WANTED: Brake Leather

[gemering]

I have been slowly cleaning an early 2-door Credenza.
Yesterday I removed the automatic brake and turntable to clean the motor board.
The brake leather is worn and should be replaced.
Can anyone recommend a good source for brake leather, or have a piece for sale?
Thanks!
Gene

[Jerry B.]

I've purchased leather at shoe repair business and old fashion leather belts are available at some sewing machine shops. Jerry

[gemering]

Thanks Jerry!

[estott]

If you'll be at the Wayne show I'll give you a chunk of old sewing machine belting.

The biggest trouble you'll have is opening up the brake to insert it.

[briankeith]

This is what I use - and it's cheap cheap cheap. 370644537253 EBay item.

[mattrx]

Mine came from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002EZ ... UTF8&psc=1 The eBay link is cheaper. If you still need some, pm me and I can send you an inch or two (more than enough). As for opening the brake to install the leather, I pinch the leather really hard with small needle nose pliers to install it. I broke open the first brake I tried to spread, so I don't do that anymore. Lesson learned.

Matt

[a12548]

Or leather shoe lace..slice and dice..on ebay # 331041017414

[gemering]

Thank you to everyone who responded.
This site is the best because of the caring member on it!!!!
Gene

[JohnM]

The biggest trouble you'll have is opening up the brake to insert it.

This isn't difficult at all if one knows the secret. The leather is crimped in place by two metal prongs that are formed into a two halves of a ring with a split in the middle at the top. Looking straight down at the brake, one would assume that sticking a screwdriver into the split between the two rings at the top and spreading them apart would work, but that spreading motion is counter to the way the prongs are formed and it will fight you like a bear, and most likely one of the prongs will break off, ruining the brake. Here's the simple secret: using a needle-nose pliers, gently twist (rotate) the left prong counter-clockwise a smidge, and then rotate the right prong clockwise a smidge. This completely opens the prongs and the old brake leather will come right out. Put the new leather in and then gently twist each prong back so that they meet again. Voila! Be sure to trim the new leather with a razor blade and saturate it with Singer Sewing Machine Oil.

[gemering]

Thanks John!
It looks like someone in the past (not me!) broke off one of the prongs.
Now what?
Is there something I can do to make sure that the leather stays in place?
Gene