The B17 I got just over a year ago is the first Brooks saddle I've ever had. I encountered the tedious 'squeak' (creak) for many months, applying various 'remedies' (Obenauf's on the underside of the leather, getting some between the rear plate and leather, tightening and loosening the tension bolt, lube the rails where they're clamped by the seat post), all of which gave some temporary relief, but the creak would eventually come back. Somehow I'd forgotten the old rule of thumb about lubing up the areas where metal contacts metal (aside form the rails), especially where threaded (you know, like your crank bolts and pedals and bearing cups and even your quill in the fork tube). I took some of Phil's Tenacious oil, took my saddle off for ease of access, and made sure to douse the tension bolt threads, the plate it threads into, and especially where that plate (the one the tension bolt goes through, and this was my 'aha!' moment) wraps around the front loop of the seat rails. This is a pivot point where metal rubs metal, and if your saddle is really tight, it rubs hard. If it's tighter than that (it shouldn't be!) it won't move and thus won't rub and thus will not squ(c)reak until the leather stretches and allows for movement and the squ(c)reak comes back (and then many of us who do not know better will tighten it again (this includes me) until it goes away and comes back again and again and again.... luckily I only did this a few times and did not ruin my saddle). I chose the tenacious oil over a heavier grease so it could penetrate better. Chain oil would penetrate, but might not be viscous enough to have a lasting effect. If you're a feather-weight, you might get a nano-meter of movement as you mount or dismount, or if you aggressively pedal-bounce in your seat. We heavier riders will get a bit more movement (and volume) than that. My bike is now stealthy silent, but for the purr of the chain and the coasting click of the freewheel. I hope this helps.
-Peter On Jul 26, 5:22 pm, thirty-six <thirty-...@live.co.uk> wrote: > On 26 July, 16:18, JimD <rasterd...@comcast.net> wrote: > > > Not mine, the Riv's. > > > I'm using a Brooks Swift and it is making noise. I'll characterize it > > as a leathery squeak. > > I've lubricated and checked the fasteners and think this is a leather > > squeak not a rail to seat post or seat post to frame squeak. > > > Has anyone here encountered such a problem? > > Yes. > > > > > Any experience/tips on how to cure saddle squeak? > > Look for a loose rivet and close it up. > Oil the leather after releasing some tension. At least with the > Wrights saddles the leather would likely mishape because it doesn't > always draw in the oil evenly. So with the thicker Brooks I also am > careful to detension before applying oil. Use castor oil if you don't > have the Brooks dressing. If the squeak still exists it's more likely > the saddle clamp and rail interface than the nose adjuster of the > saddle. Sometimes a bit of paper around the saddle rail is needed to > prevent the return of the squeak. For the adjuster, use a solid > lubricant such as molybdenum disulphide for a long term cure. > > > > > I'm particularly concerned as the Swift I used on Sierra-to-the-Sea > > developed a bent tensioner bolt and went kaput. > > Wow! > > > It's a bummer as Swifts work great for me. I'm becoming skeptical > > about their durability not to mention their acoustic qualities. > > > -JImD -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
