I have an 02 heritage softail classic. The passenger strap is torx bolted I turned the bolts that hold the brackets on they just turn and dont back out. Is there nuts behind them? I cant see or feel behind the frame they go tbrough. Im about ready to cut it off. I would rather not but can figure out why those bolts just turn. I cant get the seat off with the strap there. And want to get under it. Any thoughts or tricks to removing the brackets. Friggn strap in riviyed together too so if I cut it. The ends of the strap will still be there

 

Yes there are lock nuts behind them, at least there are on my 01 FatBoy, FLSTF

 

I called my Harley dealer then my loval Vtwin mechanics all told me they should just back out. There is no way to even see if there are nuts back there. I got the left side to losen a little and got the slip bracket off. But the right side just kept spinning. So cut the strap off left the bracket on that side. Bike looks much better without that stupid stap anyway. My Old Lady doesnt use it anyway. Thanks for the reply. Bill

 

I usually use a flathead to prize under the bolt head so you maintain upward tension and keep the nut pressed in place against the underside. Might want to slip a rag or something under the screwdriver so you don't chip the paint.

 

Right side no go. So just cut it. Its not a useable part more of an annoyance. Not much easier to get seat off. I was only yaking seat off to fix some scratches from the previous owner behind the passenger pillon. Whole nother story. I took the rear seat screw out and the blind nut fell out of fender the c clip was gone. I fixed it just took a wire fed it through brought the nut up put a tight o ring on it. Then put a dab of crazy glue around it. Now secure and rubber rather than metal.

 

The seat strap is nearly functionally useless, yes. Just be aware that some states do legally require it (or some other form of passenger hand hold). Also, on my prior bike (no seat strap) I had the unpleasant experience of discovering the seat screw missing after a long ride. If that seat screw's not there, and the seat strap's not there, there's nothing to stop your seat from just sliding right off the bike. If the seat strap was there, it wouldn't have been a dangerous situation (and, of course, if I'd had the situational awareness to notice the screw was working its way out or maybe that someone had removed it, it wouldn't have been dangerous either, I know, it's my fault, I'm just saying -- it happened). I now put a little blue loc-tite on the seat screw to keep that from happening ever again. Just saying -- the seat strap does technically have a reason to be there, and if you remove it, you just have to be extra diligent to make sure the seat screw stays attached...

 

Mine is slid in place under tank as well as it has two screws on each side of druvers seat and one screw in back through the fender. If the rear one comes loose the seat wont come off. Thanks for the info though. I will make another strap fir the out of state occasion.