Thing under seat?

[sikatri]

There are these two chromed knobs on both sides of the seat under the cowl. Any idea what they are?

 

[CarlS]

Those are how you remove your seat. You unscrew these and pull the seat back and lift it off.

 

[Rocky]

Those are how you remove your seat. You unscrew these and pull the seat back and lift it off.

Spot on
I don't know about the new bikes, but my Bonneville has two "seat bolts" that have to be removed to get the seat off.
It's a bit of a PITA system and slow, but it is what it is.

Years ago I bought these stainless steel seat bolts from a company in England. I have a small ratchet handle that holds allen wrenches so the process is a bit faster.
I also bought a stainless oil filler cap while I was at it. I don't know if that company is still around or not.
Some of these smaller accessory companies get bought out by larger ones and some products are discontinued.

 

[CarlS]

If that company was Jenks Bolts; he sold the company. Jenks is a really good guy.

 

[Rocky]

If that company was Jenks Bolts; he sold the company. Jenks is a really good guy.

That's who it was! I remember now
I think I went looking for him years later and learned he sold out.

 

[CarlS]

Peter Jenks was an active member of the NewTriumphBonneville forum He readily shared his engineering expertise. An all around great guy.

 

[sikatri]

The allen wrench under the cover looks like it’s bigger than what would fit in these. So are these aftermarket bolts?

 

[CarlS]

They look like the after market bolts I had on my two T100's

 

[Rocky]

The allen wrench under the cover looks like it’s bigger than what would fit in these. So are these aftermarket bolts?

I don't know what the Thruxton factory seat bolts look like, but the one you showed on your bike appears to be aftermarket. There are many different ones on the market that are longer and intended to be fitted and removed by hand.
The wrench under the cover should be 5mm. The Jenks bolts I showed are also 5mm and I think Jenks intended the allen wrench to be used with them.

 

[sikatri]

I don't know what the Thruxton factory seat bolts look like, but the one you showed on your bike appears to be aftermarket. There are many different ones on the market that are longer and intended to be fitted and removed by hand.
The wrench under the cover should be 5mm. The Jenks bolts I showed are also 5mm and I think Jenks intended the allen wrench to be used with them.

Those the only two bolts that hold the seat in? I’ll have to check the size allen key that fits.

 

[Rocky]

Yes, unless there have been some big changes, there are two bolts holding the seat.
I'm betting the allen key under the side cover will fit, but if you have some metric allen's then you're fine.
I've read reports about the bolts falling out and being lost, so snug the bolts up tight, but don't overdo it. You don't want to strip the threads on the bike. Tight is tight enough.
Also check them once in a while to make sure they haven't loosened.
Mine have never come loose.

 

[CarlS]

Rocky, you are correct about using the allen with the Jenks bolts.

I have lost two bolts that vibrated loose. I learned to check them every time I rode.

 

[sikatri]

Side question. Before I took the seat off the first time it felt snug at least I think it was. It took a bit of effort to get it off. Now the front parts seems loose. Perhaps something is either not exactly in place or some rubber spacer is not where it should be. Is there any movement in the seat after it’s bolted in place.

 

[CarlS]

The seat should not be loose. I suspect that you did not get front hooks engaged properly.

 

[sikatri]

The seat should not be loose. I suspect that you did not get front hooks engaged properly.

That’s what I’m suspecting. Just haven’t figured out the trick to installing the seat correctly then. Thanks.

 

[CarlS]

Look ar the hooks near the front of the seat; then look at the catches where the fit. You will see hoe far you have to have the seat toward the rear of the bike in order to slide the hooks in. Once sthe hooks are engaged, the front of the seat should not move. Now in stall the rear bolts.

I no longer have a Bonneville; maybe some of the Bonneville riders can give you hints that I missed.

 

[Rocky]

Look ar the hooks near the front of the seat; then look at the catches where the fit. You will see hoe far you have to have the seat toward the rear of the bike in order to slide the hooks in. Once sthe hooks are engaged, the front of the seat should not move. Now in stall the rear bolts.

I no longer have a Bonneville; maybe some of the Bonneville riders can give you hints that I missed.

I can't offer anything better than that
Just study it a bit and with experience it will become second nature.

 

[sikatri]

I’ll play with it a bit. Shoehorning, tilt and pushing? I’ll study it a bit. Thanks.

 

[Greyfell]

Shoe-horning is actually a good way to describe it. Two points of connection at the front, then put in the bolts at the back.

 

[sikatri]

Shoe-horning is actually a good way to describe it. Two points of connection at the front, then put in the bolts at the back.

I think somehow, I’m not getting it hooked in.