I added a Brooks B17 to my bike and love the look and feel. In reading the literature that came with it it says to adjust/set the tension. I know how to adjust it but wonder how to tell if I have it set tight enough. I want to avoid having it too tight and stretching the leather or having it too loose and having it sag.

Mike

I have B17 on all my bikes & I understand that tension is fine from the factory & wouldn't adjust it. When the leather stretches out then you can tension is you want so it doesn't sag. That will take many, many miles though.

You might need to tension it in about two years from now, and after riding it just about every day in all sorts of conditions. Otherwise, leave the wrench that came with it in your toolbox and resist the temptation.

You will know if the saddle needs retensioning if it becomes like a hammock, and that often is caused by their owners using mink oil or some other non-authorised method of "breaking in" the saddle. In that case, retensioning is almost pointless because the saddle will effectively be ruined and won't last the expected 40+ years.

Thanks, I will just ride and enjoy.

Mike

i emailed brooks about seat creaking they said needs tension. I only use proof ride about 2/3 times a year . My B17's all have laces so they don't sag. I've tensioned twice in 2wks still creaks. Didn't want to tension it at all , didn't really feel it was needed.

cheers

Don't touch a new Brooks, as noted above.

After the first 1,000 miles, when you start to wonder if it was always this uncomfortable, it's probably time to tighten it up. I do it by feel. Move it each way to get a feel for "loose" and then tighten it until it doesn't feel "loose" any more. I usually catch it needing 1/4 to 1/3 of a turn, but sometimes it'll take a whole 1/2 turn. Don't overdo it, or you'll stretch the leather at the front rivet.

Hopslam:
It's been stated somewhere (perhaps by Brooks or Wallbike) that a loose tension pin can be a source of creaking/squeaking. Perhaps that is the reason they suggested tightening the tension pin, not necessarily to tighten the leather. As for the noise, I'd first look at the seatpost or seat clamp as sources before I'd adjust saddle tension.

Changed post , changed seat , changed bike . Lubed , antiseze ,& permatex product post to frame. It's one b17 that is creaking . I have tuned at least 720 degrees
Other 2 B17's installed on same bike Do Not creak
I'll just get use to it or not use that seat

Cheers

I probably shouldn't say this, having posted above, but put a drop or two of oil as far as you can around each rivet at the back on the inside (ie, where the steel frame is). Likewise a drop or two around the bolt and where it rubs on the rest of the frame. Don't go ape about it, just a drop or two.

I have a titanium Swallow that also creaks, and because the leather is shaped differently from the B17 with no skirts, I have tensioned the bolt several times over its lifetime. A tiny bit of lube helps with the noise.

When mine did that , about 5 years ago, I took a "flux brush" and forced some proofhide in by the rivets, underneath, and it stopped forever. The leather just needed a little lubrication, and the proofhide was the answer.

Yes. And avoid using a mineral based oil. Vegetable oils like olive oil or canola oil are preferred as they won't degrade the leather.

Proofhide is a good lubricant, for this purpose, and will not degrade the leather like oils will.

For the love of Pete, will you all stop typing Proofhide, please?

re: storing the adjusting wrench. was going through my rack trunk last weekend looking for stuff to elimnate to make it lighter and the only thing I removed was the Brooks adjusting wrench (also the lightest thing in the bag). not knowing what to do with it, and not knowing what I did with my can of proofide, I zipped the wrench into my GPS carrying case and put that in a plastic box of valuable bike stuff. hoping I know where to look for it several years from now when I need it ...