Need advice on leather...

[Cubnut]

On my 1950 FCub project, I'm getting ready to start reconditioning the hydraulic valve body. This will be a working tractor, so I'm not concerned about everything being exactly original, but I also don't want anyone putting out a contract on me for ruining a good Cub or its parts. I figure I'd better ask first.

The valve body has two shafts sticking out the front (piston sleeve and control valve), and aparently they both originally had leather boots on them. The parts book lists new boots, but they're rubber...I guess leather has pretty much gone out of style with IH and replacement leather boots are no longer available. The boots on this tractor are leather, and they seem to be in one piece with no cracks, tears or holes in them. They're very dirty, oil-soaked and hard, but otherwise they look OK...just stained. I haven't tried removing them or cleaning them yet, but I will do so in the near future.

My question is: are they worth saving, or should I just get new rubber ones? I can't believe that, after 50+ years, many of the leather ones are still good...are they rare enough to justify attempting to restore them? If so, what would be the best way to clean the oil, dirt and paint from them? Because they're kind of stiff with age, should I soak them in some kind of preservative to soften them up for 50 more years of happy Cubbing? I'd hate to replace something that maybe should be saved and risk getting pounded some day by an irate restorer!

Any ideas?

[Bigdog]

I'd save them if I could but I'll bet that they fall apart just trying to get them off.

[Cubnut]

You're probably right...I don't expect them to make it past the prybar stage. I've never seen a 54 year old cow, so I don't know how long leather will last, but these things have got to be petrified.

Assuming they don't turn to dust at the first touch, how would you get them clean & fit for use? What kind of treatment stuff would you use? I've never had to restore old leather.

[beaconlight]

Using Neets foot oil is what the old timers did. We can get it on Staten Island so i guess any hardware or sportins goods store would have it. We used to rub it in to soften baseball gloves when i was a kid.

Bill

[Donny M]

You can get a new leather boot from Case/IH. Just tell the parts guy/gal you want a boot for the Super A, black leather and very nice. As for the control boot the rubber one is best. I'm not able to get you part numbers at this time but if you have trouble with Case/IH let me know and I can get the part numbers for you

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

If you order new ones, the smaller one for the contol valve will be the same size, just made from rubber. The one for the lift piston though will be much smaller and only fits over the knuckle on the rod. If you want one that fits over the lip on the housing as the original did you need to order one fot the lif piston on a Super A.

[Bill V in Md]

Cubnut,

I had the same issue with the boots on my 1948 touch control unit. I soaked them in kerosene for a day or so, with some gentle scrubbing along the way. They cleaned up real nice and, after drying, looked pretty darn good.

[Cubnut]

My humble thanks to all...looks like some excellent info and advice here. I didn't know about the Super A parts. I'll try to save the ones I have but, if that doesn't work, I'll waste no time getting new ones from either of these sources.

Thanks again!

[Bill V in Md]

Cubnut,

I had the same issue with the boots on my 1948 touch control unit. I soaked them in kerosene for a day or so, with some gentle scrubbing along the way. They cleaned up real nice and, after drying, looked pretty darn good.

Below is a photo of the larger of the two boots, after cleanup. Not bad for 56 years old......Bill V in Md