Upholstery Removal

[NHarp1]

Does anyone know the secret how Tige secures the upholstery back rest pannels to the deck of the boat? The back rest pannel I am looking at is behind the drivers seat. (Mainly on newer models). I know typically there are thru bolts on the lower half of the pannels and I can see and feel these, but what is holding the pannel on the top leading edge so tight to the boat gel coat? I do not see or feel any bolts. Not to mention how difficult it is to see or reach. I was thining they are using a hidden L bracket but not the case. It should not be rocket science! Maybe I have too much free time and tired of WINTER!

Anyone have experience with this? Thanks

[dom w. forte]

What model, most 2009 up have studs going through top and bottom and you have to lay in the storage areas to reach them , also a lot of pannels have to be removed in a sequence, to gain access to the next set of studs, on the next pannel and so forth.

[NHarp1]

Model: 2012 RZR backrest pannel behind driver seat.

[NHarp1]

A huge shout out to Jean Wagner from Tige! She was so helpful in getting me some production pictures of a RZR interior deck area and upholstery panel. I wanted to see the fiberglass deck cutout areas and see how the upholstery panel was installed around the Alpha Z tower mount area.

Too remove the panel behind the driver seat, you need to first remove the throttle area panel. This will allow your hand to reach the upper bolt on the side panel.

You will also need someone thin enough by reaching up from the rear fat sack storage area and loosening the rear upper bolt on the upholstery panel.

The lower bolts are easy enough to reach from under the seat area.

The upper pins then can be pulled free from the boat to remove the panel.

NOTE: these are modified production pictures and not my new 2012 RZR I am tearing apart!

Here are some pictures.

[houstonshark]

I thought it was my boat for a min til I saw the blue interior! Man, so wasted much room in those side panels. I don't understand why they didn't put speakers in there like in the bow. The speakers just randomly cut into the seat bases on the port and starboard side just don't do the rest of the interior justice.

I agree that there are acoustical advantages for the speakers being below ear level but I think I'd rather them blend into the interior better.

What are you taking this panel off for Nick?

[NHarp1]

Houstonshark, this may be your RZR in production!! The final picture is the only actual picture from my actual boat.

The purpose of removal of this panel was in the event I needed to tighten the tower mount bolts or in the event the tower spring assist needed repair/adjustment.

Tige claims the spring assist cable should never need repair or replacement.

So maybe this post is useless....I hope I never need a cable replacement. It is alsways good to know the mechanics of your boat.

[IDBoating]

I deeply dislike those plastic panel mount studs. They are common in cars, and they are nearly a one-use item. The plastic gets shredded with a single cycle of install-and-remove. I don't have a better alternative, and I recognize that they are fast and inexpensive, but they're a pain when you're working on something after it's built.

[Iwndr]

I deeply dislike those plastic panel mount studs. They are common in cars, and they are nearly a one-use item. The plastic gets shredded with a single cycle of install-and-remove. I don't have a better alternative, and I recognize that they are fast and inexpensive, but they're a pain when you're working on something after it's built.

X2, though it looks like Tige uses them as more of a starting pin as there are plenty of bolts there for retention whereas on car panels that is all they use for securing the panels to the doors and such

[IDBoating]

X2, though it looks like Tige uses them as more of a starting pin as there are plenty of bolts there for retention

That would work great as long as the holes for the plastic pins are larger than the pin OD. Then they'd slip and in out without damage, and still provide the positioning function. Is that how Tige uses them?

[Timmy!]

How awesome is the customer service from Tige? Seriously, she sent you pictures?!?!?! Nice job Jean!!!

[Iwndr]

How awesome is the customer service from Tige? Seriously, she sent you pictures?!?!?! Nice job Jean!!!

X2, that is definitely an exception from the norm

Thanks Jean

[kko]

These push pins may be new for Tiges....but I have seen them in Malibus for many years without any issues with them. I seen more studs with nuts that come loose or fall off. They get corroded and then break off when you try and take them off. Tige is using the push pins along with studs with nuts on the same pannel. Malibu uses all push pins on soem pannels. Like I said I have not seen an issue with the push pins in boats 8+ yrs old on paneels that have been taken in and out multiple times. i would worry to much about them. But the boat makers do like to make it fun trying to figure out how those pannels come out dont they! Those pics really came in handy didnt they. Great job Jean!