Sinistar Cockpit Seat Removal

scottguenthe

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How in the world do you do this. I want to do some repairs on a cracked seat and can't figure out how to remove the seat or the plastic piece on the back side of the cockpit. Instead of screws that are slotted, philips or some type of security bit, the screw heads are all round and smooth. Is there some easy trick I'm missing?
 
I've never owned a sinistar cockpit but smooth head hardware like you mention sounds like either carriage bolts or some kind of rivet. If it's a bolt there will be a nut on the other end of the bolt. Just have to find how to get to it. If it's a rivet then I don't really know how to go about removing them. Maybe carefully drill each one out?
 
Those are Rivets. you will need to drill them out to make the repair on the seat, then pop new rivets in. When you make the repairs to the seat be sure to support the seat so it doesnt crack again.
 
Just trying to clarify if you're telling me this from experience or just based on my description. I thought they sure looked like rivets myself, but one of them was loose and I was able to remove it by turning it. The one I removed was threaded like a screw.

If you've already done this process to remove a sinsistar cockpit seat, I'll happily go along with your suggestion and just drill them out. Is that the only way to get the seat and the back plastic piece off of a sinistar?

Those are Rivets. you will need to drill them out to make the repair on the seat, then pop new rivets in. When you make the repairs to the seat be sure to support the seat so it doesnt crack again.
 
This should be in the technical help wanted forum imho, nothing personal, just think it belongs there instead.

Since when is removing bolts a technical question?

The technical help wanted forum is for pcb and electronics (i.e. "technical") assistance.

He's restoring a Sinistar cabinet, and this is the restoration forum.
 
Does it really matter exactly where this post is? I'm trying to restore my Sinistar so it made sense to me to post this question in the restoration section.

Here is a picture of the screw/rivet/bolt. Looks just like a screw to me, but the head of it is round and has no slot in at all. This is what is holding the seat down, the plastic piece on the back of the cockpit and also plexiglass roof of the cockpit. In the picture it looks like there might be some flattened sides on the head of the screw, but trust me, it's perfectly round.

Has anyone actually removed a Sinsitar cockpit seat before to fix it? Did you find the same things holding it down, or something else. Thanks!
 

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Here is a picture of the screw/rivet/bolt. Looks just like a screw to me, but the head of it is round and has no slot in at all. This is what is holding the seat down, the plastic piece on the back of the cockpit and also plexiglass roof of the cockpit. In the picture it looks like there might be some flattened sides on the head of the screw, but trust me, it's perfectly round.

Brother, that is a pan head screw with a cap on it. Remove the cap, and it will reveal that it is a phillip's head screw. The caps are tapped into place after the screw is tightened. There are a number of ways to remove the caps and they all work pretty good.
 
I'll check that out in the morning. The machine is at my workplace. Sounds like you "hit the nail on the head". I'm assuming the caps were to discourage people from removing screws. Hadn't they come up with security screws then, or was it just cheaper to use the screws with the pan head caps.

Thanks for the call on that one. I look forward to getting the seat off my machine and getting it repaired.
 
I have actually done this and my machine had pop rivets, The seat was previously repaired so maybe thats where the rivets came from.
 
Hmm. Well, it's actually neither. I bet the rivets were from someone who had removed the seats before. These little screws don't have a cap on them. They have a solid head that is smooth. Used a good pair of pliers and was able to grip them and remove them. Just 4 screws held the back on and six held the seat in place. I'm going to the hardware store right now to get replacement screws. Let 'em snag their pants. I just want easy access to my Sinistar

I also worked with the drawing set and found a few connectors that were not in the right place. After putting them where they should be, I was able to power up the machine. I'm guessing the big transformer is working, but the power supply board definitely needs work. That's the one that has the wires soldered directly to it. I'll PM you Dokert and arrange to send you that board for repair or replacing.
 
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