Seat cover fastening?

Trixie's seat that Wes gave me after he put on the Corbin hard tack seat, is splitting apart in top texture seams, so a new task for me to learn. I see rusted but still intact clips bent to hold the seat rim on but asking ahead of time what to expect bending them open then closed again. What if one or more snaps off, is there a way to replace those? Any tricks in doing the job decently the first time appreciated. Any pointers on which cover to buy for a '72 Roadster.

http://www.steadfastcycles.com/cart/ind ... ts_id=4033

$10 for 5 clips!!!! :shock: ....they must be silver plated?


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTORCYCLE-SE ... 6rk%3D1%26

The best thing I've ever used to fix seat covers is a hot melt glue gun.

Steve
The seat covers are readily available which comes with new clips and chrome/black rubber trim strip. Your US vendors would carry them. It’s about a 1-hour job.
But I would prep the bottom pan as these are normally poorly painted and are rusted up. I sandblasted mine and then used a good Hi Build primer/filler and then black paint so if you go that route then add more time. When everything is prepared, place the seat cover over the foam and pan in the sun for about an hour to get it hot and supple. Pull everything evenly and opposite to fit the clips. Keep the not so rusty ones you have and add more if it turns your crank but the seat cover kit has more than enough to do the job.
Regards,
Tom
CNN

OB has a tech article about replacing the seat covers. They will probably sell the clips, as well as the cover and a new silver strip if you need it. Walridge carries it all too as a kit or separate. Mike carries the Leighton stuff, OB may be the AN, not sure. Make sure you measure the seat height from the base to the seam before you remove it in several places and make the new one the same. Replace the foam if it's compressed. You can either buy one made for $$ or find an on line foam dealer and cut your own for about $20. Very, very sharp knife or an electric knife. The clips are spring steel and hard to bend, not impossible, but usually not necessary unless you're trying to save the old cover. Nothing magic about the process.

Dave
69S

Ok guys thanks for the hand holding. I found Old Brits seat install http://www.oldbritts.com/ob_start.html but still confused on how the clips operate/fit. I though they just were bent on/off like picture frame clips but see they are supposed to slide on the seat base rim somehow. Old Brits clip diagram does not make sense to me yet on how the cover can slip in the clip the way they show clips oriented. I can only see one leg of the clips exposed so don't yet see how to access them. I think I have to pull off the trim strip first? Got to do it before rainy season hits or end up with a soggy foam block Wes tells me. Will dig out my hot glue kit as makes good sense to back up the factory clips. I've like 4-5 seats & bases on hand but only the fiberglass Interstate Combat one is in bad shape. I'm using up a seat Wes gave me as Trixie's original was in good shape till animals bumped it off a box next to shed wall and if fell down against a nail that ripped the side panel.

hobot said:

I found Old Brits seat install http://www.oldbritts.com/ob_start.html but still confused on how the clips operate/fit. I though they just were bent on/off like picture frame clips but see they are supposed to slide on the seat base rim somehow.

Click to expand...

The seat cover is stretched over the lip of the seat pan, and when correctly positioned, the clip is then forced over the lip with its flat folded section to the outside and the barbed fold inside. The inside lip of the seat trim is then pressed into inside slot.

Ok LAB that's how I pictured clips had to work. Seems the clips shown are upside down in Old Brits diagram from orientation when installed on bike. This means the trim strip must fit in from the bottom up, instead of top down. No worries mate I will just blame the forum advice if I can't figure this out from here :?

You'll see how it works when you take the old ones off.

Dave
69S

hobot said:

Seems the clips shown are upside down in Old Brits diagram from orientation when installed on bike.

Click to expand...

Well, the clip is shown the correct way up when installed, with the seat in position and the flat fold (no barbs/sprags) to the outside of the seat lip.

hobot said:

This means the trim strip must fit in from the bottom up, instead of top down.

Click to expand...

It does, the trim is pushed onto the seat pan so the inner lip goes into the inner fold of the clip.

GOOD LUCK HOBOT. HAVE TRIED TO REDO 2 SEATS AND BOTCHED THEM BOTH. TOOK THE LAST ONE TO A SEAT MAKER AND HE FIT MEMORY FOAM, CAME OUT GOOD. NEVER COULD FIGURE OUT THOISE STUPID CLIPS. YOU MAY HAVE A NEW CAREER AHEAD OF YOU!!!

GOOD LUCK HOBOT. HAVE TRIED TO REDO 2 SEATS AND BOTCHED THEM BOTH. TOOK THE LAST ONE TO A SEAT MAKER AND HE FIT MEMORY FOAM, CAME OUT GOOD. NEVER COULD FIGURE OUT THOSE STUPID CLIPS. YOU MAY HAVE A NEW CAREER AHEAD OF YOU!!!

