Seat SF1

S

smlav

Senior member
Location
Shropshire UK
I have two seats for my SF1, the bike and the seats were decades old before I took ownership, so I don't know how far from standard they are. And the only seat I have experience with and know to be standard is on my GTL, which is completely different to the SF1. GTL is a hinged side lifter, SF1 slots in from the rear.

So in the first attached picture is the tabs on the frame at front of seat, where the 'slots' on the seat slide under/over.

On the second picture, the lower seat is the single-humped seat which came with the bike. It shows that a previous owner has fabricated and attached a metal bar which has a couple of raises at the ends which allow the tabs on the frame to go between the seat and metal bar. Industrial, but it works okay.

The upper seat, yellow circles, is a double I have just received. It fits the frame okay, but there's nothing to fit over the frame tabs. The base is fibre glass, and there are two slots in the glass which look as if once upon a time they either fitted over the frame tabs or they housed something which fitted over the frame tabs.

What I'd like to determine is what the standard setup looked like please?
And has anyone come up with decent methods of making a secure fitting here - the glass around the yellow circles is weak and flaky.

thanks
Seanseat-01.jpgseat-02.jpg
 
Fibreglass seat is the standard setup.
Is the other seat a metal base or black painted fibreglass?
Whatever, as Cyriel points out, the frame tabs are too short. Easy to remedy.
Paul
 
Ah, thanks guys, that explains things. Both bases are fibreglass, the single one is black painted.
Doesn't look like the tabs have been replaced, but they do look as if they may have been cut short at sometime in the last 50 years. Hey ho.

When you say easy to remedy Paul, do you mean having new tabs welded on, or extending the existing ones?
I'm no welder!

What I do want though is to be able to swap between these seats, so I'm tempted in the direction of modifying the double seat somehow.
Seanseat4.jpg
 
smlav said:
Ah, thanks guys, that explains things. Both bases are fibreglass, the single one is black painted.
Doesn't look like the tabs have been replaced, but they do look as if they may have been cut short at sometime in the last 50 years. Hey ho.

When you say easy to remedy Paul, do you mean having new tabs welded on, or extending the existing ones?
I'm no welder!

What I do want though is to be able to swap between these seats, so I'm tempted in the direction of modifying the double seat somehow.
SeanView attachment 102730
Click to expand...
I'm no welder either, but yes, either replace the lot or weld a new tang on.
Paul
 
You can actually get away with no front tabs as long as your rear bracket is securely bolted. if you want to return it to original you'll have to fabricate brackets as per Cyriel's pic. The hump seat fibreglass base will then need to be modified to replicate the original double seat slots.
 
The tabs on my SF are longer but also a little pointed at the end to aid location. The wee holes in the fibre glass are still ratty tho. All a bit of a balls ache compared to a hinged seat
 
Tree Hugger said:
The tabs on my SF are longer but also a little pointed at the end to aid location. The wee holes in the fibre glass are still ratty tho. All a bit of a balls ache compared to a hinged seat
Click to expand...
Yes, those fibre glass seat bases eventually get damaged where the prongs locate. I cured that by using plumbers plastic tube wedged into the saddle to locate the prongs.
Paul
 
Paul Marx said:
Otherwise I have a couple of spare SF frames you're welcome to.
Paul
Click to expand...
That would be excellent thanks Paul. The frame on my SF1 has a few battle scars, not bad enough for me to bother stripping it. But another frame could be cleaned and painted in readiness for a swap.

And then I could put the GTL small valve engine back in the GTL frame, freeing up the SF1 engine currently in the GTL frame, and lo and behold we have the makings of a third bike.

I travel thro’ France several times a year, so could pick it up next time I do the trip in a car if that worked for you. I’m actually toying with a trip to Andy.W rather than making a final order when he does his last post. The last few times I’ve bought from him the import overheads to UK have hurt, cheaper to collect for any substantial order.
Sean
 
smlav said:
That would be excellent thanks Paul. The frame on my SF1 has a few battle scars, not bad enough for me to bother stripping it. But another frame could be cleaned and painted in readiness for a swap.

And then I could put the GTL small valve engine back in the GTL frame, freeing up the SF1 engine currently in the GTL frame, and lo and behold we have the makings of a third bike.

I travel thro’ France several times a year, so could pick it up next time I do the trip in a car if that worked for you. I’m actually toying with a trip to Andy.W rather than making a final order when he does his last post. The last few times I’ve bought from him the import overheads to UK have hurt, cheaper to collect for any substantial order.
Sean
Click to expand...
I'm next to Lille, on the way to a lot of places.
Paul
 
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