenario however shouldn’t be one with out a resolution. Possibly you simply must Tighten The Clamp or verify your Air Strain.
Frequent Dropper Publish Issues and Options
Nonetheless, let’s discover out what downside you will have and what you are able to do to repair it. I’ve additionally included some DIY hacks that I observe myself which actually are game-changers.
Dropper Publish Retains Sinking Down
The most typical sort of dropper submit downside that each one of us biking fans face is that our dropper submit retains sinking down. The primary indicator of this downside is that when you find yourself driving, your saddle steadily retains sinking beneath your weight. When this occurs, it impacts your driving in addition to your bike dealing with capabilities.
Often, there are three components which are the perpetrator behind this downside:
1. Air Leakage
There are submit’s inner seals by which you’ll face an air leakage. That is principally as a result of both you might be improperly dealing with your bike or you might be bike lifting when your seat submit is down.
2. Cable Pressure
Too excessive or too low cable rigidity also can forestall the lever of your dropper submit from totally disengaging after it’s pushed.
3. Air Strain
Dropper posts even have a required air stress. Having low air stress can be the explanation on your submit to sink beneath your weight.
Resolution
In case you are going through an air leakage, you must hunt down skilled assist in order that they’ll bleed the air out and restore the performance of the dropper submit. If this isn’t your downside, you may need to repair the cable rigidity. Modify the cable rigidity. It ought to neither be too excessive nor too low.
It will enable the dropper submit lever to interact and disengage. If in case you have an air stress downside, pump within the air in intervals utilizing a shock pump till you attain the advisable air stress stage (250-300 psi). I might recommend investing in a self-adjusting hydraulic cartridge. These self-adjusting hydraulic cartridges robotically modify the air stress.
Hack: In case you are going through the air stress subject rather a lot, you’ll be able to carry a small shock pump with you when you experience. This manner you can also make the required changes on the go.
A Caught Dropper Publish
A caught dropper submit can actually make you’re feeling trapped. It refuses to go down or slide up and simply doesn’t budge. This may make you’re feeling trapped in your driving place since you received’t have the ability to adapt as your path adjustments. I wish to name it a experience ruiner!
You’ll be able to face a experience ruiner as a result of:
1. Cable Slack
You may have an extreme cable slack which doesn’t enable the cable to maneuver the submit effectively.
2. Tight Seatpost Clamp
Your seatpost clamp is overly tight. This compresses the submit and hinders the post-movement.
3. A Broken Cable
A broken cable additionally impacts the power of the dropper submit to maneuver easily.
Resolution
Trim all the surplus cable however from the lever aspect. It will ensure that there is no such thing as a extra cable to hinder the motion of the dropper submit. Loosen your seat submit clamp. There will probably be a producer’s advice for torque. Observe these suggestions to keep away from any compressing of the submit. Study your cable to see whether it is broken or if there’s any put on and tear. If sure, change the cable as quickly as attainable.
I’ve a dropper submit with a specialised anti-stiction coating. This coating permits the submit to maneuver with out getting caught so there’s much less danger of going through a caught dropper submit.
Hack: You too can use a zipper tie and make it right into a makeshift cable tensioner. This manner you’ll be able to cut back slack and ensure that the cable has the required rigidity.
Dropper Publish Not Going All The Method Up
A dropper submit not going all the way in which up or failing to succeed in its totally prolonged place can actually restrict your likelihood of having fun with the advantages of a dropper submit. Consequently, your saddle is not going to attain your required top which impacts your skill to pedal and maneuver your bike effectively.
That is primarily brought about due to:
1. A Broken Cable
A broken cable prevents the submit from being totally prolonged.
2. A Tight Seatpost Clamp
Too tight a seatpost clamp is not going to enable your seatpost to be totally prolonged. So that you won’t be able to succeed in your required saddle top when you’ve got an excessively tight clamp.
Resolution
As I discussed earlier, you’ll have some producer’s advisable torque specs. Modify the seatpost clamp in line with these specs. Additionally, change your cable whether it is kinked or broken. I’ve put in a torque indicator on my seatpost clamp. This permits me to tighten my clamp in line with the right specification with out overly tightening it.
Hack: Take a small quantity of warmth shrink tubing and apply it to the broken cable. It’s going to quickly repair your downside and permit you to totally prolong your submit till you’ll be able to change your cable.
