Old seat style to new.........

[rmk2112]

From the old plastic wrap around to 07-10 style in a few easy steps.
While I was having some rips in my seat fixed, I decided it was time to make the permanent transformation to the new style. I bought the seat post from a SnoWester who had wrecked his dragon for $20 and the rest cost another $15. I have the under seat bag with the wings to hide the tank to finish it all off.

I'll post a few more pics of the finished product when the seat cover is on and the seat support has been powder coated.

Parts List:

2 ea. 1/4"-20 Rivet Nuts / Grip Range 0.140 to 0.200
4 ea. 1/4" x 1" SS Washers
2 ea. 1/4" SS lock washers
2 ea. 1/4" x 1" SS Hex Head Bolts

 

[guidoxpress]

dude the rivot nuts are a HELL of a good idea...

would also recommend using them on the rear of the fuel tank...i HATE trying to get those bolts through, lol...

looking good buddy....

 

[Z-Man]

ttt

 

[CPearce]

Does the hand rivet nut tool work? Would like to get an air gun but those things are mucho expensive to install two rivet nuts.

What type of shop would have a rivet nut gun?

 

[guidoxpress]

Does the hand rivet nut tool work? Would like to get an air gun but those things are mucho expensive to install two rivet nuts.

What type of shop would have a rivet nut gun?

harbor frieght sells the air rivet gun for $35, i have had it for years and its awesome.

i use their hand rivet nut tool with good outcome as well.

 

[CPearce]

I have the some rivet gun and works awesome. Just picked up the rivet nut hand tool, can't go wrong for $16 bucks. Thanks.

 

[19 Hundo]

Anyone know someone thats a seat post/support laying around everyone I find will only sell it with the seat???

 

[Z-Man]

Anyone know someone thats a seat post/support laying around everyone I find will only sell it with the seat???

Nope, no one will sell it without the seat. You might get lucky and find it on ebay.

 

[ss_badaz]

Anyone know someone thats a seat post/support laying around everyone I find will only sell it with the seat???

SPG (Skinz) makes one, bit of work had to remove the seat foam bolt on the support and recover.
Re doing an 05 900 seat now took a Boss Seat of a M cut the foam down to fit the 900 pan and using a Skinz seat support be a tall shorter seat i'll have the upholstery shop recover. I'll get some pics up soon.

 

[TrailRebel]

rmk2112, thanks a lot! This is a pretty sweet mod, and definitely more ergonomically better storage. I've been acquiring parts here all fall and finally got around to start doing this. So far, I'm pretty happy. I don't want to hijack your thread, but I have some hints and suggestions for anyone else who may be interested in doing this:

The seat cover doesn't need to come off (although, it's easier). There are two stapled pieces of fabric right behind the holes where the nuts go...pull the staples out and the upper washers can be jimmied in there.

As far as the washers go, the upper washers need to be 3/4" OD and 3/8" ID. the lower washers need to be 1" OD and 3/8" ID. All of mine are stainless steel, and I couldn't find 3/8" fender washers that were smaller than 1 1/4" OD, so I bought 1/4" fender washers (1" OD) and drilled them out to 3/8" ID.

I wanted the washers to fit the hole better, so I took a bolt, put the washer on it, put it in a 13/16", 1/2" drive socket and hit the bolt with a hammer to make the washers concave.

In between the finished seat hardware and the seat post, I used a concave-type washer that had rubber molded to it. I installed these as I put the bolt through so the rubber faced the seat post. I figured it would grip better this way.

It is VERY important that the RivNuts are at LEAST .180" grip range. Anything smaller and it won't grip both washers.

As of right now, mine isn't completed yet, but I plan on trimming the OEM gas can rack just a little bit (because the seat post and the gas can rack interfere roughly 1" - 1 1/4"), so it still has a factory appearance. Between the post and the rack, there will still be enough room for all the mounting hardware for everything, so it all should still fit nice and tight. This only really needs to be done on the SwitchBack, 144" and 151" RMK's, because the gas rack covers up the rear cooler inlets. The longer RMK's don't need to do this because the shovel rack covers up the rear cooler inlet. I think it would be really slick to find a longer shovel rack and mold it somehow to the shorter shovel rack, so it's the best of both worlds. If this were the case, a craigerbuilt quick release gas-can rack would adapt nicely in this area between the seat post and the rear cooler (total of 8 3/4" length, craigerbuilt system is only 7 1/2"). If anyone is willing to donate the longer RMK shovel rack, I'm accepting!!!!(hint, hint)

 

[bgredjoe]

seat post

trailrebel, what seat post are you using?

 

[CPearce]

I was finally able to install my skinz seat post this past weekend. Thanks for the help and guidance. I found it easier to take off the back 1/3 of staples from the seat cover so I could pull back the seat cover and foam to get to the hole. I was having trouble seeding the rivet nuts when installing the screws. I would screw on the seat post and the rivet nut would spin so I ended up clamping the rivet nut with pliers. I also ended up putting on nylon nuts. I have no plans taking off the seat post from the seat. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[TrailRebel]

trailrebel, what seat post are you using?

Polaris part 1015569-067. I don't know why, but Poo has like 3 different style seat posts out there. This part goes onto any 07-11 Turbo IQ. I didn't know if there was going to be a major difference in the RAW vs IQ chassis' so I stuck with the IQ. I think the only real difference is that it has an extra hole on the side bracket, which the micro-fiches never show, but oh well.

 

[TrailRebel]

I've got my post completely finished now. I did some trimming to the fuel can rack so it can fit seamlessly with the seat post. This sled now has the best of all worlds: better storage, easier access to storage (don't have to fumble around putting the two side tabs of the seat into the gas tank anymore), and the usage and appearance of factory parts.
I also hacked apart the original storage compartment to cover the sides of the tank. This wasn't so bad, but if you want to put the underseat bag in, there is a lot that needs to be trimmed off. I kept the two rear tabs of the compartment, so it kind of holds the cover square also so it won't "walk' all over the place because of the lack of support.
Here's a couple of pics of my finished project:

 

[ss_badaz]

Did up this seat mod on the 05 900, I wanted something shorter and taller had an old M series Boss Seat laying around that had some defects on it. Shaped and cut out the foam to fit the 900 Pan shortened it up a bit and re fit the previous SPG seat support, the upholstery shop did some fine tuning on the cover. Had it to the mountains, the seat works great! Just allot of work for the little time you spend with your butt on it!

Dry fit the M series foam on the 900 Pan before cutting down the foam

Guys were asking what is that white mark on the back of the seat? I just say ahh it's just a Poo Stain!