Hello all. I'm new to the board and just got my 800 Drifter yesterday. I have an '05 and have bought an '02 stock two up seat from a lady in Texas. The frame fits perfectly and it has the back rest. My problem is the seat doesn't connect to the frame in any way. There is a metal tab that inserts into the bike under the gas tank, but it doesn't really hold it in place that well. It's very easy to just take the seat of the frame. Am I missing a part, or not inserting the metal tab in correctly? Any help would be appreciated. This is my first bike, and I'm loving it!!
There should be a pair of brackets that come off the seat and go to the frame were there is 4 holes 2 on each side. I am at work and do not have access to my pictures to show them to you. But if you have no response till after I get home I will post them for you.
But if you look on this picture you can see them on the side of the seat.
That's actually the part I've got figured out. I can bolt the frame into place, but my problem is the actual seat. It's not mounted to the frame in any way and I have to put it on seperate. Is it suppose to be mounted to the seat frame? And if so with what? As it is the seat part is pretty much just resting in place.
Welcome aboard, gcates! In case you haven't read about it, I'll warn ya now: these guys and gals are like magpies teasin' a house cat; they'll give ya no rest nor show ya no mercy until you post pics.....
Btw, did I mention pics??? ;D
QuoteThat's actually the part I've got figured out. I can bolt the frame into place, but my problem is the actual seat. It's not mounted to the frame in any way and I have to put it on seperate. Is it suppose to be mounted to the seat frame? And if so with what? As it is the seat part is pretty much just resting in place
ok so the seat is not mounted to the frame, I'll have to wait till I get home and can take mine off and get some pictures for you.
Ok, thanks so much! Love your bike...and your coat! :D
I'll try to get this pic up.
I think that worked. That's it with the seat in question. The actual seat pan is pretty much just resting on the frame. The little shoe horn metal piece underneath is in as far as I can get it to go.
Here's another with the solo:
Nice bike!!
http://www.ronayersmotorcycles.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=394890&category=Motorcycles&make=KAWASAKI&year=1999&fveh=9079
here is the break down of my seat and the parts. Sounds like you just need some bolts to hold it to the frame.
ok went and too pictures for you of the seat, mine is a 99 on a 99....but do not think it would be much different.....
Quote from: CDNRatMan on September 11, 2013, 15:18:57 PM
ok went and too pictures for you of the seat, mine is a 99 on a 99....but do not think it would be much different.....
Thanks a lot for doing that!! I think those pictures tell me exactly what I needed to know. I don't believe I was sent the hardware for mounting the seat to the frame. The whole thing was a little beat up and worn, but I've repainted the frame and mended some spots on the vinyl until I decide to get it recovered. Do you think I could get those parts at like a local hardware store, or am I going to have to find them online like I did the seat?
gcates here is a link:
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/oem-parts/kawasaki/2002/vn800-e2-vulcan-800-drifter/accessory
with a 2002 double seat and all the frame and parts with a price list. Enjoy it and see what you can do.
Thanks so much for your help. I see the bolts I'm missing but I don't see the "A" brackets that are mounted in the bottom of the seat. Mine doesn't have those and I don't see them listed on that site.
Also the back mount seems to have broken, would it be sturdy enough to have just the two side brackets done?
not sure if it would be strong enough that way. If you could post some close ups We could then see better what is missing, but I am sure there is someplace to order the parts you would need.
Here's what I've got:
Those "L" brackets your missing look a lot like the ones for a 1500, except for the welded nut
on the one end. If so I've got a set that I made up at work. (yes ratman more government work). I could even get the nuts welded on if you let me know the thread size.
aralph
gcates seems they sent you most of the seat but not the mounting brackets, and wonder were they got to.
aralph, I would say postal service except you seem to be able to use your hands and read English so you can not be qualified to deliver the mail....lol.....My dad used to live over to University St, from his apartment you could see the Ambassador Bridge really good and watch the trucks going over.
That's what I was thinking. I paid $225 for the seat and the frame. I didn't know the mounts won't be there. Does that seem like a decent deal? How would I go about getting the thread size?
Ratman could probably figure that out for you, he's pretty handy and can read English also....
Need to know if the brackets are the same though or what the differences are and I could just alter
my cutting progam to suit.
Chief might know if they are the same.
aralph
I have looked everyplace I can think of and can not find any thing about the brackets on the seat. This weekend I can take my seat apart and see what the thread size is because it is not listed on any site I can get the info from and it is not in any of the manuals I have. Really strange.
gcates not sure were you are located but I did find this....
http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-motorcycle-parts-accessories-Dual-seat-fringe-W0QQAdIdZ509873504
Thanks for the link. I suppose I could buy that seat and mount it to my frame, because I really want my wife to have that backrest. But I'd rather find some brackets that might work. I appreciate everyone's help, and if you can figure out the thread size I'd really appreciate that too. But I suppose worse case scenario is drop another $100 plus shipping cause I'm in North Carolina.
aralph, if you could make me a set of those brackets I would be glad to pay you for your work and of course shipping.
