'83 R100RT Seat Swap - Bummed my seat won't fit properly

[picturethis]

i seemed to have gotten the seat very close to perfect alignment - the pin still will not latch and looks to only be 1/4" or so away from locking in place

when i get home next week i'll see if removing some of the rubber grommets help get the seat down far enough to latch.

thx all for your input!! much appreciated.

[SteveD]

The bolt is attached on the other side of the base by a weld, so no adjustment.

I must be nuts saying the latchpost was held by a nut. What nut?! It's the same stupid idea as the hinge mounts.
Thanks Steve.

Initially I thought it was a nut too Jeff, but it was a presumption because I'm sure I've seen the bolts available as a spare. I had to go look to confirm, which really only confirms that at least some seats were welded. Some might have had a nut? Would a nut be like a pea under a mattress for a princess? We don't hear too many complaints from riders about their left butt ache?
I wonder if a half decent whack with a Harley tool might align the OP's bolt up just enough?

[jagarra]

Since you can't lower the pin lower the hinges. I would remove the hinges, put some washes between the pan and hinges mount them down again. By raising the hinge pivot, you may lower the pin.

[PAS]

So how long is your latch pin?

[ME 109]

I wonder if a half decent whack with a Harley tool might align the OP's bolt up just enough? [/color]

I had to do that recently with a seat I bought. Not sure how the latch bolt got bent but I was able to bend it a little so it engaged the latch.
More likely the seat pan bent, not the bolt.

[SteveD]

I wonder if a half decent whack with a Harley tool might align the OP's bolt up just enough? [/color]

I had to do that recently with a seat I bought. Not sure how the latch bolt got bent but I was able to bend it a little so it engaged the latch.
More likely the seat pan bent, not the bolt.

Yep, as the OP's seat looks to have been cleaned up, and with a rusty colour around the bolt, if that area is weakened then it might cause the bolt to reposition.

[picturethis]

Update: After some muscling on the seat, I've got the seat pin to click into the latch mechanism - it is now operating correctly.

thx all

[picturethis]

Heres a photo of the OEM seat installed - I purchased the smaller seat rail and awaiting it's arrival. The old rail had the passenger seatback and I'm not crazy about that look nor do I take passengers.

[SteveD]

Bewdiful bike. Define "muscling". What did you do?

Update: After some muscling on the seat, I've got the seat pin to click into the latch mechanism - it is now operating correctly.

[picturethis]

the seat hinge near rear of seat was not positioned correctly and wasn't allowing the seat to go down all the way and throwing it out of position. the "arm" section of the hinge was twisted and a little bent - similar to how i get after several martini's

after straightening the hinge the seat pin was able to go down far enough to "click" shut

i'll post some photos when i get the shorter rear seat cowl bar installed