A Wiggling Dropper Publish
Whereas it’s regular for a dropper submit to have considerably lateral play, it isn’t regular for it to excessively wiggle. A wiggling dropper submit could make your rides unstable. Your saddle would possibly shift rather a lot and that impacts the management you will have in your bike. The primary trigger for a dropper submit to wiggle is filth buildup. Even in case you are recurrently cleansing your submit, filth, and particles goes to search out their technique to in some way follow your submit.
Resolution
In case your dropper submit is wiggling excessively, the one resolution is to get your submit rebuilt or changed by an expert.
Hack: Take a piece of the interior tube and wrap it across the seatpost on the level the place it enters the body. This acts as a cushion to scale back the motion thus making your experience comfy.
Gradual Efficiency
Gradual-operating dropper posts might be actually irritating as a result of you can also make any changes on the go. It’s going to take plenty of time to get the saddle to the required place. The primary motive is both filth or that your inner parts are worn out.
Resolution
A standard resolution is recurrently cleansing or sustaining your dropper submit in order that there is no such thing as a filth buildup. To keep away from this downside, I made a decision to get a dropper submit with user-serviceable internals. This manner, it’s simpler for me to wash and preserve the submit.
Hack: Take a small brush and a compressed air nozzle. Now connect it to your hydration pack. It will create a DIY dropper post-cleaning package. Now you can simply clear your submit even on the go and preserve the responsiveness.
Creaking Dropper Publish
Think about driving peacefully down your favourite path simply to be interrupted by the sudden creaking and clicking sound coming out of your dropper submit. Extra usually, you’ll hear this sound when you find yourself making an attempt to regulate your submit.
The most typical motive for a creaking or noisy dropper submit is the dearth of lubrication. It’s both that or you will have some unfastened parts. Nonetheless, these sounds will probably be extra clear whenever you make an interplay together with your dropper submit.
Resolution
Make sure that to recurrently clear your dropper submit. You too can get it serviced in order that there is no such thing as a filth buildup. Attempt to apply an acceptable lubricant at common intervals. Particularly apply it to contact factors. I take advantage of noise-dampening grip tape, the one you employ for handlebars, and apply it on the contact factors of the dropper submit. This helps get rid of any sounds till I can correctly tackle the difficulty.
Hack: I recommend utilizing a beeswax-based chain lube and making use of it to the purpose the place the seat meets the seat submit. It will get rid of any friction.
Points With The Distant Lever
There can be management issues together with your distant lever. The lever is not going to keep closed or it would really feel broken. This impacts your skill to regulate your dropper submit. The most typical motive behind going through points together with your lever is cable rigidity. One more reason could also be that the lever is broken.
Resolution
In case your lever is broken, get it changed as quickly as attainable. If there is no such thing as a seen injury in your lever submit, you’ll be able to attempt to modify the cable rigidity and see if the issue goes away.
Hack: When occurring lengthy rides, I attempt to carry a small Allen wrench with me. This helps me fine-tune the cable rigidity ensuring that the lever operation stays clean.
Points With Hydraulic Dropper Posts
Hydraulic dropper posts have their very own set of issues. If in case you have a hydraulic dropper and it feels spongy whenever you experience on it, that implies that there are air bubbles within the hydraulic strains. There will probably be a drop in responsiveness and the experience will really feel softer than regular whenever you use the submit.
You’ll be able to inform if there’s a hydraulic subject together with your submit by observing the texture and habits of the submit when you are driving.
Resolution
Bleeding the hydraulic system to take away the air bubbles will resolve your subject.
Hack: I created my very own DIY hydraulic bleed package through the use of syringes and tubing. It permits me to launch air from the system. You’ll be able to comply with this video and create a mini package of your individual. This one is created to bleed a brake however you can also make an identical one on your dropper submit.
Exterior Injury
It is extremely doubtless that your dropper submit suffers from exterior injury equivalent to scratches or dents. Particularly whenever you do plenty of off-road driving. It absolutely damages the look of your bike but it surely additionally has an affect in your driving efficiency.
Resolution
You’ll be able to apply a very good high quality vinyl decal to guard your submit from scratches. Be conscious when you are out driving and don’t partake in any exercise the place you understand your bike can endure injury.
Hack: To repair some minor dents, I take advantage of a warmth gun to reshape the world affected. I sand the world after which apply paint as a touch-up.
