Seat Recovering

[timbo]

The third Minsk had a ripped seat cover. A cheap fix, was to order a metre of the vinyl fabric used for motorcycle seats off fleabay, for around £10, including postage. The old cover consisted of three parts stitched together, a front, top, and back piece. So I took it and the fabric to a local seamstress who does clothing alterations. She used the old one as a pattern, and made me a new one. Charge, only £4. Fitting was easy enough, as its a metal seat base with the metal tabs bent out. Stretch over, piercing the fabric, replace the wire reinforcer which goes round the base, then press the tabs back over  :
All modern seat bases are plastic obviously, but you can staple straight onto the plastic base with a staple gun easily enough.

[iansoady]

I've recently reshaped the seat on my Super Four to give a bit more legroom. I went to a local upholstery supplier for the material - very stretchy stuff at around £15 to do at least 3 seats - also headlining material to give a smooth(er) surface over my reshaped and multi-layer foam. It was a fascinating place with rolls of all sorts of material and the people were very helpful when I told them what I needed (and when I eventually found the place!)

I found I needed an electric staple gun plus a lot of pressure to get the staples into the plastic base properly. An electric carving knife (£10 or so) and an electric file were excellent for shaping and smoothing the foam.

[spooky]

i shortened my gn seat with a blunt panel saw and a swiss army knife.....looks crap !

[timbo]

A picture paints a thousand.......

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[iansoady]

Very nice job.

[mthee]

Congrats, timbo! A man with the skills to do many jobs himself and the ability to source bikes, parts and services at great prices - you've really got it all covered! 

[timbo]

Its more to do with the fact that I'm as tight as a drum, when it comes to spending money 
Plus, you only learn things by having a go, I suppose 

[Rossco500]

I can vouch for that!! Lol

[johnr]

i found the use of a hairdrier was invaluable in recovering seats, get the seat secured in any one location then get the hairdrier in between the foam and cover, the cover when hot is nice and pliable, and easy to pull tight, when it cools down it shrinks back making it a nice tight fit. worth taking time to do.

[500 T C]

        Or better still, soak the cover in hot water before fitting, works a treat.(Triumph workshop manual)

[timbo]

Thanks John and 500TC for the tips 

[johnr]

problem with hot water is that when its wet, its slippy, and then you have water on the inside of your cover. the hairdrier allows you do do a bit, reheat it, do some more etc etc, the covers cool pretty quick in the ambient air temp, and then you struggle to get the correct stretch on them.