Battery access Can you tell me the socket size (metric) needed to release and remove plastic sides & rear panel under seat for access to battery on 2003 Nighthawk 250cc?

you didn't mentioned what type of vehichle or year, but most of these you will have to remove the tension from the belt tensioner, to do so, you will need a 13 - 15" size metric wrench, or 3/8 size ratchet, and a 13- 15" size metric socket , and hold back on to the tensioner towards the drivers side of the engine, this releases the tension from the belt, and then let the serpentine belt lay aside, then disconnect the negative battery cable from your battery, and then disconnect the wiring from the back of the alternator, and remove the hold down bolts that hold the alternator in place, then lift alternator from bolted on area, then install new alternator, plug up wiring at back of it , bolt the alternator back on, and then with a 13 -15 " metric wrench or socket, hold back on to the belt tensioner, and then slip the belt back into position, and release the tensioner slowly against the belt, make sure that the belt is lined up correctly on all of the pulleys, then reconnect the negative battery cable, then start the vehicle up., and check that the belt is operating ok. afterwards, you will most likely have to reset your radio functions , due to the battery cable being disconnected.

under the seat, normally to be accessed from the side. nore where the plastic panels are on the left and right hand side ? the battery is behind one of those. Sometimes you may need to remove of flip the seat up to access it properly.

Hello,




The battery is located under the back seat .

In order to access the battery, have to pull the seat portion up and out toward the back of the front seat.

There are 2 little black flat points about 3 inches wide that slip behind the back part of the rear seat backs. It is kind of like a up and out motion. The battery is large and heavy.

You might need to take out the seat completely in order to get to the battery. If you have heated rear seats there is small connection you may need to disconnect to free up the seat for removal. Simply disconnect it. It is a wire length connection on the rear passenger side close to the exit door threshold.

The battery has a rubber type hold down,but the the real securing point is the plastic block that is bolted down.


You have to remove the block with a socket to release the battery completely.


Seat goes back in that same motion just slip the black points under the back of the seat and push back and then down.


Good luck...

Remove the two plastic covers around the seat belts then pull straight up on the front of the seat (it may take a sharp tug)

I have a 2001 Cadillac DHS. It is located under the back seat . You have to pull the seat portion up and out toward the back of the front seat. There are two litte black flat points about three inches wide that slip behind the back part of the rear seat backs. It is kind of like a up and out motion. The battery is large and heavy...you may have to take the seat completely out to get to the battery. If you have heated rear seats there is small connection you may need to disconnect to free up the seat for removal. Simple disconnect. It is a wire length connection on the rear passenger side close to the exit door threshold. The battery has a rubber type hold down ...but the the real securing point is the plastic block that is bolted down...you have to remove the block with a socket to release the battery completely. Seat goes back in that same motion just....slip the black points under the back of the seat and push back and then down.

It appears the battery is under the left side of the gas tank.
First get a 3 mm hex key and remove all the side panel screws and remove the screws that hold the cover around the gas filler cap, and remove the two plastic side panels. After the screws are out the side panels the panels slide forward and will come out. There are two hex screws (size ?) that have to be removed to release the fuel tank. One is under the tank and is accessed from the rear with about a 1 foot extension for the hex bit. The other is on the front rt side and is quite obvious. There is enough fuel hose on the tank that you can simply prop-up the front of the tank with a piece or wood or anything convenient and get access to the battery. I put battery tender leads on my 696. Hardest part is removing all the small screws that hold the side panels and cover for the fuel tank.

Under gas tank cover

First get a 3 mm hex key and remove all the side panel screws and remove the screws that hold the cover around the gas filler cap, and remove the two plastic side panels. After the screws are out the side panels the panels slide forward and will come out. There are two hex screws (size ?) that have to be removed to release the fuel tank. One is under the tank and is accessed from the rear with about a 1 foot extension for the hex bit. The other is on the front rt side and is quite obvious. There is enough fuel hose on the tank that you can simply prop-up the front of the tank with a piece or wood or anything convenient and get access to the battery. I put battery tender leads on my 696. Hardest part is removing all the small screws that hold the side panels and cover for the fuel tank.

My 2006 125 Eliminator just got a reupholstered seat. Remove hex bolt at the very rear of seat. Remove right side plastic cover over battery (open with key, pull off cover) .Remove plastic cover on left side (2 large phillips head screws.) Remove 2 stainless hex heads on each side of bike that hold chromed plastic sleeves under passenger part of seat (4 hex heads). Then remove 2 smaller black hex heads (one on each side) under point where tapered passenger part of seat begins. Slide seat toward rear of bike do disengage from metal lip that holds down the front.
Be sure to use metric hex wrenches. 15 minutes or less off or on.

good luck
ride easy

There are two seat bolts under the seat that must be removed. Obviously, if the underside of the fender is covered in mud, you'll have to clean it first. A metric socket works best to remove the bolts.

After removal of the seat bolts, lift the back of the seat, then pull straight back; a plastic flange on the front of the seat hooks under the tank, and so you have to pull it backwards to remove it.

With the seat off, removing the battery is pretty easy. A rubber strap holds the battery down; unhook and remove it. Unscrew the lead wires and unhook them (negative first), then pull the battery out.

Install a replacement battery by reversing these steps. Yamaha recommends charging a new battery before installing it.

First, remove the pillon seat behind the driver seat. Use a metric socket wrench to remove the mounting bolt at the back center of the pillon. Note the 'retaining strap' over the pillon. You can remove one of the side screws that hold this strap and swing it aside, but this is not absolutely necessary. Once the pillon mounting bolt is out, lift the pillon slightly and pull it to the rear. Be careful not to let metal parts scratch your rear fender. Now look at the hex socket bolts holding the driver seat to the rear fender. These are removed with a metric hex wrench (Allen wrench). Don't mess with these unless you can fit the bolt socket exactly. There should be a hex wrench in your Vulcan toolkit. When these have been removed, the driver seat can be lifted up and back to remove. It's a real mess under there, isn't it? To re-install, reverse the order of the above -- driver's seat goes in first, bolts secured and then the pillon. Don't force anything. If either seat is hanging up above its mounting position, you don't have the seat 'tongue' in its socket.