Fixing a Steel Seat

[Aaron Brownwood]

I've got an older steelseat.com seat where the bolt underneath that holds the legs together has loosened. I can't find any threads related to this, but I'm sure there are some. If anyone can point me in the right direction or has a solution they can describe I would love to be able to fix this seat. I also want to make it taller if possible, and I have heard of adding pieces of 2x4 where the legs bolt in but won't that mess with where the legs fasten in the center? thanks

[Pat Chong]

Hi Aaron,
A picture of the legs and how they are set up would help in giving an answer.

Pat.

[John Swain]

The old ShoBud seats used a T nut and 1/4" though bolt .

[Aaron Brownwood]

Heres the underside, one showing just the bolt, the other showing the bracket, wingnut and washer in place holding down the leg stabilizers. The bracket is the metal piece with the sharpie drawn arrows.

The bolt shown in the photo is loose because the particle board has been chewed out so when the metal bracket that holds the leg stabilizers in place is tightened by the wingnut and washer, the whole thing shakes.

I'm concerned the leg stabilizers will be able to slip out from the bracket that is holding them in place, and that would result in the legs collapsing and the seat falling down, resulting in me falling while I am playing, possible injury, etc. I hope that explains the issue better.

I would like to find a way to have this center bolt be solidly fixed in place and not wiggle around.

[Jerry Overstreet]

That looks like composite board material so I don't know if it can be shored up with glue on the outside.
It also appears the T-nut is facing the wrong direction. Those barbs should bite into the material to secure it and so it doesn't spin.

This is what I would do. Find the bolt head on the inside of the seat, slit the lining to gain access to it and remove the bolt.
Remove the T-nut from underneath and apply a good yellow wood glue on both sides of the injury and let set up.

Buy a large fender washer or fab and drill a sturdy large metal strip to install inside then reinstall the bolt, T-nut, bracket and nut.

Always a good idea to check with the builder, so maybe get in touch with Joe Naylor for his advice. Good luck!

[Aaron Brownwood]

Thanks Jerry, I believe the T-nut pushed up the black plastic over time, it didnt used to have that popped up black plastic like it does now. I may try your solution, it's frustrating I've had the seat for maybe 8 years and it's been like this for a few at least, but now it's really bad and unusable. I appreciate the input your solution makes sense. I saw on another thread that Jim Palenscar bought the company? I'm in San Diego and go up there often so maybe I can bring it to him. I bet he'll tell me the same thing you did.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Sure, I bet Pali will have it up and running in short order. Always best to consult experts where you can. Hard sometimes to determine how to craft a repair without hands on.

Also, the type of material? appears to be of different construction than the SteelSeat I have, so that might call for a different approach.