Danny Gray = poor quality control
Account Suspended
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: orange park , FL
I dont want to start anything here but did you give them a chance to fix the problem . and just for future referance I make sure all my bolts are free of bures and go in easy before I start installing things ... have you thought about having a welding shop drill and tig a threaded tube into the hole ... must be tigged so that its clean and wont get splatter on everything but it could work
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 733
Likes: 1
From: Southern Maryland for now
Dude, making it your own is part of the fun even when things do not go right. I know your not serious about giving up you rocker just cuz a bolt pissed you off. Sorry about all your frustration.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
Sounds like a very expensive lesson. I completely understand your frustration and I wish things had gone better for you. But from your description of the sequence of events it seems you had several opportunities to stop. The gremlins were yelling at you and you weren't listening.
You said you immediately realized the seat brackets weren't lining up. Then you took it upon yourself to try to "fix" the brackets so they would fit. Didn't work. Despite the brackets being off you still chose to try to install the seat.
Upon forcing the installation you cross threaded a bolt. Trying to get it out or in you stripped the bolt head. Then you grabbed vice grips; the use of which caused you to break off the cross threaded bolt in the frame. Your subsequent efforts to successfully extract the cross threaded bolt half resulted in destroying the bolt hole.
Monday morning quarterbacking, I think I would have stopped as soon as I realized the brackets were off. Verification via instructions, web, phone contact to DG directly, or a trip to my local indy wrench for a second opinion would have been in order. Its possible you were sent the wrong seat, their template is off, or something else out of your control. For the amount of love, time, and money we pour into our motorcycles, there is no place for "blankity-blank" engineering efforts.
My last thought: Vice grips on my Schwinn banana bike - ok. Vice grips on my Harley - not ok. Only the right tool for the job on something as important and expensive as my motorcycle.
Again, wish things had gone better for you.
You said you immediately realized the seat brackets weren't lining up. Then you took it upon yourself to try to "fix" the brackets so they would fit. Didn't work. Despite the brackets being off you still chose to try to install the seat.
Upon forcing the installation you cross threaded a bolt. Trying to get it out or in you stripped the bolt head. Then you grabbed vice grips; the use of which caused you to break off the cross threaded bolt in the frame. Your subsequent efforts to successfully extract the cross threaded bolt half resulted in destroying the bolt hole.
Monday morning quarterbacking, I think I would have stopped as soon as I realized the brackets were off. Verification via instructions, web, phone contact to DG directly, or a trip to my local indy wrench for a second opinion would have been in order. Its possible you were sent the wrong seat, their template is off, or something else out of your control. For the amount of love, time, and money we pour into our motorcycles, there is no place for "blankity-blank" engineering efforts.
My last thought: Vice grips on my Schwinn banana bike - ok. Vice grips on my Harley - not ok. Only the right tool for the job on something as important and expensive as my motorcycle.
Again, wish things had gone better for you.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 4
From: Rochester, MN
I believe you need to make a clear distinction between the Danny Gray production seats and the Danny Gray custom seats. Sorry to hear about your problems and the frustration it has caused you.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma, WA
That sucks about the seat and the bolt hole, I have run 3 DG seats and have nothing but good experience's with them. I have run the Butt Crack, Big Seat and the Everyday solo. The Big Seat being the current one on my bagger, I love it.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 4
From: Rochester, MN
I hope it works for you, you certainly have a beautiful bike!