1996 Merlin Mountain - 27.2 fit's too tight?

[rydelhigh]

I have a 1996 Merlin that had a 27.2 black Syncros seatpost installed, was tight and difficult to remove. I then installed a 27.2 Syncros Ti seatpost and that one felt even tighter. Both are really tight with no binder bolt installed.

From what I've gathered 27.2 is the correct size.

Also, can someone explain why seat collar area is beveled and seems thinner and than rest of seat tube?

Here's some photos.

 

[Dr Dremel]

The beveled part of the tube is externally machined, I´d guess for weight saving.

I had the same problems with a Merlin and ill fitting seatpost, worth to check if the seatpost is up to spec diameter wise. I´ve had a few that were oversized (27.25mm).

The slot in the seattube seems parallel. Mine was not and gentle persuasion with an old post opened it up again, but still some posts won´t fit. So I guess for you that just leaves reaming it out? Again, worth checking out if the frame or the post are off.

 

[Once A Hero]

27.2mm is the correct size.
I had issues with tight fitting posts in my Merlin, albeit an earlier '92 frameset. Shimmed solutions simply wouldn't work, and I ended up with a snug fitting but correctly sized Shimano post - with plenty of grease applied for ease of insertion/removal.

I've also had issues with steel Yeti framesets which whilst stipulating a 26.8 dia post required, if the post was too close to actually being 26.8 dia it simply wouldn't fit. Also end up with a correctly sized Shimano post...

As @Dr Dremel suggests, measure the post you are trying to fit just in case its size markings are over what they say they should be.

 

[bikeworkshop]

If it was meant to be 27.0, the post wouldn't fit without splitting the tube.
It might be worth polishing the inside of the tube until you get that smooth piston-like fit.

 

[rydelhigh]

Thanks. I was able to make it fit better by taking a red scotch-brite pad to the seatpost and the inside of seat tube.

 

[bikeworkshop]

In ti you want a really nice fit, as it's usually prone to cracking with age and stress