Screws ripped out of saddle tree

[Mendosa]

I have a bronc saddle that has ripped the screws out of tree from the riggin on the right side, as a quick patch on the road we cleaned the holes out, patched it with JB weld and sanded it back flat, this held for about 12 horses and now has ripped back out, does anyone know of a better method to fill holes in a tree?

[Hildebrand]

I have never done any saddle work but could you countersink a tee nut from the other side and use a machine screw?

Todd

[bruce johnson]

Call your saddle maker and tell them what happened. My guess is that at a minimum you will be told to move the screws and not use the same holes. 

[Tastech]

I would use a wooden dowel to repair the hole and then  fix the screws into the same position.

Select a dowel size .eg 1/4 " dowel . Drill out the existing hole with a 1/4' drill bit . Apply a high strength wood glue and knock in the dowels . When dry after 24 hours screw into original position . 

It's pretty much the same method a carpenter would use when replacing screws on the hinges to re-hang a loose door . The method seems to work well . 

[rktaylor]

At some point I'm going to start worrying about the bar. Once you drill and patch enough holes, there's not going to be much original wood. You could patch the holes with dowel as suggested, then drill new holes also as suggested. Pictures would help. 

Randy

Edited yesterday at 01:02 AM by rktaylor

[Northmount]

58 minutes ago, Tastech said:

I would use a wooden dowel to repair the hole and then  fix the screws into the same position.

Select a dowel size .eg 1/4 " dowel . Drill out the existing hole with a 1/4' drill bit . Apply a high strength wood glue and knock in the dowels . When dry after 24 hours screw into original position . 

It's pretty much the same method a carpenter would use when replacing screws on the hinges to re-hang a loose door . The method seems to work well . 

There is a big difference in holding power when you compare screws run into end grain versus screws run across the grain.  The screws that are run into end grain easily shear and pull out.  Compare to chopping with the grain (splitting wood) versus chopping across the grain.  Anyone that has chopped wood knows the difference.

I've had screws in end grain pull right out where they didn't when screwed into cross grain.

[chuck123wapati]

21 hours ago, Mendosa said:

I have a bronc saddle that has ripped the screws out of tree from the riggin on the right side, as a quick patch on the road we cleaned the holes out, patched it with JB weld and sanded it back flat, this held for about 12 horses and now has ripped back out, does anyone know of a better method to fill holes in a tree?

I have a question.

Is it tearing out again while riding worth the risk of repairing it? its already happened twice, and you're lucky not to have gotten hurt in the process. I would buy new it's much cheaper than a hospital, and insurance companies don't believe much in repaired equipment.

[Goldshot Ron]

I am going to be a "devil's advocate" here.  What make of saddle to you have?  Is the tree a rawhide covered wood tree, or fibreglass covered?  Is it a composite plastic tree?  Is this saddle a: no horn, heavy swell, bronc saddle; or, an old saddle that you thought would work.  As Chuck mentioned above, is it worth fixin'.  And, Bruce said contact the your saddle maker; lift is too short to skimp on proper repairs.

[Mendosa]

3 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

I have a question.

Is it tearing out again while riding worth the risk of repairing it? its already happened twice, and you're lucky not to have gotten hurt in the process. I would buy new it's much cheaper than a hospital, and insurance companies don't believe much in repaired equipment.

Definitely not, however now a days you can find the holy grail before you find a new good bronc saddle to buy.

[Mendosa]

1 hour ago, Goldshot Ron said:

I am going to be a "devil's advocate" here.  What make of saddle to you have?  Is the tree a rawhide covered wood tree, or fibreglass covered?  Is it a composite plastic tree?  Is this saddle a: no horn, heavy swell, bronc saddle; or, an old saddle that you thought would work.  As Chuck mentioned above, is it worth fixin'.  And, Bruce said contact the your saddle maker; lift is too short to skimp on proper repairs.

It’s a real deal bronc saddle, wood tree covered in fiberglass

[fredk]

Here is how I'd do the repair;

Drill out the screw hole to about 1/2 inch

Cut a plug that size, or very slightly larger, from hardwood, across the grain

Apply resin glue to the plug hole and hammer the plug in

Cut a piece of metal about 2 inches long by 3/4 inch wide

Drill 3 holes in the metal, along the length, 1 in the middle and 1 at each end. Make the holes just big enuff for screws to clear

Place the metal over the plug. Centre it. Screw in screws of at least 1 inch length in the ends and drill a hole in the plug for your fitting

If the metal can be on the surface use round head screws. If the metal has to be flush. chip out the area for the metal to be recessed and use counter-sunk screws

 

[Northmount]

Somewhere, maybe here, I have seen T-nuts used for saddle attachments.  Quite a range in sizes available 8-32, 1/4 20 tpi, etc.  If you have access to the underside of the tree without too much work, they won't pull out.  Lots more holding power than screws.  Can enlarge the damaged screw hole to insert them.

Just scrolled back through to the beginning of this thread and see this is what @Hildebrand suggested @Mendosa in the 2nd post!