Triumphrat

Wychall

As I have an after market luggage rack that restricts access to the seat bolts on my '03 Thunderbird I have spent a lot of time turning the air blue with my cursing at not being able to locate the bolts. I have now carried out a simple modification and can now remove and refit the seat in less than a minute!

All that I have done is to fit studs into the frame, with a locknut to keep them tight. I have left approx 15mm protruding, which is now easy to hook the seat on to. The only slightly fiddly bit is putting a washer and nut onto the end of the stud and then spin it up with a socket on a screwdriver handle. Dead easy and no cursing!!

In case you don't know where to get a suitable stud, I just cut the head of a 30mm long bolt.

Hope this helps others as much as it has helped me.

Wychall

As I have an after market luggage rack that restricts access to the seat bolts on my '03 Thunderbird I have spent a lot of time turning the air blue with my cursing at not being able to locate the bolts. I have now carried out a simple modification and can now remove and refit the seat in less than a minute!

All that I have done is to fit studs into the frame, with a locknut to keep them tight. I have left approx 15mm protruding, which is now easy to hook the seat on to. The only slightly fiddly bit is putting a washer and nut onto the end of the stud and then spin it up with a socket on a screwdriver handle. Dead easy and no cursing!!

In case you don't know where to get a suitable stud, I just cut the head of a 30mm long bolt.

Hope this helps others as much as it has helped me.

Beemie

Don't the sandwiched locknuts securing the studs prevent the seat from moving forward as much as it is supposed to? My seat brackets bottom out right against the frame tabs in the back (where the bolts go).

Wychall

The locknut is 4mm max so makes no difference. Actually, it does make a difference, the seat used to creak against the tank before, it doesn't now! The bikes in the dealers at the moment so it will be interesting to hear their comments when I finally retreive it.
They loaned me a new Tiger to keep me mobile.... Give me back my Tbird!

Wychall

The locknut is 4mm max so makes no difference. Actually, it does make a difference, the seat used to creak against the tank before, it doesn't now! The bikes in the dealers at the moment so it will be interesting to hear their comments when I finally retreive it.
They loaned me a new Tiger to keep me mobile.... Give me back my Tbird!

Rincewind

The seat release on the tbirds is a royal pain in the ass.

Glad you found a solution that works for you, Wychall.

I've fitted my tbird with a Skyking Quick Release Assembly. Now I don't dread having to remove the seat. You just remove the two hitch pins and it's off, no tools needed.

Rincewind

The seat release on the tbirds is a royal pain in the ass.

Glad you found a solution that works for you, Wychall.

I've fitted my tbird with a Skyking Quick Release Assembly. Now I don't dread having to remove the seat. You just remove the two hitch pins and it's off, no tools needed.

Beemie

Have a picture of it installed?
Long cables?

Rincewind

I found and uploaded a pic that shows the Skyking assembly w/o the seat installed. See my photo album linked below.

If I find a pic w/ the seat installed, I'll upload that as well.

The cables are maybe 4 or 5", and the cable loop is visible beneath the seat when it's all put together, unless you stuff the cables under the seat more. When it's time to take the seat off, I just grab the loop with my finger and tug off the pin.

Beemie

Thanks for the picture.

Are the cables coated or are they one of those "Oh*****, the paint!" types of mods?

The nuts obviously move the seat back a bit; any problems there?

Are the cables obvious with the seat on? (An invitation to passersby?) Would like to see it with the seat on.

[ This message was edited by: Beemie on 2004-10-22 13:25 ]