Triumphrat

07-03-2006

My Thunderbird is one of those with two screws in the back of the seat to hold it on. One has a stripped thread.

There's a kit sold to make getting the seat on and off easier but £27 for 2 long bolts seems a bit steep. Anybody else thought of a better idea than two longish bolts from a bolt shop?

Rincewind · 07-03-2006

Skyking makes a quick-release bolt/cotter-pin set-up that I use. It makes for very quick removal and mounting of the seat. The only downside is that the pin retaining straps have scratched my paint a bit.

You could easily fabricate your own based on their idea. See this link from my photo album for pics.

Ballacraine · 07-03-2006

Erling ( A10GF ) Did a really nice mod using big plastic thumb bolts for want of a better word.

It was a very neat job indeed. I seem to remember a few of us went that route at the time.

I don't know if he is still around. I haven't seen him posting for quite a while.

I had the skyking mod on before.

TBH this is much neater:

See the most recent entry in my album.

Link in sig.

Nige.

[ This message was edited by: Ballacraine on 2006-07-03 11:57 ]

07-05-2006

I just did a quick mod on my wife's bike this very afternoon... Based off ideas I got elsewhere in these forums.

Basically just got some 6mm bolts and screwed them in with maybe 3/4" protruding back. Used a Dremel tool to cut the heads off the bolts and clean up the ends (being careful to keep all bits of the bike protected from the sparks and whatnot from the cutting). With a little pushing to get the now five connecting points (tongue at the tank, two hooks in the middle and the two new bolts at the back) to line up, it settles in much easier than stock. I first tried using butterfly nuts to secure but found the 'wings' caught on the fabric of the seat making it too hard to get started on the bolt. Regular nuts were a lot easier.

Is it the bolt that's stripped or the nut inside the frame end? If it's the nut you might need to re-tap it, but that isn't too big a deal.

Next time I have the seat off I might try drilling holes in the bolts for cotter pins a la skyking, but I'm pretty happy with this. We have saddlebags that run under the seat; the added upward pressure made getting the bolts in utterly maddening. Looking at some of the aftermarket options that basically just extend the bolts, it didn't seem like those were going to help me that much, and pretty pricey (not to mention multiple posts about them falling out). This mod took it up from utterly maddening to just really annoying. Not quite as elegant as the skyking solution, but it cost me about 25 cents and 15 minutes.

So many things I just love about that Tbird, the seat bolts are easily the biggest thing that I hate...

JWoodsie · 07-05-2006

Yeah I made my own version of the skyking setup, not real hard to do. The Idea is to get real long 6mm bolts so that the thread ends, that way you can screw themin nice and tight, and they dont have the thread area rubbing on the plastic of the seat. You can get good quality "R" clips from any nut and bolt supplier.

MickMaguire · 07-05-2006

If you are handy you can covert the seat to use they key lock setup from the earlier bikes.

Ballacraine · 07-05-2006

Hi Mick,

Does that go for the Legend too?

Nige.

07-15-2006

Thanks for all the above advice - I've just sent off for the Skyking kit - see how it goes.

MickMaguire · 07-17-2006

Quote:

On 2006-07-05 11:46, Ballacraine wrote:
Hi Mick,

Does that go for the Legend too?

Nige.

Most definately!

The rear subframe has the latch mount and the priomary airbox has the mount for the lock - in fact the sidcover on that side even has a flat where the lock should be. You need to obtain a key lock and latch (same as most triumphs and kawasakis from that period) a pull cable (the stock TBS one is just about long enough) and the latch pawl for the underside of the seat (again most triumph and kwakwers).

Then all you have to do is:
1. drill the side cover so the lock will poke through (fit the TBS rubber lock gasket to the hole).

2. bolt the latch assembly to the subframe

3. fit the latch pawl to the underside of the seat so it lines up with the latch (you may have to pack out the height a little)

the pic shows a 97 seat that I converted to fit - but its much the same for yours.

and Bob's your uncle! :-D

For a slightly easier conversion, you can do this with the lock:

Tri2fly fitted this to his TBird instead of fitting a lock to the sidecover. You just pull on the ring to release the catch.

P.S. Funninly enough your Legend seat will even have that mounting location for the handbook - though its currently of no use to you.

[ This message was edited by: MickMaguire on 2006-07-19 11:31 ]

GeeBee1 · 07-19-2006

Thanks for the info Mick! Makes me want to go out and get one of those early TB Corbin seats and change my TB to fit.