I am off this weekend and so will take my seat off and check the thread sizes and get the info to you between showers and thunder storms. Wonder what Shipping would cost to NC for that seat?
Or you could do the ride to there and pick it up and send the old one back via bus....lol....
Not sure about shipping. I paid $25 from Texas. The seat was actually $200. In the meantime I'll run to Hime Depot and see if I can find anything. Thanks again for everything.
That looks like a pretty good buy for a hundred dollars. Is it a stock seat? Or one that has been recovered?
Quote from: gcates on September 12, 2013, 07:52:40 AM
. . . . . .cause I'm in North Carolina.
At least you'll be closer to the 2014 Drift-In than most of us.
No problem, let me know when you need them.
Shipping is around $10 and 7 to 10 days.
Will need to know if they are the same as the 1500's or needs to be changed to fit.
aralph
aralph I'll take pictures and measurements of mine for you and gcates so you know how big to make them, I'll also get the head size on them and length of the bolts and such
ok it is today and I went out and got these pics and measurements for you, hope this helps.
Quote from: aralph on September 12, 2013, 18:24:22 PM
No problem, let me know when you need them.
Shipping is around $10 and 7 to 10 days.
Will need to know if they are the same as the 1500's or needs to be changed to fit.
aralph
That would be great! I don't need them soon because I'll want to get more comfortable before I put anyone on the bike. But if you've got those and could weld the bolt to them I would be beyond greatful. Guess we still need the thread size and to know if the 1500 mounts would fit the 800. Cheif seems like a big help, so I'll try and send him a message.
the welded nut isn't really a problem --- NOTE: I really screwed up that statement - I don't think you can get to the nut to tighten or remove with the seat in place... which makes it a large problem. ---- ... I think the L brackets are a different size between the 1500 and 800...
Look here (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/seatbracket.html) and compare to the measurements provided by CRM...
Its pretty inexpensive to get these and give it a shot in any event.
Thanks chief for the response. aralph, I'm fine giving it a Shot if you are. If I understand chief the bolt doesn't have to be welded so I can get a bolt and some washers and nuts when the brackets get here. Let me know how much money you need and where to send a check and I'll get it to you ASAP.
Quote from: gcates on September 14, 2013, 17:39:49 PM
Thanks chief for the response. aralph, I'm fine giving it a Shot if you are. If I understand chief the bolt doesn't have to be welded so I can get a bolt and some washers and nuts when the brackets get here. Let me know how much money you need and where to send a check and I'll get it to you ASAP.
Let me modify my statement... the nut can be secured by some other method, but it will likely HAVE to be secured to work. You likely can't get to the nut to tighten or loosen with the seat in place.
You might want to epoxy it on if you can't get it tacked - even if the bracket holes line up and are in the right position!
Sorry if I led you astray.
I hope aralph understands all of that, cause I'm not sure I do. Is there a way for me to find out the thread size myself so we can go from there?
Quote from: gcates on September 16, 2013, 10:28:39 AM
I hope aralph understands all of that, cause I'm not sure I do. Is there a way for me to find out the thread size myself so we can go from there?
I don't understand what you are asking. YOU have the bolt so the nut would have to fit.
The brackets are sized for you in the info in the post. It looks like they are different sizes and the holes may be positioned differently I don't have an 800 bracket to compare to the 1500. That is the best way to determine if you can interchange the two.
gcates, not sure why you are stuck on thread size. If you have the bolts already in the seat then you just need to find the right bolt and vice a versa, if you have neither then you can use what you want to.
Ok, I'm sorry. I think I was ASSuming (without looking) that the holes in the frame where the bolts go through we're threaded. And If I understand you guys, you're saying they are not. So I can pick any bolt/nut combination that will fit my holes.
Yup, because if you look at my seat bottom (think of that one GB) and you see I have nuts (again GB) on the bottom and the bolts are in the seat. Your seat bottom is missing the bolts. So you can do as you please and use what ever size will work for you.
Oh, the mental image THAT presents...
And again, why does this seem to happen, another thread going south...lol
Keep in mind your hole is only so big, don't want to put something to big in there. (did that for you Ratman).
gcates the schematic calls for a 6mm bolt,
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/Motorcycle/1999/VN800-C1+Canada+Only/SEAT/parts.html
aralph
Ok aralph, it seems I need your brackets and then I can go to a local hardware store and get bolts/nuts and I need to find a way to bond those together. Can you message me your address and how much you'd want for the brackets and I'll get a check in the mail tomorrow.
I gave the sizes from Ronayers site on my pictures and from my own seat. Going south in 14 for Driftin.....lol....
gcates I used JB weld to hold some spacers for me while I got them bolted up and it worked really well, albeit they did not last forever but long enough to get the bolts in place.
Okay guys, thanks for all the help!! alralph was able to make me a set of the brackets I needed and they for great! Special thanks to him!! This is a great site and I look forward to hanging around a long time!