Removing jockey seat (sikaflexed)

[Mike B]

Any top tips on removing Jockey Seats? It's screwed and sikaflexed down.

Screw's no problem, but still rock solid with the sikaflex even with crow bar helping.

Was thinking something like a bread knife to slice through the sikaflex, but any proven techniques?

[Maximus]

Does depend a bit on seat design (you may have the option of working inside the seat too) but a Thin quality Bladed multi tool will be a good start....you'll need some thinners or similar to keep the Blade clean ( may well take more than one)..and be patient
If the seats are not to be re-used it gives you more options!

[Nos4r2]

A really flexible serrated blade and some way of warming it up would be the way I'd go. I wouldn't expect a crowbar to do anything.

[A1an]

I've just finished this very job ten mins ago. Its taken me all morning.


I ended up using a normal wood saw between console and deck. You could fashion some sort of handle and use a hacksaw blade.

[jelwood]

Heat Gun and metal scraper, heat the scraper and then use it to cut through the flex always works well for removing flex for me

[jeffstevens763@g]

Bosh multi tool at one corner ( long blade) then hard wood wedges did two a while back

[Mike B]

Thanks guys going to tackle it tomorrow so will let you know which option works best! Another suggestion was a "cheese wire" which I quite like the sound of (though it will actually be a guitar E string!)

[Binty_Bexter]

Piano wire. (Cheese wire). Tie bitter ends around some 1" dowel, or short lengths of broom handle to act as handles and slice away between the seat and the floor. Have used this method for removing many deck fittings, such as cleats and windlasses on larger boats and works a treat. Also, doesn't damage the GRP gelcoat.

[Mike B]

Sorted it with a combination of hardwood chocks to put the sealant under tension then sliced through with a sharp bread knife plus a bit of swearing, sweat and grazed knuckles!

Will post pics of the two replacement double seats once I've got them fitted.

Thanks for all the advice!

[Nos4r2]

Screwfix sell a No Nonsense sealant remover that 'sort of' works on Sikaflex (it's the only one that I found that does anything at all to it).
It softens it slightly and makes it easier (for a given degree of bloody difficult) to remove for cleanup before you fit the new ones.

[jeffstevens763@g]

i didnt bother with anything other than a disc on the 4 inch grinder to remove old sika giving a good clean profile for the new stuff.

[Bigtalljv]

I have heard about people using a thin wire, like piano wire to cut through. You have to physically cut the stuff.

[bmb779]

MIG wire wrapped round dowels on either end.

[Rib Martin]

Guitar strings work well...[emoji41]

[gtflash]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

i didnt bother with anything other than a disc on the 4 inch grinder to remove old sika giving a good clean profile for the new stuff.

or sand it off with power sander

[Mike B]

New seats now fitted.

Very happy with the quality, colour match and service from Ian at Ribs4u.

[sameh]

is the console glassed? The floor with polyester or hipoxy? Sikaflex works fine between the floor andconsole materials?

[jeffstevens763@g]

Looking good