Orange P7 shim

[BlackCat]

Have just picked a P7 for refurb, however I was surprised to see what appears to be an aluminium shim in the seat tube. It’s about 3 inches deep.

One of my buddies had a P7 bitd and I am wracking my brain to remember if it came shimmed as stock. I suspect not though.

Naturally it shows no sign of budging and of course I have no leverage to get a grip on it. Before I do something drastic, can someone please confirm that these frames did not come with a factory shim installed?

 

[grey-beard]

I have a 95 p7 and that has the same shim fitted. I also had a 96 X1 from new and that had the same shim and seat post. Hope that's helpful.

 

[BlackCat]

Thanks - that helps. It’s odd. I have an orange S/post in my stash, originally from a P7, but it won’t fit.

 

[grey-beard]

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/wiki/Orange#Seatpost.2C_sizes_etc_from_Orange
Just found this, very handy.

 

[grey-beard]

and according to the list, it should be a 27.2 seat post on a P7.

 

[BlackCat]

Well. The Orange LS4 post I have is 26.4 but it won’t fit in, which is a concern. A USE post sans shim would be too small though. Hmmm.

 

[hamster]

Looks exactly as it left Orange. The Wiki list is WRONG. (The bad data comes from the Orange site). The shim was 29.8mm to 26.4 to fit the steel post. In fact the steel post is incredibly light - lighter than many carbon ones.
Often you can find that the post is very tight - remove the shim, clean up corrosion between it and the seat tube and the post should then fit fine.
Lots of Plus-Gas over a couple of days, then a bit of patient prising around the shim joints and it should free up.

 

[stocko]

Mine came out ok,needs to go back in now refurb complete

 

[BlackCat]

Mine came out ok,needs to go back in now refurb complete

How did you get it out?

 

[stocko]

Small flat screwdriver to carefully lift the shim then pulled it out