Allen bolt Underneath the seat area. 696

[Vinzer_Uno]

Is there a special trick to that allen bolt underneath the seat that hold the gas tank?

I am trying to remove the tank to get to the battery and that bolt under the seat wont loosen.

[DucNaked]

Mine came right out on my 1100. It had loctite on it, so it took a little muscle to snap it loose the first time. 

[Vinzer_Uno]

actually the bolt just kinds of spins as if it were stripped ( I- per se- didn't strip it) but it rotates with tension and then kind releases tension then tensions again in the same spot. 

[Raux]

uh not good

that bolt is seated in the fuel tank, so sounds like you striped plastic of the fuel tank around the nut.

[DucNaked]

uh not good

that bolt is seated in the fuel tank, so sounds like you striped plastic of the fuel tank around the nut.

+1

[671M900]

it's cross threaded. An old trick is to get a flat head under the screwdriver and press down on the handle, to sort of "pull" the bolt away, and then turn it with a ratchet.

[ungeheuer]

I'm trying to help, so forgive me if this seems like an idiotic question.....

When you're attempting to loosen the allen bolt from underneath.... you're not just using the one allen key on the underneath side are you?  You're also holding its corresponding mate on the above side with another allen key to prevent it from spinning in the plastic, right?

Sorry.  I had to ask.

[Vinzer_Uno]

@ 671M90- yea, tried that. Shoved a flat head in between the bolt head and the washer and 'pried' the bolt away from the washer to see if it would catch the thread.

@ungeheuer = *hopeful* there is a another allen bolt? on the other side (topside where the tool bag and small storage space is)  because all i see is the part of the tank that the bolt underneath is attached to.

[Raux]

Ungeheuer... no nut... it's molded into the bottom of the fuel tank at the tail.

or can you stick an allen wrench through the top... damn now i have to go look...

[DucNaked]

I'm assuming you mean this bolt. My exhaust bracket is removed so yours will look a little different.

Raux is correct it's molded into the tank with nothing on top to hold back with.
Top of tank

Bottom of tank

Screw put back in after tank removal



So I still agree with Raux that the plastic has stripped away when you intially tried to remove it.
Other than that it should pull right out.

[Raux]

hmmm if you really need you could remove the subframe brace that the tank is attached to.

[DucNaked]

hmmm if you really need you could remove the subframe brace that the tank is attached to.

That is a possibility. He'd have to remove the exhaust bracket then there are 4 bolts that attach to the subframe and 2 screws that go into the tool carrier thingy.

[Vinzer_Uno]

So it looks like the bolt and/or tank thread is stripped.  suggestions on how to back it out 

[Raux]

well this is how I would do it.

first... make sure I'm turning the correct way (sorry had to say it)

take the exhausts and brackets off
drain tank
remove the bolts from the crossmember
unhook the tank (fuel and wiring)
pull the whole part with crossmember out.
then get a better look at your issue.

[ungeheuer]

@ungeheuer = *hopeful* there is a another allen bolt? on the other side (topside where the tool bag and small storage space is).

Yes.  There is on my M1100 and there definitely also was on my M696.

Damn I'll go take a bloody photo of it....  

Here....  No nut, but the allen bolt which is moulded into the tank has an accessible allen head... see?



into which you can insert an allen key to prevent it from spinning in the pastic.... thus..



Whilst this cant be seen   in DN's pic below...



...I cant believe they made 2 different designs, I'm guessing in the moulding process DN's and perhaps yours too got a thin layer of plastic over the top of the allen head hiding it?  Maybe have a gentle scratch around that area to see if you can reveal it?