88 Honda Shadow VT600C Seat removal

In another thread I asked about the bike having problems warming up. A
lot of what I have read since points to the jets being gummed up. I
tried some Barryman B12 in the tank but it did not help.

Other suggestions I have read involve taking the jets out and cleaning
them. I started going that route and found that I can't remove the
seat.

There are 2 allen screws under the seat that need to be removed to take
the seat off. I have had the bike since 1990 and never removed the
seat. It looks like the allen screws may be stripped. One of then had
some RTV type sealant in it for some reason (that I had to pluck out).
None of my allen wrenches fit perfectly (tried both metric and
standard).

When I bought the bike (from a dealer) I had a sissy bar added - I
wonder if they screwed up the screws then :-(

Anyway - any suggestion that help me get the seat off are appreciated.

 

Could they be Torx head? If so, get a proper driver -- it'll save you loads
of trouble.

If the heads are in fact hopelessly bunged up, my thought would be to treat
liberally with penetrating oil (give it several shots over a few days), then
use a suitable bolt or stud extractor (*not* an Easy-Out, thankyou) and
remove the bolts by any means necessary. Destroy the bolts if you must;
they're already hosed and in need of replacing. Just try real hard not to
break them off.

-Scott

 

Allen wrenches come in .5 mm size increments. It might be that
you're off by .5 mm.

I'd try one more check for the correct allen size (probably metric).
Generally I'd prefer a socketed allen bit with a tee handle or breaker
bar. This sits in the bolt much more nicely than an L shaped wrench.

Maybe some heat to get rid of any loctite, and a shot of kroil
penetrant.
I've also heard valve grinding compound suggested for helping
the bit to get a grip.

If all else failed, I might try a good torx bit hammered into
the allen socket, but I'd try very hard not to break it off.

 

There's a Shadow rider's forum at http://forums.delphiforums.com someone
there can let you know the correct size of the fasteners if they are OEM.
If they're not, then you'll need dynamite.

 

writes

Can't add anything to the other suggestions about getting the screws
out, but I may be able to shed light on the RTV sealant thing - my
wife's brother is a mechanical fitter at the local port & says they
routinely stick a dod (good technical measure that) of sealant in allen
screws. Stops the head of it filling up with oily mank & the sealant
tends to come out as one lump unlike any oily mank.

 

Thanks all for the replies.

Turns out the screws where not allen head after all (regardless of what
was in the manual) They were just phillips head screws. Being so deep
under the seat and gummed with RTV I could not see this.

I found out when I was hoping a regular screw driver would grab the
allen head.

Regards.

 

Just for the record, are they English or metric?