68 MK3D Seat Pan

[machten]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice and information on my 1968 twin filler MK3D 250 seat pan. Some time back I broke one of the mounts on the seat pan. I suspect it was complaining about supporting my ample backside . The seat pan has clearly been "rescued" previously and has evidence of rust repairs, so I don't know what may have been done to it over the years. I have a few questions...

Firstly, I may be wrong, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that the seat pan for the twin filler was shorter than the 69 and onwards MKIII's because the twin filler tank was slightly longer. Does anyone else recall this?

Secondly, was the below arrangement the stock support for the seat base. I ask because it seems like it's only a matter of time before the mounts fatigue and break as they have done. Looks like this one has already been repaired at least once.





And thirdy, why wouldn't I just weld it up with a vertical brace underneath it to support the 90 degree bend to the horizontal plane?

Kev

[Rick]

If you don't want to weld on the pan, a hard rubber or high durometer elastomer cushion bonded in would probably convert 90% of the moment arm bending force into a vertical shear force on the weld- excuse the nasty underside of my MK3D seat pan:

seat damper.jpg

Rick

[machten]

Rick,

Many thanks for the picture and the suggestion. So it seems that arrangement is stock. If I do weld, I'll weld onto the existing mount bar rather than the pan itself a la the one that's still standing. What you've done would also clearly help fight against the fatigue issue and has the advantage of giving some flexibility to not require "exact" horizontal distance dimensions to fit the frame mounts. (ie, it can stretch to fit)

Kev

[Rick]

Kev,
I'm not a fanatic about historical/hysterical restoration, but anytime a modification can be done that allows a future owner to undo it is considerate- either the rubber pad or a small strut welded under the brace would work and not damage an original part. And thanks for the help with my 74 Sport battery tray on the other forum.
Rick