Seat bolt and side panel screw replacement candidates

[Swin]

Hi,

I had big problems removing both side panel screws and the bolts that hold the seat on yesterday, which left me unable to jump start the bike.

I have the part numbers for the replacement suzuki items, but wondered if there was a replacement I could use made of something resembling metal, rather than the suzuki offerings, which seem to be made of fromage frais...

Anyone replaced theirs? I'd rather not repeat yesterdays experiences of trying to bump start an SV at 6.30 in the morning, with an impatient cabby behind me

I've replaced the majority of my bolts with stainless. "a bolt from the blue" and "Kay's fasteners" on eBay are both very good sources.

I also use copper grease on pretty much anything with a thread so it's worth investing a fiver in a half kilo tub of the stuff

[Swin]

Thanks, I'll give them a look!

Or just measure them and look on eBay for bolts of that size and don't worry about where they come from :P

Whatever you do, it's always useful to have some copper grease to help stop bolts seizing.

[Swin]

found a link that jayneflakes put up to Fowlers, so I have a basket saved and will order replacement originals if I can't rustle up the bolts I want quickly.

I'll get a tub of the grease, and for the fairing bolts I was going to slip a little rubber washer between the bolt and the plastic too, it may help - I was suprised how quickly the bolts got stuck, I had them out a little while ago when I cleaned the air filter, and I don't ever tighten them up a lot as they don't need to be

[DarrenSV650S]

Definitely get the original for the side panels. They have an unthreaded part to stop the plastic cracking

[Swin]

agreed, it's the side panel screws that have caused the trouble, the seat ones just look like they're getting old now, so I thought it would be wise to freshen them up!