Leather straps and straplocks

chingas · #1 09-17-2007, 05:37 PM

I just bought a Levy's leatehr strap and want to put some Schaller straplocks on it. Given the thickness of these straps, does anyone have advice on how to get these things on?These things won't go on without a fight!

Johnny Crab · #2 09-17-2007, 05:45 PM

FIGHT!

A pair of good needlenose, a third hand, and pressure to smash the leather down is what it took to get some Dunlops on a Levi.

If those use circlips

to secure them, make SURE the circlip doesn't get bent out of shape. If it does, it can come loose/fall off without warning. Keep an eye on them each time you put the bass on/off to make sure none of them are giving up the FIGHT. I've had a clip "fall off somewhere" so they get bent closed a little more before installation AND an eye kept on them.

codyAllen191 · #3 09-17-2007, 05:55 PM

yeah, i had that same problem.....it took awhile, but with alittle force it worked.

Bassist4Life · #4 09-17-2007, 06:00 PM

It took A LOT of muscle! I actually needs another pair of hands to turn the nut while I compressed the washer and the strap. I don't remember what I used to press the washer down.

Joe

VinalTap · #5 09-17-2007, 06:08 PM

Thats funny because I also have a thick Levi's strap and Schaller locks, but my strap fits on perfectly without a hassle

tplyons · #6 09-17-2007, 06:21 PM

Gotta really mash it at first, but then the leather will give after a bit. Perfect fit now.

Be SURE to throw some blue loctite on it too, the leather tends to try to undo your work sometimes.

Debased · #7 09-17-2007, 06:39 PM

The only way that I could get Schaller straplocks on my thick three-layer Moody strap was to leave off the washers, but it works fine without em as long as you tighten the nut, let it sit for a day to compress the leather, and then snug it down again. The compressed leather is more than adequate to lock the nut in place, IME. That sucker isn't going anywhere. I've been using it like this for almost a year, and the leather is showing no sign of deformation. YMMV.

OTOH, when I've used the washers in the past, you have to really keep an eye on the nut; without locktite it always managed to loosen over time.

chingas · #8 09-17-2007, 07:16 PM

thanks to everyone for the tips!

Jazzdogg · #9 09-17-2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chingas

I just bought a Levy's leatehr strap and want to put some Schaller straplocks on it. Given the thickness of these straps, does anyone have advice on how to get these things on?These things won't go on without a fight!

I found that the reason I was having difficulties was because the holes in the strap were slightly too small. As a result, the leather would bunch up and thicken when I attempted to install strap locks. As soon as I enlarged the holes slightly, the problem was solved.

erochelle77 · #10 09-17-2007, 08:07 PM

Just put the strap on the button as normal, and then put the locker on over it. No installation necessary.

Bassist4Life · #11 09-17-2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Be SURE to throw some blue loctite on it too, the leather tends to try to undo your work sometimes.

+1

pfschim · #12 09-17-2007, 11:04 PM

for really thick straps like the Levy's 3.5 and 4 inch padded straps, I have worked out a method that works pretty well and does not end up leaving anything (like the washers!) out.

Parts needed:

1 fairly short, say 1 1/2 inch, #8 (or so) threaded bolt. Just needs to be long enough to go through the strap and give some room to seat 2 washers and a nut.
1 matching nut
2 matched washers with the same approximate diameter as the straplock your trying to install
socket set, vise grips or other tools to tighten nuts/bolts

Process:

1. slightly dampen the area of the strap around the button holes
2. push the bolt and one washer through one side of the strap
3. thread the other washer and the nut on the other side
4. tighten the bolt and nut as much as you can
5. let it sit for a few minutes, tighten again if possible

have the straplock parts ready to go near the strap
after about 20 min., quickly loosen the nut/bolt/washer set and the leather will be nicely compressed and pliable enough to easily put the straplocks on with no problems.

I've done about 5 very thick straps this way and they all came out fine.

good luck

Bassist4Life · #13 09-18-2007, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfschim

for really thick straps like the Levy's 3.5 and 4 inch padded straps, I have worked out a method that works pretty well and does not end up leaving anything (like the washers!) out.

Parts needed:

1 fairly short, say 1 1/2 inch, #8 (or so) threaded bolt. Just needs to be long enough to go through the strap and give some room to seat 2 washers and a nut.
1 matching nut
2 matched washers with the same approximate diameter as the straplock your trying to install
socket set, vise grips or other tools to tighten nuts/bolts

Process:

1. slightly dampen the area of the strap around the button holes
2. push the bolt and one washer through one side of the strap
3. thread the other washer and the nut on the other side
4. tighten the bolt and nut as much as you can
5. let it sit for a few minutes, tighten again if possible

have the straplock parts ready to go near the strap
after about 20 min., quickly loosen the nut/bolt/washer set and the leather will be nicely compressed and pliable enough to easily put the straplocks on with no problems.

I've done about 5 very thick straps this way and they all came out fine.

good luck

Bravo sir! That sounds like a great plan of action. I will keep this in mind the next time I attempt this herculean task.

Joe