Hi From A Street Scrambler Owner

Discussion in 'Newbies Hangout' started by Julio Tolaini, Jan 9, 2021.

  1. Julio Tolaini

    Julio Tolaini New Member

    Jan 9, 2021
    3
    3
    Sutton Coldfield
    Just joined the forum and keen to hear how you folks get on with your Scramblers specifically but all Triumphs in general.
    I have a specific issue with getting the seat pad off - the small bolt doesn't want to unscrew, just keeps turning. I've never had the seat off before (in 18 months!). Being rather a pain because the rear seat pad removal is highly difficult without getting the bolt out. I'll keep trying but it's frustrating the hell out of me. I suspect someone (could only be the service guys) overtightened it and stripped the thread. The bolt head is so buried in seat and surrounding plastic that it's impossible to get a grip on it with anything.
     
  2. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
    Subscriber

    Dec 3, 2018
    23,767
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    Tucson Arizona
    Welcome to the forum, Julio! There are a number of Scrambler owners on the forum so I'm sure you'll get some great advice here. We'd love to see a photo or two of your bike!

    Screen Shot 2020-09-16 at 9.30.10 PM.png
     
  3. steve lovatt

    steve lovatt Something else

    May 12, 2014
    9,236
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    North Yorkshire
    Welcome to the forum :cool:
     
  4. andyc1

    andyc1 Lunarville 7, Airlock 3

    Feb 4, 2017
    2,931
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    N. Ireland
    Welcome to the forum ;)
    If you dont get an answer about the seat here, post a new topic in the technical help section and someone should help
     
  5. darkman

    darkman Crème de la Crème

    Oct 26, 2015
    7,653
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    Southcoast of the UK Earth
    Hi n welcome :)
     
  6. dilligaf

    dilligaf Guest

    Hi mate and welcome
     
  7. MARKYMARKTHREE

    MARKYMARKTHREE Senior Member

    Feb 11, 2020
    486
    213
    SOMERSET
    Welcome fellow SS owner. :cool:
     
  8. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,625
    800
    Yorkshire
    Welcome to the forum. The rear seat pad is the first thing I removed on mine. The rear seat base and the mounting bracket are both plastic, as is the mudguard below it. The seat mounting bolt screws into a nut molded into the seat base so, if it's been overtightened, it's quite possible the nut could be spinning. Either that or the thread is stripped as you suggest. The location of the nut and the fact it's surrounded by plastic limits your options so damage limitation will be the priority. Using a thin drill bit or maybe a piece of stiff wire heated in a flame it looks like it would be possible to remove the plastic of the seat base directly below the nut and lift up the rear edge of the seat then slide it backwards to remove it. Once the seat is off it would be a simple job to make a small bracket with captive nut to mount to the underneath of the seat and rescue it. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
     
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  9. Wessa

    Wessa Cruising

    Apr 27, 2016
    11,789
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    North West England
    Hi and welcome.... not sure how old the bike is, but if it is still in warranty I would take the bike into your local dealer for them to have a look before starting your own fix . If it is out of warranty then @Pegscraper advice will do you fine
     
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  10. David Cooper

    David Cooper Triumph Rocketeer.
    Subscriber

    Hello and welcome to the forum Julio.

    gump.gif
     
  11. Gyp

    Gyp Well-Known Member

    May 13, 2020
    399
    63
    United Kingdom
    Hi Julio,

    there are a few Street Scrambler owners on here so you'll be made welcome.

    The passenger seat fixing is a real weak point. Not a lot I can add though beyond what @Wessa a and @Pegscraper have said. Unfortunately I'm a few miles from my bike at the moment so can't go and see if there's any other options.

    One of the first things I did though was to get a really long Allen T-bar to ensure that I was on the right angle for the screw.
     
