Ducati Monster Forum

1.  Is it possible to remove the 2 black (one on each side) fasteners that are used to accept the seat cowl screws without destroying them?

2.  If I happen to destroy them, does anyone know where I might find replacements?

only if you remove the cover i bet

The very reason I want to remove the fasteners is so I can remove the cover.  But I want to be able to put the cover back on and re-use the fasteners if possible.  If not, I'm wondering where I can get new ones.

i think once you remove the old cover you'll see a way to take them off.

someone had overtightened one and it spun freely so there is some kind of nut in there.

They have a three pronged end to them that needs to be sqeezed together with the right atmospheric pressure, the tip of your tongue on the roof of you mouth, and a healthy dose of cursing. Have a good look at them on the underside of the seat and you will see what I mean. No nut involved, I seem to remember just a groove in the mold to hold in place. Remove them BEFORE you remove the cover.  I got them out but they weren't pretty when I was done. Re-usable, yes. They are unusual pieces so I am sure you can only get them from the dealer and I am sure they will be cheap!LOL.   Are you just working on the front of the seat or on the whole pan? Do you really need to remove them? I rebuilt the stock pan to give me room to move back a few inches and it is much more comfortable. PM if you would like some more info.

thanks for clarifying that nut/spinning issue

BCMonster,

It must be the atmospheric pressure because I have already tried the other ideas  ;).  I'm working on just the front but it would make trying to transition the foam from the back to the front a whole lot easier if it were off.  I've already caught the cover with the grinding wheel and put a small hole in it  [bang].  I'll probably end up recovering it now so they will definitely have to come out. 

If I remember right focus on the tong that is closest to the seat pan. That is the one that will release the insert. You could probably accomplish what you are after with just pulling the cover back. It is not glued to the foam so removes easily. Anyway be careful because if you alter the foam too far back the cowl will not fit properly

"Anyway be careful because if you alter the foam too far back the cowl will not fit properly" - excellent point, I wasn't thinking about that as I was hacking away...hopefully I didn't get too carried away.

I was able to just remove the staples, pull the front of the cover back as far as possible without removing the two inserts and then shape the foam with a sanding disk in my die grinder.  I removed foam at the rear area of the front seat to make it flatter front to back (removed most of the slope it had to the front) and gave it a slightly dished shape from side to side.  The seat cover no longer is tight against the foam when there is no butt in place but you can't tell that by looking at it.  It made a HUGE difference in the comfort however.

I easily removed the prongs by pushing a too small "socket" over the tip, which allowed squeezing of all three prongs at the same time, then used a small hammer and they popped right out...

There it is!  I knew someone had the secret.   [clap]

Unfortunately, I tried the socket right AFTER the pliers and I had done just enough damage to prevent them coming out easily. Glad to hear that works.