175 seat removal

[flyboyo2]

OK gang, I need help again.  The seat must be removed in order for me to get my fat head under the consol.  The existing wiring is a disaster.  All the original wiring from the harness, etc has been spliced with what ever color wire the PO had avaiable and it's impossible to tell where the odd colored wires are attached. I would really like to clean the wiring mess up but see no other way to access under the consol.  Any other ideas?
My immediate problem is how to reattach the seat frame to the deck once I remove the hold down bolts.  I know this has been done many times and any tips would be appreciated.

[RickK]

Can you take a pic or two of how its attached currently?  The floor should be end grain balsa covered with glass.

[flyboyo2]

RikK, the seat frame appears to be through bolted.  Not being a Gibbon, my stubby arms will not reach to reattach the nuts once removed.

Any ideas on another method to access the wiring under the consol other than the hatch beneath the helm?

[RickK]

You could cut the backrest on the front of the console out.  Maybe size it so you can fill the area with a plastic hatch?

[flyboyo2]

RikK, you broke the code but how about a large inspection port next to the speaker cut out? It would be a adjacent to the back of the switch panel and the ignition key.  Would it weaken the structure with so many large cut outs?

[RickK]

I really like the console face in this pic - looks pristeen - wonder if it was a standard offering?

If you look up from the side panel that you removed, is the whole top cut out or is the black plastic just covering the face?  You could remove the steering wheel and the screws holding the plastic down and then peek under that panel and see if it just lifts off giving you access to everything?

I notice that you are uploading pics to your gallery - once they are in your gallery follow the instructions in this topic to post them in your topic - it's real easy and much better than "attaching" them.
http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=12725.0

[flyboyo2]

The panel  under the black plastic cover is solid with a cut out on the left for the switches and a smaller cutout on the right for the shifter.  I thought about removing the wheel but then I would also have to remove the shifter and disconnect the engine controls and gear shift which is way above my pay grade.

[RickK]

I guess it depends on if a kink in your back is worth struggling through a hole or not 
There is always enough extra in the throttle and shift cables to pull it out enough to flop it over the side of the console.  The steering cable should be disconnected  from the steering so you can pull the steering off and out of the way - if you look at it there is a clip that makes that easy, both off and back on.

[flyboyo2]

I'll give it a look tomorrow.

[Capt. Bob]

Coming in late so...
You wish to remove the seat for easier access to the console.

I would bet that those mounting screws are not thru- bolted. Easy way to check is to remove one.

Pulling off the tank cover will give minimal access for wire pulling but you'll get a good look at the tank.

Good luck.

[flyboyo2]

Capt Bob, I want to remove the seat so I can lie flat to access under the consol for rewiring.  I don't intend to take the tank cover off...I'm afraid what I might find.  I did pull one of the four seat attachment fasteners and it is a bolt not a screw.  One off the other fasteners has been seated in what I hope is not 5200 but so far it will not budge.

[dburr]

Thumbs if the bolt won't budge, shape the tip of the biggest soldering iron you have to match the head of the fastener and heat it up and then see what happens.  If it is 5200, there is a shot that the heat will help let the fastener go. If it just nasty corroded, you will have the same net result.  If it has a loctited nut or nut plate, again, same net result.  If you don't have an iron, a mapp torch and a shaped nail will work to.  Cook the nail and then hold it on the fastener head...  I have no idea the count of the stripped/broken fasteners in as many  applications  that I have broken because I didn't have the wherewithal to heat them up.

Lessons will repeat themselves until they are learned......   Good luck man!!!!

[flyboyo2]

Thanks dburr...heat it is.