Replica Factor Ostro VAM

[BeR]

Everything has already been tried. The only solution now is to saw off the seatpost. I'm just waiting for the seller's response on how the warranty will proceed...

I had a friend who had a seized seatpost and He put WD40 each day for one week. It took 7 days before solving the problem. So maybe try tomorrow and after tomorrow... Unless the seller offers you a solution.

[Alienado]

I had a friend who had a seized seatpost and He put WD40 each day for one week. It took 7 days before solving the problem. So maybe try tomorrow and after tomorrow... Unless the seller offers you a solution.

Were the frame and seatpost both made of carbon fiber? Thank you.

[crazyravr]

Everything has already been tried. The only solution now is to saw off the seatpost. I'm just waiting for the seller's response on how the warranty will proceed...

Maybe take it to a bike shop? I have learned that what "home mechanic" can think of as "unsafe" the pros just deal with it. Save yourself a headache and spend the few $$$ on a shop to get this done for you.

[offspring_fan]

Maybe take it to a bike shop? I have learned that what "home mechanic" can think of as "unsafe" the pros just deal with it. Save yourself a headache and spend the few $$$ on a shop to get this done for you.

Yeah, if it seized immediately on putting it in, this is not a corrosion issue. It just needs ****ing hauling on, I guarantee. I would put a saddle (metail rails) on the post, get a strong friend or two, and play tug of war.

[Alienado]

I managed to remove the seatpost yesterday! Thanks to everyone who tried to help!

I did the following:

1 - Three days ago I applied WD40 to the area between the seat tube and the seatpost and between the wedge bolts;

2 - I repeated the first step again yesterday, but I also applied WD40 through the holes in the bottle cage bolt holes, so the WD40 would run inside the seat tube to the seatpost (I turned the bike upside down);

3 - I removed the saddle and placed a large screwdriver with a plastic handle inside the hole where the saddle clamps fit;

4 - I tapped the plastic handle (upwards) and felt the seatpost gradually coming out, until it finally came out!

Since I tried to put the seatpost by gently tapping downwards, I figured I would also have to gently tap in the opposite direction for it to come out.

Now I have another problem. Since the seatpost doesn't go in as far as I need, the seller told me to use a file to sand the inside of the seat tube. I did this yesterday for over an hour very carefully, but the seatpost only reached the minimum insertion point (see attached image of the minimum insertion line - I took this photo when it was still stuck).

However, I need the seatpost to go down another 8 centimeters to be at the ideal height. Apparently, the inside of the seatpost is "funnel-shaped," which I'll need to file down to make everything "straight." I see I have a lot of work ahead of me!

Note: While I was typing this post, the seller replied saying that if it doesn't work, they will send me another "smaller" seatpost....

Has anyone else had this same problem with this or other frameset?

[hagerd]

If you can only get get a certain amount of insertion of the seat post, and the restriction is caused by a constricting frame, you could cut the seat post shorter. I'm not sure what the minimum insertion amount that is required to maintain structural integrity, maybe someone else can chime in on that.

[bikemanie5]

Has anyone had issues with the stem slipping on the steerer tube. Im able to move the handle bars if I apply a lot of force

[BIFO17]

Pour insérer la tige de selle il faut retirer une lame en metal qui s'insère entre le carbone et la tige de selle ( les 2 vis de serrage appui sur cette lame pour bloquer la tige de selle.! )
J'ai l'impression que sur ton cadre cette pièce n'existe pas... Peux tu faire une photo de l'endroit où rentre la tige de selle dans le cadre (sans la tige de selle).

[brembilla]

Has anyone had issues with the stem slipping on the steerer tube. Im able to move the handle bars if I apply a lot of force

Are the bars torqued to 5nm? My bars did not come with the spacers that go in between the the male and female ends of the screws to provide the extra reinforcement to the carbon needed to reach the torque spec. I bought some rubber ones from a hardware store and was then able to properly torque the bars together. I suspect a lot of the complaints about the bars come from this issue, as mine are subjectively just as stiff as my real ones and weigh similarly.

[bikemanie5]

Thank you, yes they can torque to 5nm I went higher and it still would slip. But looking closer there is no gap and I don't think the stem can close enough so I've sanded down the in-between parts and its holding now.

I have another problem now the expansion plug is coming loose once installed. the steerer cut isn't 100% level so going to try level that off hopefully that helps. The plug looks really flimsy though.

[bikemanie5]

The plug is proving to be a bit of a problem. Ive seen people have bought replacments but cant find a link anywhere. Done some searching but not sure which will fit. Can someone point me in the right direction pretty please :)n

[BIFO17]

Il faut poncer l'intérieur du pivot pour qu'il soit rugueux. Tu peux en plus mettre un bout de papier de verre enroulé sur l'expandeur , ce qui renforcera l'adhérence.

[BIFO17]

I purchased an Ostro Vam 2.0 frameset from the seller https://justcarbon.x.yupoo.com/ and the frame arrived with a problem where the seatpost fits. When trying to install it for the first time, it started going in with considerable resistance, even without the screws in the wedge. Now the seatpost won't come out anymore; I've tried everything – heat, pulling it upwards with a rope – and nothing has worked. Now I'm waiting for the seller's response regarding the warranty.

Video attached.

You must remove the metal piece in order to remove the seat post.

[bikemanie5]

Il faut poncer l'intérieur du pivot pour qu'il soit rugueux. Tu peux en plus mettre un bout de papier de verre enroulé sur l'expandeur , ce qui renforcera l'adhérence.

It went from bad to worse. It snapped off and got stuck on the inside of the steerer. I was able to get it out but it's broken now anyway. So I need to by a new one. Do you know of a western brand that will fit or can i just get one from factor?

[Alienado]

Is that the direction the post goes down in? It doesn't look straight at all based on that picture amd the video.

Yes. I had to file down the inside of the seat tube so that the seatpost would fit smoothly and straight.

If you can only get get a certain amount of insertion of the seat post, and the restriction is caused by a constricting frame, you could cut the seat post shorter. I'm not sure what the minimum insertion amount that is required to maintain structural integrity, maybe someone else can chime in on that.

I thought about that too, but I managed to solve it.

Pour insérer la tige de selle il faut retirer une lame en metal qui s'insère entre le carbone et la tige de selle ( les 2 vis de serrage appui sur cette lame pour bloquer la tige de selle.! )
J'ai l'impression que sur ton cadre cette pièce n'existe pas... Peux tu faire une photo de l'endroit où rentre la tige de selle dans le cadre (sans la tige de selle).

The seatpost wasn't going in smoothly with or without the metal wedge you mentioned, but now after filing down the inside of the seat tube everything is okay.

--------------------

After finally removing the stuck seatpost and spending hours filing the inside of the seat tube, today I finally went to assemble the seatpost and saddle. To my surprise, when tightening the wedge bolts, the frame developed two cracks (as shown in the attached photo). I didn't even apply the recommended torque of 5 Nm and the frame cracked. I believe it's due to poor carbon quality or all the work to remove the seatpost ended up stressing that area where the wedge sits.

I contacted the seller to see what will be done now. When I told him that the frame had a factory defect, since I had to file the inside of the seat tube and the seatpost was stuck, he offered to send me another, smaller seatpost, but since I had already managed to remove the seatpost and file the inside of the seat tube, I said I didn't need it. Let's see what he says about these cracks in the frame...


Note: The screws on the wedge of this frame stick out halfway (see photo), they don't go all the way into the holes. Does this also happen with the replica frames you have? Because it doesn't happen with the original frame.