[Chris h]

Hi Terry,

I have been soaking it in Redwing Boot oil for 3 days now and it gives no indication that it is going to soften up.  It may not even be leather so may not do any good anyway.  It is definitely some kind of laminated material.  I was thinking along the same lines; drilling out the rivets and replacing with a couple of pieces of leather or rubber.  The way it is now, I am afraid that after a few rotations, due to it's very hard and brittle condition, it may just break and require further attention.

I went in to the McMaster Carr web site and found a flexible shaft coupling for a 3/8" shaft.  It looks to be about the right size, smaller in overall diameter and made of steel, with a polyurethane flex element.  I may give that a try and see how it works.  If anyone else might be interested it is their part number 6183K34, with a cost of $20.21.

In either case will continue to soak in the boot oil and see what happens.  At this point, I have nothing to loose by doing so.

Thanks for the reply, Terry.  It is appreciated.