Re: A5 stock question--Saddle-TC conversion?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mark5pt56</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have the saddle cheekpiece stock, can this be switched to the Terry Cross one? Didn't know if Marine Tex could be used to fill in the cut out, etc.
I have my height "saved" by using 4 leather strips that act as spacers. They have the middle cut out and slide around the clamping bar on the cheekpiece. As everyone knows, the thumb screws loosen up frequently.
Anyhow, the above would be cheaper than a new manners with the TC hardware if it's possible.
Mark</div></div>
In answer to your question as to whether a "Saddle" cheekpiece can be "switched" to Terry Cross's <span style="font-style: italic">"Loggerhead"</span>, the short answer is <span style="font-style: italic">"Yes"</span>. However, the real answer is longer and closer to a <span style="font-style: italic">"No"</span> due to conversion not being cost-effective as well as being a major PITA. Terry Cross explained why retrofitting isn't recommended himself in a thread back in early January 2011 <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">
HERE</span></span>. In that thread <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">sobrbiker883</span></span> asked <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Terry Cross</span></span> if the "Loggerhead" could be retrofitted into McMillan stocks with the "two screw adjustable" (the "Integral") and the "two screw/thumbwheel". While you're talking about switching from a McMillan "Saddle" cheekpiece to the Loggerhead, the same type of work would be required for the retrofit.
The problem is that each type of cheekpiece hardware has specific inletting on the interior of the stock as well as various cuts into the GelCoat shell of the stock. The Gelcoat is important to the strength of the stock, and care should be taken to avoid damage to the Gelcoat. If the GelCoat is damaged it is recommended that it be repaired asap to avoid further damage that may occur as a result of the Gelcoat damage. McMillan sells GelCoat Repair Kits just for this reason.
Terry also noted that required cuts in the GelCoat are specific to that type of hardware, and that he designed the KMW hardware to require minimal exterior cuts into the stock to minimize debris entry as well as to have little or no knobs and fasteners hanging out to catch on anything.
A retrofit would involve carefully cutting out the existing hardware with a mill and refilling the huge voids and holes where the original hardware resided. All holes and cuts in the surface of the stock would also need to be filled and patched. Only then could you proceed to cut a totally new inlet for the bottom assembly and top assembly.
All of the work involved would easily double or triple the cost of the hardware upgrade, and even then your stock would still have tell-tale signs of the old hardware unless lots of care is taken with a GelCoat patch kit. That's why most people (myself included), opt to get a new stock and sell the old one to help recoup the cost of the new stock.
Keith
