SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> backrest help
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1180666745

Message started by Mister_Breeze on 05/31/07 at 19:59:05

Title: backrest help
Post by Mister_Breeze on 05/31/07 at 19:59:05

:-[ ???

Ordered from Oneida last week and the backrest,rack and crashbars came today.

Backrest had no instructions with it and now I'm thinking it was a return. I fiqured it couldn't be that hard to put on and gave it a go. I've been the last 3 1/2 hours and had to stop cause I'm ready to scream. Now have scratches on my new bikes fender and I ain't a happy camper. I've had this thing on and off at least thirty times and can't get the right combo. The actual bar doesn't want to slide in the brackets. I've left it loose,tight, and in between and still a no go. Starting to think it's machined / welded wrong or something . Anyone got the papers laying around for this piece of crap? Just can't see why I should have to modify an OEM part to fit.

Gonna give it another try in the morning >:(

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by justin_o_guy on 05/31/07 at 22:29:52

When I worked in body shops we used wide masking tape & stuck several layers on when we were working around paint we could afford to scrape up. Maybe you can keep from making it any worse? Sorry about the hassles.I have no clue how to help with anything more than the tape idea. Good Luck..

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Greg_650 on 05/31/07 at 22:31:02

Mister_Breeze wrote:

A stock Suzuki backrest? On a S40, I'm guessing....

Got a cell phone camera? Post a photo.

I know those rails can bite your fender. Gotta be careful.

Needless to say, it shouldn't be that hard....a little cussing, a little scratching and it should be on.

Bolts on the inside of the rails? Bolts on the bottom?

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Mister_Breeze on 06/01/07 at 03:44:33

Thanks for the replys

This is for a 2006 and has the right part number on the box.

For lack of a better term.........I removed the left and right stock chrome fender struts / braces ( which are wider than the replacements) and loosely bolted on the new ones. This is pretty simple with just two bolts in the front of each with a chrome nut and one on each from the inside of fender into the brace.

Problem is when you try to slide the sissy bar down into the struts it binds up big time. Wants to pinch the living crap out of the turn signal wire ( re-routed those three time too) and will NOT slide the whole way down in so you can bolt from the bottom of brace and then from the sides as the holes indicate.

Since I think that all the hardware is not in the bags anyway (missing the emblem and a couple tape ties) I think it's made wrong and was returned. Short of fileing or bending the brackets or bar I'm at a loss, but going to try again.

Was hoping I was missing something (on procedure), but it doesn't look that hard to do this.

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Greg_650 on 06/01/07 at 05:00:09

Aren't there 2 bolts (1 each side) on the inside of the rails that hold the backrest in place. Then 2 underneath too?

Are the rails bolts loose when trying to install the backrest?

I really thought that you had to assemble the whole thing THEN slide it on the fender. That way, you know the wires are routed correctly inside the rails.

Maybe I don't have the whole picture here...

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Mister_Breeze on 06/01/07 at 05:47:52

Yes there are two bolts that go underneath and two from the inside of the rail. Picture in the Clymer manual looks about right . I did try both loose bolts and tight options

Don't quite understand why they give ya two sets of inside holes on the rail. Would think it would be to give ya two height options, but then theer would be no way to bolt the bottom.

May try as all one unit as I did not try that yet, but would think that would lead to some big time scratches if not going well. I've tried to treat it like nitro and still ended up with some scatches.

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Mister_Breeze on 06/01/07 at 06:21:48

OK...............now to confirm what I was afraid of to begin with.......
I'm a moron

Got it on now thanks to Greg. Don't know why I thought it had to be put on seperately. I had the bolts as loose as they would go and it would not line up that way. Did it Gregs way and it went right on. Five minute job as it should be!

Guess that's why they shouldpack instructions for the mentally challanged like me!

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by georgekathe on 06/01/07 at 15:35:13

also why it is good to have a bunch of people on this site who are so free with advice...

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Mister_Breeze on 06/01/07 at 17:05:57

georgekathe wrote:

also why it is good to have a bunch of people on this site who are so free with advice...

yup gotta agree there!

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Reelthing on 06/01/07 at 17:31:51

got a picture?

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Mister_Breeze on 06/02/07 at 10:27:05

Reelthing wrote:

got a picture?

Naw didn't take any yet. Just a stock bar for a S40 and on a side note..............................it just wasn't my day. When putting on the seat, dropped the back seat bolt. Quess where it went????????

Down side of fender INTO the left brace ! After trying 45 minutes to fish it out and a magnet wouldn't work............you quessed it !!!!!! Take it all apart again and retrieve. That sucker will now be on there FOREVER and I now lay a rag next to the siderail to block any incoming bolts.

