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[beamish]

I am sorry to raise yet another trivial issue. 2009 Electra EFI. The rear passenger grab handle has always been loose. I have been able to tighten the rearmost bolts on each side, but the two front ones just spin and will not tighten. On examination they are not secured by nuts, so I assume that they match up with a threaded part of the frame and that possibly the bolts or thread have stripped. So, have tried to undo them with much effort and no success. Turning the bolts anti-clockwise has no effect at all. I applied increasing amounts of leverage whilst unscrewing. No success. What next? I know that I could just leave the whole thing loose, but that does not appeal to 'er indoors (nor me) and we have booked our first trip to I o M on RE this year, so bike must be perfect! Any suggestions please.

[hagis]

Drill them out, Start with a very small drill in centre of bolt head to make a pilot hole, Then larger drill until bolt head gone, You will need to hold bolt head with spanner to stop it turning.

[beamish]

Thanks Hagis. In my frustration I cut one bolt head off. Don't know why, and it has not helped. Now the stub revolves but stubbornly refuses to be extracted. Out with the drill!

[hagis]

From memory the grab handle and rear of seat are fixed by four bolts, The rear bolts have nuts on the inside, but the other two thread into captive nuts welded to frame, To remove the seat it needs to slide backwards to release the front mounting, Even with the head of the bolts removed the shank of the bolts may prevent the seat sliding backwards so further drilling is in order until seat releases, The seat is quite a loose fit so with a bit of jiggery pokery it should come off without to much drilling.