Sprung Leather Bicycle Saddles (Part 8)

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

In the first six posts, Sprung Leather Bicycle Saddles (Part 1), (Part 2),  (Part 3)，(Part 4), (Part 5) and (Part 6) we took a look at various leather saddle styles from the 1950's: (800 series), (750 series), (900 series)，(500 series), (600 series) and (1300 series) respectively.  And, in the previous post (Part 7), we began looking at tools used to maintain sprung leather saddles, specifically the "hammock saddle stretcher".  

In this installment we shall take a look at a tool called the "saddle spring spreader". 

The spring spreader is used to expand spring coils to enable access to the nuts which hold the springs to the saddle.

This is the saddle spring spreader.
 

Made by Hataya.

The space between the coils is narrow making it difficult to access the saddle bolts.

The saddle spring spreader is a very simple tool.
The duck-billed tips fit between the coils.

When you squeeze the handles the tips spread the spring coils apart.
The stepped locking mechanism locks the tool in the open position. 

 

After loosening the nut with a wrench, there is enough room to remove the nut and washer with your fingers.

When reassembling, the tool provides enough room to attach the washer and start the nut with your fingers.

The saddle spring spreader is a handy tool to have in disassembling and reassembling saddles.

In the next installment, we shall continue to look at another tool used to maintain sprung leather bicycle saddles.