Brooks Cambium mod advice

[Brian Turner]

Does anyone here have any experience modifying or replacing parts on Brooks Cambium saddles? I've done it once, when swapping out the stock rivets for some of the copper ones from Crivets. 3 of the 5 rivets came out without issue, but for two of them, the rivets just spun around in the square hole of the saddle rubber that seats the rivets, and I basically had to destroy the old rivets by cutting a slot into them with a Dremel tool and using a flat-head screwdriver to unscrew the rivet.

I'm thinking about doing that again to another Cambium, but I'm wondering if there's a better way to get these rivets to unscrew without destroying them?

[Brian Turner]

I forgot to mention I've tried using the install tips on the Crivets site, and they worked for the most part, for a couple of the stubborn rivets, using an additional piece of rubber to "grip" the rivet and prevent it from turning did not work - hence me having to cut a slot into it.

I dunno, maybe it's not worth the hassle... just trying to find out if there's any better methods before I decide if I want to try it again.

[velomann]

I've put Crivets in 4 cambium saddles. The stock rivets are secured with some kind of threadlock and the tiny torx tool Crivet supplies is generally insufficient for the job. I'm mostly successful using a longer handled Silca wrench, but when that doesn't work I've always been able to get the rivet out with an impact driver. It's a tool many folks don't have, so if you can borrow one try that. And always use some kind of rubber under the rivet head - to protect the finish and keep it from rotating. Press down as hard as you can when attempting removal.

However, it may round out the square hole in the saddle the rivet sits in - personally I don't really care but some folks might. And of course as Crivets indicates, use of their product almost certainly voids the warranty on the saddle.

Mike M

[R. Alexis]

I wonder if shoving the edge of a flathead screwdriver under to catch the side of a square under the rivet will help to keep it from turning in order to unscrew it? 

Thanks,

Reginald Alexis