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by justin_o_guy on 06/02/07 at 15:47:57

Ma,. when it goes bad, it goes all the way.. Bummer.

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by noshow on 06/02/07 at 19:14:39

Greg_650 wrote:

I really thought that you had to assemble the whole thing THEN slide it on the fender. That way, you know the wires are routed correctly inside the rails.

I have a 2006 s40 and bought the Suzuki backrest from the dealer. Putting it on was abit tricky for me also. Finally I did assemble the entire thing then installed it afterwards.

For me it was a real tight fit and I thought many times that I would scratch the paint. Lucky for me I did not. However I spent way too long being overly cautious with the installation....

http://www.bikepics.com/members/noshow/part/

I scanned the small 6 page booklet mine came with. Hope this helps.

-Noshow

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Rockin_John on 06/02/07 at 23:12:59

Sucks you had such a hard time getting it together. When I got my '87, the old man I got it from didn't like the sissy bar because it was in his way swinging his leg over. Removing and saving the bar seemed like too much hassle to him; because the screws are hard to get to, so he just took a hack saw to it! I bet after about a half hour on the hacksaw he was thinking taking the bolts out would have been easier (and it would be). Anyways, here's what one looks like cut off:

http://catoosatrading.com/images/vehicles/cycles/my_ls650/purple_1987savage_as_bought.jpg
I got my new/used bar on by only loosening bolts and working the parts around, but I've had many, many years
of experience or mechanical assembly, and making things that don't want to fit go together anyways. And I admit this was a bit of a tough one. I probably wrestled the thing for 30 minutes with all bolts loose, before I could begin to tighten anything up. Probably would have been better off to take it all off and do it from scratch as Greg suggested, but I figured there was more chance of scratching things up that way. And I'd have felt compelled to tape the fender sides as another poster recommended.

At any rate, on some assembly jobs it just pays to "bite the bullet" and start from step #1 instead of just loosening things and working from the middle of the procedure. Live and learn still applies after wrenching all your life.

http://catoosatrading.com/images/vehicles/cycles/my_ls650/sporty_seat.jpg

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by thumperclone on 06/03/07 at 10:06:48

i played hell gettin my backrest/rack on my 06 also, just some minor scratches should of waited for the wifey to get home,X pair of hands would of really helped.had the saddle bag stand offs to deal with at the same time..if it wasnt such a pain id change out the turn signals...

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Mister_Breeze on 06/03/07 at 11:11:47

Well thanks, as some of the replys make me feel a little bit better anyway.

The directions would have been a big help for sure, but I quess someone back at the factory was get'n a good laugh and fiqured let the doofus on his own.

Should have quit earlier and walked away till the next morning, but that's what I get for being in a hurry. Most of the damage is hidden pretty good except for a couple small spots. Time for some touch up paint!

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by glwharton on 08/10/07 at 05:38:05

Did you get replacement side fender mounting brackets with the bar ? You should have as there is really no way to mount the sissy bar otherwise. i'll try to find you the instructions and send them to you, but I know the rear fender guards have to be replaced along with the install.

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by FreeSpirit on 08/13/07 at 04:00:20

While ya'll are on the subject...I have a question.

Someone took the backrest off my bike before I bought it, but they did save the backrest....

But my question is.......when they took it off or whatever they scraped the back fender....now there is a little( less than half dime size) rust spot on my fender.

How do I take care of that?The rust,etc.

I have no idea but want to fix it as soon as possible. It would not be seen with the backrest on,but I dont want to leave it like that.

Remove the rust? with what? and touch up paint? I really dont know,I'm guessing :-)

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by PhotoProf on 08/13/07 at 18:44:23

When I installed the backrest on my 07, I laid an old towel across the fender and rested the assembled pillion side brackets on it, slowly worked it down and into position. No scratches or problems. It does take time!

The Law of Inanimate Reproduction: If you take anything apart and put it back together enough times, eventually you will end up with two.

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by FreeSpirit on 08/13/07 at 20:37:50

Anyone have a answer to my question?(above) Do I need to put it in a new post? just let me know....I'm new :-)

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Dr_Jim on 08/13/07 at 21:13:27

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by FreeSpirit on 08/13/07 at 21:36:03

Thanks Jim

I appreciate it :-) Don't want rust on my bike! I know how hard it can be to get rid of if you don't do it right!

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/14/07 at 04:34:42

http://www.theruststore.com/Rust-Converter-Quart-P41C10.aspx

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by FreeSpirit on 08/14/07 at 05:24:35

Rob.....

Thank you!! I was wondering where I would get that stuff :-)

Title: Re: backrest help
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/14/07 at 06:48:57

You can probably find similar products at marine supply stores and maybe spend less (or maybe just save some time). I'm sure there are a few on the island.