Dropper Publish Upkeep Guidelines
Like all different bike parts, dropper post-maintenance is a should to extend the lifetime of the submit and to ensure that it performs optimally. So I developed this guidelines for you which ones divides upkeep into three elements: Earlier than each experience, month-to-month, and each three months. It is a normal guideline however you’ll be able to check with the producer’s tips concerning your particular dropper submit.
| Upkeep Activity | Frequency | What to search for |
|---|---|---|
| Visible Inspection | Earlier than Each Trip | Verify for injury to exterior parts. |
| Distant Lever Operation | Earlier than Each Trip | Check your distant lever’s performance for clean operation. |
| Cable Pressure | Earlier than Each Trip | Make sure that the cable rigidity falls inside the advisable vary. |
| Clear and Lubricate | Month-to-month | Wipe down the dropper submit and apply lubricant to the stanchion. |
| Verify Distant Lever | Month-to-month | Examine your distant lever and cable for put on or injury. |
| Seatpost Clamp Inspection | Each 3 Months | Study your seatpost clamp for correct torque as per producer. |
| Cable Alternative | Each 3 Months | Change if there are indicators of damage and tear. |
| Air Strain Verify | Each 6 Months | Verify your air stress and modify it. (250-300 psi). |
| Cable Housing Inspection | Each 6 Months | Examine cable housing for any damages. Change as required. |
| Full Service | Yearly | Search skilled service, together with seals and parts. |
| Stiction Removing | As Required | Take away filth and clear stanchion for smoother operation. |
| Hydraulic Bleeding | As Required | Bleed the hydraulic system for hydraulic dropper posts. |
Security Ideas For Dealing with A Dropper Publish
Security all the time comes first particularly when you find yourself working with bikes. Whether or not you might be driving it or performing common upkeep, following security ideas all the time makes issues simpler. Earlier than you begin dealing with your dropper submit, here’s what it’s good to do to be protected:
Put on Applicable Security Gear
Put on a helmet, and a few gloves, and don’t neglect your security glasses. The security gear will assist you defend your self from any flying particles or accidents.
Safe Your Bike
Your bike must be in a secure place earlier than you begin working in your dropper submit. I take advantage of a motorbike stand for this as a result of it helps hold the bike regular and prevents it from shifting. Simply watch out that the bike doesn’t journey over.
Clear The Space
The realm the place you might be planning to work in your bike must be clear and well-lit. Just be sure you can simply entry all of your instruments when you work.
Go Via The Handbook
There will probably be a dropper submit handbook wherein there will probably be tips and ideas from the producer associated to your particular dropper submit. Learn it fastidiously as a result of completely different manufacturers have particular tips for his or her fashions.
Get The Proper Instruments
Having the precise device for the job makes issues a lot less complicated. For those who use the incorrect instruments, you’ll not solely have accidents but additionally probably injury your bike parts. When I’m engaged on my dropper submit, I ensure to maintain a torque wrench in hand. It helps me obtain correct tightening.
Launch The Air Strain
In case you are utilizing an air-sprung or a pneumatic dropper submit, launch the air stress. It’s important to do that earlier than you disassemble any of the elements. That is essential in order that there is no such thing as a surprising motion whereas sustaining.
Cautious Dealing with
There are sharp edges on some parts. Be very cautious in order that you don’t reduce your hand. If you end up working with the cable, don’t pinch them. If there’s any injury to your cable, you won’t be able to regulate your dropper submit. In case your dropper submit is hydraulic, watch out in order that no fluids are available in contact together with your pores and skin.
While you’re bleeding the hydraulic system can differ the fluids. They are often very harmful if inhaled or ingested. It’s higher to make use of protecting tools to keep away from any accidents. Have a primary assist package close by so you’ll be able to attend to any minor accidents but additionally know of the closest medical services simply in case.
Observe-Ups
As soon as you might be achieved, double-check all the things. Have a look at the cable routing, the bolts as nicely, and the fluid ranges when you’ve got hydraulic techniques. That is to just remember to don’t skip something and your dropper submit is in a totally functioning place.
FAQs
What Is The Strain On A Dropper Publish?
The advisable stress on a dropper submit must be 250-300 psi. That is the stress for a totally prolonged submit.
Do Dropper Posts Go Up And Down?
Sure, dropper posts go up and down. This performance permits the rider to regulate the peak whereas driving.
Conclusion
These are the commonest points that you’ll face with a dropper submit and most of them might be solved very simply. You’ll be able to keep away from having such points with common upkeep. Addressing these points earlier than they change into an issue will help you take pleasure in a smoother and safer experience.
Keep in mind, relating to your bike upkeep, it’s higher to be proactive than to be reactive.
Additionally Learn: Finest Dropper Posts – Revolutionizing The Mountain Biking Expertise
