Seat Mystery

[jsthomps]

Hi,
I have a 1980 GS1000G and I have noticed an odd thing about the seat. The seat certainly looks stock but sits about ? inch higher in the back then it should. In fact the back rubber pads don?t even rest on the frame. I had to add small block of wood to the pads until I can figure this out. Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

Hmmmm, bent seat pan? I wonder how that's possible unless it was wrecked.

 

[bwringer]

Bent rear subframe? Been carrying any REALLY heavy passengers?

That does appear to be the correct seat.

I could imagine some sort of garage mishap that would bend the seat and not the frame, I guess, but it seems like it would then be hard to open.

Strange... more pix? :-k

 

[relic-rider]

Or rear end of frame is bent down. Do some measurements from a level surface to the top of the frame. The back end of my 81 1000GL was tweaked quite a bit from 2 spills by the PO. Had to use a large bar and a lot of reefing to get it back in shape. Either that or the hinge or seat tab on the frame is bent.

 

[rustybronco]

Can we get a straight on side view?

 

[koolaid_kid]

Some people take the Queen song too seriously, "Fat bottomed girls". :wink:
Just kidding, but it would help to see pics of the rear of the seat and subframe with the seat lifted.

 

[robertbarr]

It almost has to be a bent frame, since anything else would be really obvious. If the pan were bent, it would show up without a doubt. The bracket for the hinge is welded, so would be almost impossible to modify (+ pointless...).

That's really peculiar.

 

[jsthomps]

Thanks everyone ... I will take more pics and make a few measurements and get back to the group.
Regards,
Scott

 

[Nessism]

My vote is that something is blocking the locking mechanism on the bottom of the seat thus it is not sitting down all the way - may not be latching down at all.

 

[jsthomps]

Hi all,
Back with more pics:

 

[rustybronco]

GUT GUESS, wrong hinges on the seat or wrong seat, it ain't the frame. has someone else the same bike that could post seat pan hinge area for him? i'd go with a wrong hinge. the bracket welded to the frame is it bent up if you can tell?

 

[80GS750]

yea that frame looks straight to me.... sounds like its the actual seat thats wack!

 

[dpep]

One thing I can tell you up front is that those pads on the very back of the seat that rest on the frame are about twice as thick as they are on my 850s. It looks like somebody has fashioned them using electrical tape. Remove that pad altogether and see what the space is between the bottom of the bracket and the frame. Then fashion pads that size.

Check to see where the intial contact is when you close.

 

[dpep]

Does you seat lock work? Does the tang slide all the way in and secure?

 

[jsthomps]

GUT GUESS, wrong hinges on the seat or wrong seat, it ain't the frame. has someone else the same bike that could post seat pan hinge area for him? i'd go with a wrong hinge. the bracket welded to the frame is it bent up if you can tell?

Hi,
The brackets look good - not bent (see pic) I was wondering about hinges as well. Yes ... a pic of a normal setup would be appreciated

 

[jsthomps]

Does you seat lock work? Does the tang slide all the way in and secure?

Yes the seat lock works perfectly

 

[jsthomps]

One thing I can tell you up front is that those pads on the very back of the seat that rest on the frame are about twice as thick as they are on my 850s. It looks like somebody has fashioned them using electrical tape. Remove that pad altogether and see what the space is between the bottom of the bracket and the frame. Then fashion pads that size.

Check to see where the intial contact is when you close.

Hi,
This is true. I actually added blocks to the back pads as a temporary measure so no strain is put on the seat when I have a passenger. The gap between the frame and the rear pads is 3/4 inch. Middle and front pads seat on the frame perfectly

 

[Guest]

Has to be the wrong seat then.?:shock:

 

[rphillips]

My vote also, wrong seat, but from what???????

 

[robsGS850]

I have the same seat issue on my 81 850G, the rear rubber pads are now about a 1/2 inch off the frame when the seat's down. So maybe it's a recurring thing? (it was about as bad a bend as yours when I first tried fixing it)

I always figured it was my fault for jamming a set of "throw over" saddlebags between the seat and the frame one year, trying to make 'em less theft-prone. (kinda worked, actually...)

I've tried bending the seat pan with my knee (not so much)
resting it on a step and standing on it, (wrap a towel around the handrail or it'll get scratched, or better yet take it off...) That worked alright... but the amount the seat foam compresses and those easily-snapped-off silver trim pieces make it tricky to exert much pressure. (again, probably worth taking them off, but mine are on there more or less permanently)

I even wedged two wooden blocks under the centre rubber pads and balanced on top, pressing down front and back. Again, worked ok, nothing miraculous. every little bit helped though.

My next step'll be to take it to a shop that does a lot of body work to bend it back properly when i order a new seat cover.

good luck with yours.