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View Full Version : Ground Bolt behind the seat Loose -- How to remove?



laser1972
09-28-2021, 09:01 AM
So my bike was doing the funky DPS fault codes, etc, check engine light and then I would restart the bike and nothing

Would happen either a few miles out or when I went right out the driveway

After searching the forums, I did the recommended things:

Cleaned the made sure the terminals on the battery were good (they were)
Made sure the battery was good (it is, its less than a year old)

So the 3rd was check the ground cable underneath the seat and its loose

But I can neither tighten or remove it and Dont see the access where I can get underneath it

Any advice?.. Is it held on by a nut or its it directly into the frame

Thanks all

Lew L
09-28-2021, 10:02 AM
Hi,
Sure helps to know which year and model of :spyder2: we're trying to help with here.

laser1972
09-28-2021, 10:52 AM
Yes 2009 Spyder SM5

pegasus1300
09-28-2021, 11:03 AM
It is held on by a nut and you have to take off bunch of stuff to get to it. I ruined a 10mm wrench trying to bend it to reach under there to get it,but that didn't work for me. It has for others. I ended up taking the right side plastic off and some other stuff,don't remember now what. But mine is an RT so your take offs will be different. Good luck.

ThreeWheels
09-28-2021, 11:53 AM
There's a nearly inaccessible nut behind that bolt.
So you have a loose ground connection.
Welcome to the club. We've got jackets.
Here's what worked for me, I hope it helps.
Use a screwdriver to lift the connection up and put some pressure on the inside nut to help it grab..
Use a power screwdriver and spin the bolt at high speed.
With luck, you'll have enough pressure on the nut to keep it from spinning and the bolt will tighten.
If not, some people have bent wrenches into a 90° angle to fit.
Barring these solutions, you have to remove a crap load of stuff to get access to the nut.
Once removed, some people have threaded the hole and used an appropriate bolt to make the ground.
An easier solution would be to just cut the wire and extend it to another location on the frame with easier access.
Keep us posted so we know how you make out.

As always, my free advice comes with a double your money back guarantee.

BLUEKNIGHT911
09-28-2021, 12:03 PM
It is held on by a nut and you have to take off bunch of stuff to get to it. I ruined a 10mm wrench trying to bend it to reach under there to get it,but that didn't work for me. It has for others. I ended up taking the right side plastic off and some other stuff,don't remember now what. But mine is an RT so your take offs will be different. Good luck.

:agree: X's 10 ..... It is so hard to get to, I think they attached that cable to the frame FIRST and then they put all the rest of the panels on after :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: ..... Mike :thumbup:

laser1972
09-29-2021, 09:29 AM
Well, after a few hours (2), my dad came over an assisted..

What a crock, yes we removed the back seat panel, the side panel and the fuse box underneath the seat..

Finally got it out and the end threads were toast... So went up to Ace and got a new bolt, locking nut and some lockrite and we are good to go

i looked at my dad and said, this less than one dollar part fix took us all afternoon

Good bonding time with dad though

Again, appreciate the forum and the kind people who help us out!

Now on to the road test to see if that fixes it, if not...Then its being covered until next year and I can deal with it then!

BLUEKNIGHT911
09-29-2021, 03:34 PM
Well, after a few hours (2), my dad came over an assisted..

What a crock, yes we removed the back seat panel, the side panel and the fuse box underneath the seat..

Finally got it out and the end threads were toast... So went up to Ace and got a new bolt, locking nut and some lockrite and we are good to go

i looked at my dad and said, this less than one dollar part fix took us all afternoon

Good bonding time with dad though

Again, appreciate the forum and the kind people who help us out!

Now on to the road test to see if that fixes it, if not...Then its being covered until next year and I can deal with it then!

If it doesn't check the Batt connections ... they do come loose .....UNLESS you add two STAR washers to the terminals , this will prevent it from happening again ....good luck ....Mike :thumbup: