Anyone w/ a Collegiate Convertible? I have a question!

[TheJenners]

So I just bought a used one and, never having a saddle with an interchangeable gullet before, I am bit alarmed that some of the saddle doesn’t seem as attached to the rest as I’m used to!

I can post a pic, but the panels aren’t attached to the flaps. I get that this gives me access to the interchangeable part, but I was still a little :eek: when I saw it. Normal? Normal to see the bottom of the gullet plate?

And assuming this is all normal, anyone want to help me figure out what the colors mean and how I change them?

Thanks!

[Bristol_Bay]

Please post a picture. I have a Pessoa XCH, but when everything is back in place, the gullet plate is not exposed.

[jn4jenny]

What you’re describing is pretty typical. See this video around 2:30 to confirm that we’re picturing the same thing.
http://www.easychangefitsolution.com/adjusting_your_saddle/making-adjustments-to-your-saddle.html

There’s also a graphic guide on that site to changing the gullets.

Colors:

XW = white
W = red
MW = blue
M = black
MN = green
N = yellow

[TheJenners]

Straight on

Close up

[jn4jenny]

Yep, looks like you can just tuck the tree points back into the pockets (on the flaps) where they belong, put the screws back in (on the underside of the pommel arch), and secure the velcro. And voila.

[TheJenners]

Wait wait wait :lol: There is no voila. You say this as if I have an understanding of anything mechanical at all.

So are you saying there are screws missing? In the saddle I mean, not me. Because what you see plus gullet plates is what came out of the box. No other screws.

[TheJenners]

OK, I took another picture (upside down). It looks to me from the imprint that she never tucked the plates into the slit when she used it? And I can’t find any other holes for screws other than what’s there?

[jn4jenny]

Yes, there might be screws missing. It’s not an unusual problem for used saddles with this gullet system.

Look under the pommel arch for the saddle. If you see two gaping holes in the leather (often with staining and/or flattening along the edges where the screw USED to sit), and you see two empty screw channels on the plastic portion that’s underneath the leather on the pommel arch, then There’s Your Sign. You can buy replacement screws from some vendors who sell the Easy Change Gullet System.

But a lot of people just live without these screws. If the velcro is in good shape and the gullet pockets are still snug around the tree points, sometimes you can get away with that. Obviously it’s more secure with the screws in there, so that’s up to you.

[Bristol_Bay]

Another video.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mE3L_7tcnc4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmE3L_7tcnc4

If there’s a tack store nearby, I’m sure they have extra screws. I get an extra set with each gullet plate I buy.

[TheJenners]

Nope, there are two screws in the gullet arch, no problem there.

[jn4jenny]

[QUOTE=TheJenners;7176876]
Nope, there are two screws in the gullet arch, no problem there.[/QUOTE]

That’s not what I’m saying. There are FOUR screws in the Easy Change Gullet System. Two screws that hold the gullet plate in place on the plastic tree points, and two more screws that attach to the pommel arch. I’m talking about the ones on the pommel arch, NOT the two screws holding the gullet plate to the tree points.

I think you’re better served by watching the videos. The link that Bristol Bay shows the two different locations for these screws.

[TheJenners]

Nope, I got what you were saying, I specifically checked the pommel arch, just called it the wrong thing. And I watched the videos to make sure. I (thankfully) have all my screws!

DH doesn’t necessarily agree. :lol:

[jn4jenny]

[QUOTE=TheJenners;7176900]
Nope, I got what you were saying, I specifically checked the pommel arch, just called it the wrong thing. And I watched the videos to make sure. I (thankfully) have all my screws!

DH doesn’t necessarily agree. :lol:[/QUOTE]

Great, then your problem is even easier to fix.

1. Unscrew the two screws in the pommel arch. If you’ve done this, you should be able to pull on the flaps and thereby loosen the velcro that’s holding the flaps up so “high” like that. This freaks a lot of people out the first time that they see it. It looks like the saddle is falling apart. It’s not. This is just what has to happen so that you have room to stick the gullet points in those little slit-pockets on the flaps.

2. Slide the tree points into the little slits in each flap where they were designed to sit. You can see this slit in your second photo: http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg280/ReplacementUsername/IMAG2245_zps7bc697a3.jpg

3. Snug up the velcro, line up the holes in the pommel arch with the screw holes, and put the two screws back in the pommel arch.

[GucciJumper]

My Bates certainly doesn’t look like that. I’m pretty sure there is a slot for the gullet to go in. At least thats how my bates is and they use the same gullets