First "D" ring questions

[Donn Hewes]

I will attach a couple pictures of the stuff I bought. The second picture shows the rings with the clips that will repair the tugs after I cut them.

Question #1. One clip will fit neatly on the bolt section of the ring – no problem. The second clip will need to fit on the curve and slide around under load. I am thinking I need little curved (moon shaped) wedges to improve the contact between the clip and the ring.

Question #2. these clips rely on three nails. Ideally you might rap the leather around the end but I don’t think there is room. I guess three good nails plus the friction of the plate is good?

Question #3. I have looked at a lot of D ring pictures and I think I understand proper placement of the ring. I doubt I will be making all the harnesses the same as I expect the mules will need a little different size. To custom fit a D ring, I would start with harness on, back saddle and belly band secured in the right place. Hold the d ring up and hold the tug at the right (which is a right angle!) angle and mark the tug.

Any thoughts are welcome.

[colttrainer]

Donn
We build harness here. What I use is rivets or you can use bolts. I would not rely on nails.
Al

[mitchmaine]

hey there donn, i don’t pretend to be knowledgeable on d-ring, but i’ve never seen a set with a clip from the front tug to the ring. it was always sewn into the ring and the adjustment was done at the hame. i broke down once and lost the bushing where the tug bolts to the hame so i repaired it with just the bolt and the clip broke out in a short time without the bushing to fill out the clip. so maybe you do need that moonshaped bushing, although with just leather, it takes that shape with no problem.
les barden told me, like you thought, to put the belly girt and saddle where it ought to be a size the front tug to fit. it will seem short, but no worries. and he also said ” drive a few 20d nails through the clip and right through the tug, saw them to length, and peen them over.” good enough for him is good enough for me. good luck, mitch

[Donn Hewes]

Thanks Al, Bolts sound like a good idea. I think the nail is similiar to a rivet, in that I would cut it off and flattten the end (the nail goes through both sides of the plate). Unless the size of rivet, or material is different?

[Donn Hewes]

Mitch, that is so obvious as to be brilliant. After I cut the tug I flip front piece and slide it on the ring! Put the new clip at the hames. Duh. I love this site.

[CharlyBonifaz]

still scratching behind my ear as to what you were talking about……:confused:
any chance of pictures as you go and put all together? positively curious!

[Donn Hewes]

Planning on taking pictures. I just needed to figure out what I was doing first!

[Author]

Posts