Seat, mounting bracket, and pedestal repair and/or replacement

[soulseller]

My V came with 2 Todd Freeport 200's that are probably salvageable with a little bit of work. The problem is that the mounting plate and sliders on one of them is completely broken and is currently hanging on with some ductape and bubblegum, the other one is not too far behind...

My big question is that the pedestal on the captains side chair is loose, I tried tightening the screws but they just spin freely, I tried taking them out, but again they just spin. I'm assuming there are nuts on the backside but as far as I can tell the underside is completely inaccessable, any suggestions on how to remedy this issue?

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by soulseller

My V came with 2 Todd Freeport 200's that are probably salvageable with a little bit of work. The problem is that the mounting plate and sliders on one of them is completely broken and is currently hanging on with some ductape and bubblegum, the other one is not too far behind...

My big question is that the pedestal on the captains side chair is loose, I tried tightening the screws but they just spin freely, I tried taking them out, but again they just spin. I'm assuming there are nuts on the backside but as far as I can tell the underside is completely inaccessable, any suggestions on how to remedy this issue?

Yeah, but it's gonna be a genuine pain in the @$$...take ALL the fasteners out and replace w/the stainless steel toggles made for that application...they are not "butterfly" toggles...straight w/a plastic break-away strip..

Here ya go...http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...7&classNum=563

It MIGHT be you can get ONE under the pedestal w/out removing all, but if you can do it, it'll be a pretty good trick...be sure you bed the pedestal flange back to the deck when you reinstall...I like 4200 for that job...

[csvencer]

I would look for replacements. Its a pain in the butt working on those and they will always be loose. Keep on eye on CL for a used set, usually they are pretty cheap.

http://providence.craigslist.org/boa/1097573560.html

-Svence

[soulseller]

I'm not totally against replacing the seat/mounting brackets/pedestal as I have a friend who works for a parts supplier and extends me a hefty discount off retail however I don't know that it is new seat and pedestal are necessary, the ones I have are in fine condition, it is only the fact that one of the pedestals is very lose and both mounting bracket/sliders are pretty well trashed.

I don't quite understand the last two posts though, what part of this is going to be a pain, swapping in a new seat to pedestal mounting bracket?

My only real question is how do you remove the existing pedestal from the floor and how do I either re-secure my existing pedestal or a new one if I go that route. I saw reelapeelin's link to the toggle bolts, is that the way to do it?

[spareparts]

drill the heads off the screws, its going to be a pita, angle the drill and grind the heads off, if you keep it straight up it will just spin the screws

[soulseller]

Originally Posted by spareparts

drill the heads off the screws, its going to be a pita, angle the drill and grind the heads off, if you keep it straight up it will just spin the screws

I'm still hemming and hawing over this one. It seems like if i cut or drill the exsisting screws out the bottom will drop into the hull, will I be able to get them out or will they be rattling around in there for eternity?

Assuming I get through the removal process, I also don't quite understand how the Stainless Steel Toggle Bolt Anchors that reelapeelin recommended work. Anyone care to walk me through this?

[RWilson2526]

yup, the bolts you cut out will fall into the hull and be there forever....you'll never hear them, dont even give that a second thought....

The toggles are pretty cool, we use them at work all the time they are kind of hard to explain but I will try. you may be familiar with a regular toggle where you have to have the screw already in the toggle, fold it in half and slide it through this big old hole....problem is that kind of toggle wont work when you are trying to do something like a pedestal because if you take the bolt out the toggle falls into the hole.

the ones reel showed you have that long plastic ring on them, you slip the toggle through the hole, use the plastic ring thing to pull it tight to the underside of the floor, slide this little collar that is on the ring into the hole, and then snap off the plastic ring extension.

this is about as clear as mud....but when you are done you have a nice hole with a plastic ring that is holding the toggle nice and firm under the floor so when you thread your bolt in the toggle doesnt fall into the hull..


this is not clear.....just trust me they are the cats' a s s.....

[willy]

Are all the screws spinning freely? If they are you should be able to apply pressure to the plate itself prying up gently and see if that stops them spinning freely.
Were these seats all installed with bolts or are they also installed with screws into the deck with a 4200 like material. Cause I have seen them done both ways for seats and also for CC T tops.

[soulseller]

willy, i've tried the pressure trick already and it did not help.

Rwilson, thanks i get the gist of it and i should be able to run with that.

[macojoe]

slip a saw blade under the pedestal while lifting seat,and cut off.