(400ex) Cheap Alternative Seat Latch Write-up

[4strokernow]

Ok so I'll start off by saying that me and my ex take on a lot of rough trails that include a bunch of train tracks that have to be crossed, so my stock latch would constantly come undone and I would have to get off and re-fasten it so I decided to do some "custom engineering"...

This is all you need to buy...
http://i53.tinypic.com/34yeetf.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/2m7877m.jpg

Take the cover and foam off of the pan and drill a pilot hole from the bottom of the pan...
http://i51.tinypic.com/2uqn6zn.jpg

Continue to drill out the original pilot hole until you can fit your bolt, I chose to go with a 5/8th bolt. Then put a flat washer on the bolt and slide it through the pan...
http://i56.tinypic.com/ad26hc.jpg

Screw the nuts onto the bottom side of the pan, I chose to double nut the outside so it won't back off...
http://i54.tinypic.com/2gtsxo6.jpg

Get some durable string and tie the clips to the rear fender...
http://i56.tinypic.com/okmq8g.jpg

Re attach the seat to the fenders with two bolts from your original latch and you're ready to ride...
http://i53.tinypic.com/105z7e0.jpg

[PaRedneckRiders]

nice idea, im guessing you dont have any problems with the clips popping off??
And the way you have it set up wouldn't there be play in it. Seem like you would be able to pick up on the whole rear plastic section and it would pic up a half inch or so mayb a little more.

[4strokernow]

Nah no problem the clips I bought are under sized so they hold good and tight.

[CJM]

Cool idea, ive seen it done before but the person drilled holes in the bolt for the pin to lock into.

I had thought about doing it myself,but never had an issue where mine popped off-but I did adjust the actual pin that the latch goes on with a small punch and a hammer to make sure its tight.

[jcs003]

OMF and a few others have made a much easier solution than you are proposing.

all that is needed to be done with the OMF is the seat pan pins need cut off and the new bracket bolted up.

im not insulting your idea. its just alot of work to remove the seat cover and foam to do this.

[4strokernow]

Doing it this way only cost me $5 in parts and a half hour taking it all apart and putting it back together.

[jcs003]

Originally posted by 4strokernow
Doing it this way only cost me $5 in parts and a half hour taking it all apart and putting it back together.

i didnt mean to diminish what you did. but, in my personal experience. redoing my seat cover was a demanding task.lol

sorry if you mistook my addition to your thread.

upholstery isnt for everybody.:devil:

[4strokernow]

Nah no hard feelings, when I originally did this mod my old seat pan had all 4 of the oem seat latch bolts broken off in it so this seemed logical. Then thanks to schuckie0920 I got the current seat so I didn't have to do more modding so I was able to bolt the seat to the fenders.