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  12. Tiglet

    Tiglet Vintage Member

    Mar 28, 2016
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    Cheshire
    Hello and welcome to the forum :)
     
  13. SamtheScrambler

    SamtheScrambler New Member

    Nov 22, 2020
    0
    1
    Dumfries, Scotland
    Welcome!

    wow that is an annoying problem, sounds like the hot wire advice might be a good last ditch idea. I ride with the rack most of the time, but when I put the seat on I tend not to bother fitting the screw as the seat fits pretty snugly and the screw is such a faff ‍♂️

    Good luck!
     
  14. Vulpes

    Vulpes Confused Member

    Mar 14, 2018
    19,265
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    Hi and welcome.
     
  15. cliverdee

    cliverdee Well-Known Member

    Aug 5, 2014
    347
    63
    Nottingham
    Hi, I’ve had 2 street scramblers (still got my 2019) and yes the head for rear seat bolt is a bit awkward but with making sure the Allen key is solidly in the bolt head I’ve not had any trouble. It’s quite unfortunate if your bolt thread is stripped or the fixed nut has become unseated or lost as looks a b*****r to get at. I have the rack on mine at the moment so can’t quite tell if you can get at the bolt head for the seat with a pair of grips to put tension on and pull to try and twist the bolt out. I’m sure you’ve already tried this. If you are near your dealer it’s probably worth just asking them before trying anything yourself as often they know exactly what to do to easily sort these things out. In relation to having the seat properly secured I would always use the fixing screw as vibration and bumps could jar it loose while out on the road. .. good luck and hope you get it sorted
     
  16. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

    Aug 8, 2018
    7,676
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    Hi Julio and welcome to the forum :cool: best of luck sorting your bolt
     
  17. Julio Tolaini

    Julio Tolaini New Member

    Jan 9, 2021
    3
    3
    Sutton Coldfield
    Thanks for your replies everyone. Incidentally the reason I needed to get the seat pad off was to charge the battery since I had not yet rigged up my Optimate.
    If I have got the upload right, there should be a photo of my bike attached and one of the small 4mm bolt hidden under the rear of the seat pad. I took a couple of screenshots from a YouTube video showing how to take the seat off, and you can see how buried the lug is that holds the pad down on the mounting. I have tried again unscrewing it after pulling at the bolt with sharp nosed pliers. It does not help that the tail-light pod is a few inches behind the bolt and further limits access. I tried taking the tail light off, but even after removing the cover under the mudguard and the nuts under the tail-light, the unit does not seem to come free, so I have left it rather than break it.

    Seat pad bolt.jpg

    Seat pad internet screenshot 01.jpg

    Seat pad mount screenshot.jpg

    Triumph SS.jpg
     
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  18. cliverdee

    cliverdee Well-Known Member

    Aug 5, 2014
    347
    63
    Nottingham
    You could try using a flat headed screwdriver that is very slightly bigger than the Allen key and tapping it gently into the head of the Allen bolt . ..clamp a pair of grips onto the screwdriver shaft and with a bit of luck it’ll unscrew as the screwdriver blade will have ‘bitten’ into the Allen bolt head and have created a solid grip to get the darn thing out... have done this a few times on other knackered bolts and it often works ! ... good luck with it
     
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  19. Gyp

    Gyp Well-Known Member

    May 13, 2020
    399
    63
    United Kingdom
    I'm well familiar with the way the screw is recesseed which is why I bought a 14" long Allen t-bar to get at it :)

    It looks like there's a crack on the plastic moulding that holds the retained nut in place in the seat pad. If the nut isn't held securely then it will just turn when you turn the allen screw.

    The only thing I can think of without destroying anything is to use a very long allen bit connected to a electric or air driver of some sort and repeatedly fire it (for want of a better term) while you apply force to the seat (up/down/left/right) in the hope that either the plastic will grip or by repeatedly starting the driver it will loosen it.

    You should be able to remove the main seat without removing the rear pad though so you can get to the battery
     
  20. Gyp

    Gyp Well-Known Member

    May 13, 2020
    399
    63
    United Kingdom
    I could be wrong, but I don't think it's turning the Allen screw that's the problem, it's that the nut that it's attached to isn't secure so is turning when the Allen is turned.
     

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