This vice-grip trick is exactly what I use. I found a 4 inch long tool with the long jaws, and a cheap imitation one, to boot. It doesn't need to apply a lot of pressure, so cheap is ok.
On Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 7:43 AM, kevin mccaul <trackstand@verizon.net>wrote:
> The simplest way to work with a stripped nose bracket is to slip a smaller
> size vice grip between the rails onto the tail and properly attach (not too
> tight). Never fails and allows 2 free hands to hold saddle and work spanner
> tool. Saddle should be off bike obviously.
>
> I just got my 70s Competition back from the shoe repair shop with a new
> strip of leather over the nose with new rivets. $25 and it's a brand new
> FUNCTIONAL saddle. The older rivets were about to pop out. Not sure how
> many
> thousands of miles are on this one. I've owned it for 20+ years.
>
> Kevin McCaul
>
> Silver Spring MD USA
>
> _______________________________________________
>
--
Ken Freeman
Ann Arbor, MI USA