When I bought my '91 900SS this is what the underneath of the seat looked like note the 4 holes and the white plastic bobbin pushed in to one of them. Without the bobbin in place, when the seat is fitted there is a gap between the seat and the frame that looks like this (the side panels have been loosened nad dropped down to show the gap) On closer examination the bobbin looks home made. The previous owner was a big chap so maybe this was put in to support the seat. There was only one on one side, nothing on the other. My question is this: should there be something in there or just a gap as per the second pic? With just a gap there when pressure is applied downwards on the seat, the seat flexes a little. Speaking to the Ducati dealers yesterday they have nothing showing on their parts list. It looks to me like the undeside of the seat should make contact with the frame.
I'll take a pic of my 95 seat for you. But i do know Ducati changed the seat design on 93 onwards models because of the flexing and damage to seat and tank.
Cheers Steve. From what you are saying, I wonder if someone has knocked something up to address the problem.
The long front 'feet' should contact the frame (next to the bits that hook under the frame).........the rear tall 'feet' also contact the frame. In the centre, where your white bobbin is, there should a be a black rubber bung type foot (round, about 20mm deep and 25mm diameter, with a rubber stem that pushes through the hole in the base of the seat....one either side. My 97 SS has only one hole either side, but I will have a look later today to see if it is in the front or rear hole position. I will check the dimensions for you so you can find something to glue into the right position. None of the SS parts manuals show a separate part which is why the dealers can't identify one. Your best bet is to try and blag a couple of samples from somewhere like here.... http://www.componentforce.co.uk/category/106/epdm-rubber-plugs AL
Thanks guys. Now I know that there should he something in there i'll go ahead and get something made up. At least I have the one bobbin to use as a pattern. It looks like its been turned out of nylon.
OK Gilps..........having had a look at my seat, there is a stiffening rib between the front and middle 'foot' postion, so as Steve says they changed the design at some stage. The rib on mine is as far as the first hole from the front on your seat, so that hole doesn't exist on mine. The rubber feet on mine are in your second / most rearwards hole postion. The widest O/D is 30mm and the narrow O/D is about 25mm . The depth of them is approx 15mm (mine were cut down about 2-3mm so the smaller diameter will vary slightly) but I would check this on yours when you fit them. I would be inclined to fit one at both hole positions or one to cover both..........If you could get some proper glue you could bond a rib each side of yours as well. Basically I reckon you could get a way with a couple of small diameter doorstops fixed to say, those foldy uppy fixings a bit like they use in plasterboard or something like that.... AL
I've just had my pillion cover painted! I only need a nylon/rubber bung! You should be in sales Isn't there a difference in seat catches between early and late models? I seem to remember seeing something to that effect when looking at either Corbin or sargent seats before deciding to get mine recovered.
Same as mine Steve............at least Gilps can now see the rib I was talking about.....seat lock is quite different too. AL