Click to expand...

ugh Don - just when I feel its safe to get in the water you yell SHARK ATTACK! I will keep your constructive advice in front of mind in case LAB and crew here have mislead me like so many before by advising me 'its such a simple contraption what could go wrong', haha hehe hoho. I pulled the trigger Old Brits is sending a cover and trim, plus fork gaiters and new peg rubbers so at least one renewal area expected to go as planned. Rode Trixie again and got a 'how beautiful' from an artist fellow fingering her deep yellar, so can't see duct tape as good enough solution no more. At least the rim ain't dissolved away like the fiberglass base.

I'M SENDING MY NEXT SEAT TO YOU. THE POST ON THE CRASH... YOU HIT IT A WHILE AGO... EVERY TIME I WHEEL IT OUT OF THE GARAGE, KICK IT OVER AND GRIN. THATS ALL GOOD. WHEN I CLICK INTO GEAR, THAT'S WHEN THE GHOSTS COME A DANCIN, TOO MANY FACES, SHOULD BE GONE BY NOW.

Hi Hobot

I brought a new seat cover for my Interstats seat from Burtons British Bikes in England for 29 pounds, it came with all new clips as well a new strip that goes around the base, don't be put off as it was a easy job, once the cover is streched in place just tap the clips on with a small hammer, I also used glue around the edges, just take your time and make sure your foam is in the same shape as the new cover I had to cut my foam down at the back so put the cover on first before sercuring it.

Ashley

Oh my oh my oh my Don, I feel ya to the bone, ugh. Every temperature and wind speed to common meals flash me back to the missing for a surreal sense to feel like I'm still here. About every minute I wonder what I should or could be doing. Norton maintenance/recovery definitely cuts into what life I got left. Right now, I can look at all my incapacitated vehicles none d/t my fault, and only thing bright and working and [can ya believe it] reliable is my factory Combat. Am I wasting me time on frivolous hobby at a new task I might well screw up and go bezerk over knowing just a rat scamper or nail snag away from back to start. One of my ride friends takes photo's of girls posing on bikes for kix, guess my new seal will need some if that polishing too. No need for CAPS, message is clear...

Sending from lovely Brandon VT Norton rally.

Covers come with new clips. I have a bunch (all) of my old ones slightly pre-rusted and if needed they're yours. I found that the corners of the new clips need to be bent up slightly with pliers so as not to tear the new seatcover when installing. Use many plastic hardware store Taiwanese clamps to hold in place and get it perfect. New foam is a wonderful thing. Even original foam was too hard. I repaired my fiberglass base which was cracked and broken. A lot of JB Weld and a fiberglass repair kit did the job. Sorry for the anality but I painted the base the same gray color after repair. It is not all that hard and I spent more time worrying than doing.

Russ

Russ that is more news I can use, lots of clamps to hold cover down and tweaking clips to fit. I was planing to JBW my fg seat base till Wes gave me his ok seat. I've two other factor seats/bad covers that did feel like a brick too soon but this one has been broken down by Wesley and didn't get too hard on all day out of state rides. IF I wasn't so vain I'd go back to the king/queen dual saddle seat cushions. I don't need to feel any better about my mechanic and repair abilities so will cry to Wes for help and at least have company to whine too as I cuss my fumbles and uneven tucking down.

Hobot you will be surprised how easy it is to do, just do it and do the thinking later and a few beers looking at what you have achived.

Ashley

Thankyou Ashley for upward mood swing in bipolar hobby. I recover my treatment tables with pre-formed Nagahyde to hassle with the shipping folds and laying down even and staying put. Mysterious clips threw me as i'd never seen the hidden part of unless falling apart rusted before. Plemty heat wave sunshine to soften the task. Here's what I got in mind for one of Ms Peel seats,

I do upholstery for a living. I have never liked point attachment where there is a large space between attachment points. I also don't like to see attachment points doing double duty.

When I did my seat, I first scraped the paint off the inner bottom edge of the seat. I marked a line around the seat bottom about 1.5" deep. Then I fitted the seat right where I wanted it, using clamps. You have to slit the fabric so take your time, tightening up until you have it right. Laundry pins are usually not strong enough. I trimmed the cover a little, but left at least 3". Then I painted contact cement on the seat bottom down to the line and on the cover down about 2.5". I do about 6" at a time, and I use 2 coats, but I'm anal. While the cement is drying on one side, you can work on the other. When you have a section done, you can cut the fabric with a carpet knife along the line since the material will not stick beyond it with contact cement on only one side. The clips now only have one thing to do, keep the trim strip on. If it comes off, who cares, just reattach or buy a new one. The seat fabric is going nowhere.








There is nothing inherently wrong with using the clips to hold the fabric and the trim strip. Bike have been built for a long time that way. Best of luck with you seat Hobot, well, not your seat, your bikes seat,...............you know what I mean.

Very good hand holding for me Herman, almost make it look like fun compared to other Commando repairs. With a new seat and the still good paint, makes the rest of Trixie look long in tooth unattended blotchy patina again. Hope the seat logo holds up long enough it still appears nice by time I re-polish and seal surfaces and maybe finally get a new chain guard. Them may be able to better tempt strange women to display good revealing posture for photo's on a plain Jane Combat.