Well good news the saddle has been ridden about 150 miles and is OK. I tightened it about one turn and added a bit of oil to the dry cracking areas. Just to review I coated this saddle well in proofhide after it had sit in dry storage for about 15 years. The saddle still felt dry after a good coating but I rode it anyway. It started to tear and crack. I started adding light oil a few times where it seemed overly dry and cracking, and I also added more proofhide. It seems to be good now.