----- Original Message -----
From: "HM & SS Sachs" <sachs@erols.com>
>>>
One warning: the lower plate (the one that the rear set screw pushes) of
the early versions was too soft. Mine developed a large dent while
repeatedly loosening.
>>>
That "dent" was there by design. It helps locate the cradle plate position relative to that angle-adjust screw; it needed to be under the thickest portion of the cradle plate, and needed a "seat", since the plate bottom was not perpendicular to the screw.
The "loosening" was another problem entirely. The cradle plates were "thinned' somewhat to shave a few grams and reduce production costs. Due to this thinning the channels for the saddle rails would sometimes bend slightly over time, towards the rear where they were not supported and the load was higher. This would allow the saddle to rock a little and appear loose. Tightening the main bolt once or twice would help, but eventually the top block would sag enough, or the threads would strip, or the cradle would sag enough, and no more adjustment would help. It was mostly an mtb problem, but some road post cradles sagged, too.
A design change eventually cured the problem.
Jon Schaer
Columbus, OH