removing stirrup leathers martha josey saddle

[cloehorse]

Hi im new to the forum and would like some advice. I am in New Zealand and have had a martha josey barrel saddle come in to have the stirrup leathers replaced.The leathers are bolted to the bars just behind the swells. The bolts keep spinning and not undoing. Does anyone know how to undo these. Cheers Nigel Camerron

[Thor]

What kind of tree is this, wood or ralide?

[cloehorse]

Wood with fibreglass covering

[Thor]

Ok then... if it's just spinning, there are two possible causes, one would be - and that's the most common one - that the thread is just spinning through in the bottom of that hole. Take a tool, able of going under the screw (just hoping you're meaning a wood screw and not an actual bolt) head and lifting it while you turn it. The second one isn't as simple. Something like this

  

would sit in the tree and the bolt was glued in place. About the dumbest thing one can do, but have seen it already. Technically same procedure, but you would have to cut the bolt once you got it all removed and you will have to glue dowel into the hole and seal it with fiberglass. 

[cloehorse]

Definitely not a wood screw with the thread stripped  , must be something like the picture you posted or a bolt with a nut in the tree. Have emailed  circle y with the serial number. 

[Thor]

I'm very interested of the outcome. Could you post pictures of this please?

[cloehorse]

Hi Thor , when I push my hand between the skirts and the bars I can feel a slight lump opposite where the stirrup leathers are. Maybe worth removing the front of the skirts and cutting a small hole in the fibreglass to see what's in there.

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

As for Circle Y, a long time ago I was doing a lot of horn repairs on Circle Y saddles around here.  the top and bottom were just glued and stitched to the horn, no filler tacked to the actual horn for strength.  Anyway I was  doing so many, I called them to see if I could become a factory repair station in MI.  The answer was no, just send it back and they will fix them for a fee and shipping.  I will be surprised if they give you anything more than that.

Bob

[BOB BRENNER]

Generally, when stirrup leathers are attached with a bolt, a "TEE" nut is used.  The "TEE" nut is set into the bottom of the bar and has prongs that hold it in place.  If these prongs were bent on installation or not griping the bolt and nut will spin.  You will have to drop the skirts and replace the "TEE" nut.  Depending on the construction method you may have to cut out the fiberglass covering to replace the nut.  It is a pain in the rear end.  This method of attaching the stirrup leathers is a take off of the Fallis balance ride saddle known as the Monty Forman saddle.

When this happens I charge double my regular charge for replacing the leathers.  You will spend more time fixing the nut than replacing the leathers.

Have fun.

Bob

[cloehorse]

Thanks Bob , that was what I needed to know , thought it must have been something like that.