Brooks Saddle Leather replacement

[john elliott]

Has anyone on this list ever replaced the leather on a brooks saddle.  I'm riding on a 90 percent finished recovered saddle.  I haven't finished the final trim and it's installed with brass bolts and nuts instead of rivets.  It turned out better than expected in terms of comfort.  I haven't finished it because I cannot live with my other seat for even a few days.

I'm about to put in the rivets, but I'm not sure what to use for the back of the rivets to give them the right shape.  Maybe another hammer...

any thoughts would be appreciated.


PS:  Anyone have a brooks with trashed leather they want to donate?

[David Banzer]

Hi John,
Are the brass bolts not working for you or are they uncomfortable? If not, and it's purely to use Brooks' techniques, I'd just keep the brass bolts in place. If you're experimenting with leather as well and the leather you've selected doesn't last as long as you'd like, it'd be easy to swap out .
Do you have any photos of the process of rebuilding the saddle? I'd be very interested in seeing (or hearing if you don't have photos) how you went about doing this.
David
Chicago

[Brian Campbell]

You should Talk to Rudi Mayer (RHM on bikeforums.net). He recovers leather saddles of all types and does a fine job at it. Here is a link to some of his stuff:

http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage-sales/995933-rhm-90-early-italia-saddle-fake-130-a.html

[Philip Williamson]

I have. http://www.biketinker.com/2011/projects/brooks-saddle-repaired/

I'd just leave the nuts in, if I were you. Rivets are cool, but if it's rideable and the nuts don't chafe, I'd call it done. 

I pounded on the rivet post side, with the top of the rivet on a piece of wood on a heavy bench. Other rivets, I've tuned up by putting a hammer up inside the cantle, and then tapping on the rivet head. 

Good luck!

Philip

www.biketinker.com