Topic: Re-covering seats

[martini]

Who has recovered a seat lately? I've bought new foam and a cover for my CB750K0 seat. My main concern is installing the silver tirm along the bottom of the seat. Is this something I can do myself and have it look decent or am I better off taking it somewhere and have it done? Thanks for your replies.

[gregimotis]

I did it last month on my 76 F1

Cut the old one off, being careful to preserve the bits.

Got a friend to help stretch it over the foam and keep it straight.

Used a hair dryer to keep it supple and stretchy.

Went from hook to hook side to side while friend kept stretching it up or down depending on where we were.

Pay attention to any holes you need to awl in order to re-assemble as you win't be able to find them so easily when they are covered with seat.



I worried it would come out crooked or too far forward/back.  No problems at all, took about thirty minutes.
I can't speak to your trim, 'cause it's a slightly different bike, but I could have put mine back on fairly easily but decided it looked just as well without it.

The recovering itself was quite a bit easier than it seemed like it might be.  One thing I'm noticing about this bike - everything can be done at home at least as well as someone else can do it.

Keep it warm, stretch it tight.

[martini]

Thanks for the reply, still sounds rather daunting to me.

[jreich]

Here is a great guide for anyone wanted to put together their own seat.

Check it out: http://www.chopperhandbook.com/neatstuff/seat-making-1.htm

[rlarkin70]

I figured I would awaken a sleeping thread, since I just finished re-covering the seat on my 76 550. It was AWFUL! I mean, it turned out OK, but the whole project (replacing the foam, shaping it, and then covering it) was the least favorite thing I've done on my project so far, and I am just happy it's done. I've been putting it off, but when all was said and done it took me a total of 3 hours, including some trial and error fitting the foam.

The best advice was from gregimotis:  use a hair dryer. In my case I used a heat gun on low (the kind that is used for covering RC model aircraft with monokote). This really makes it easy to pull things tight. I started in the middle, and went side to side, pulling REALLY tight as I went, and trying to keep things even. While it took a lot of time and care, it turned out well, and for the cost of the cover ($50), a can of 3M 77 ($9), and some free foam, I have a like-new seat.

Here are some pictures: I used some (blue) firm foam that I got from a boat cover/upholstry shop. Small scraps, so they gave it to me free. Also, I asked for some scrap underpadding foam from a carpet store. I cut out the rotting foam from the seat with a hacksaw, trying to keep things flat. Laid 2 layers of VERY firm underpadding. Then I cut, fitted, and glued the foam in place (lots of trial and error). Sharpie marker and some thin cardboard templates helped. Trim off the excess with scissors. I used 3M 77 spray glue on both sides, let it dry for 30 seconds, then pressed together. I used some sort of thin fabric padding from inside an old sofa cushion to go over everything.  I figured this would help even the transition out between old foam and new.

While not PERFECT, I am very happy with the end result. Just take your time when you do it, and that hair dryer trick really made things easier.

-Ron

[keiths]

Hi Martini,
I have the same concern about the plastic trim. Has anyone found a source for the trim? Does it just slide off from one end or do you pry it off? If I could replace the trim I'd have 3 nice seats. I've been buying them on evil bay but can't find one as nice as my original.

[rlarkin70]

Is the "chrome" trim around the bottom of the seat plastic? Or a metal?  Mine didn't have one, and I think it looks fine just as is without. But I have heard that you can get that type of trim strip from auto detailing/upholstry supply shops. Might not be an exact replacement, but I'm sure you can make it work.

[seaweb11]

Have not tried it but would the chrome plastic car door edge stuff work?

[keiths]

I bought a roll of plastic chrome door trim from Pep Boys last weekend but it was much too small and not as round as the stuff on the Honda seat.

[736cc]

The Sandcast, K0 and K1 all use same 3 metal trim pieces w/ bendable prongs in the slots. (They also share pan and belt, buckle and buckle screws if you need parts ). After you get the cover permanently on (you want it REAL TIGHT so it doesn't wrinkle, and the seam should be even just inside the edge out of view), you have to poke holes in your nice new cover right thru the holes in the metal pan (Hey, you have to break a few eggs to make an omellette!). Now push the straightened prongs thru the holes, affix w/ speed nuts (same as used on sidecover emblems) then bend the prongs.

[UnCrash]

Hey Rlarkin,

Thanks for resurrecting this post.  I'm about to embark on a recovering mission for a cafe seat.

Inspiring words and pictures.

Nice work!

[Jonesy]

I found a good trick for getting the seat cover wrinkle free, especially if you are doing it yourself- once you get the seat cover centered and lined up, stretch it tight and fasten it on each end of the pan with the center prong, then in the middle of either side. Work outwards from the middle, a little at a time for each side, pulling the cover downward and slightly away from the center. This will get the cover nice and tight without wrinkles. I picked this up while learning how to reupholster furniture.

[upperlake04]

  Good info on DIY MC seats - http://www.diymotorcycleseat.com/index.htm

[wiretender]

I've recovered two seats with DSS kits. Last was but 3 weeks ago and even with exchange rate and postage they were best deal.

Neither seat I've done required foam work. Just follow directions, pull cover down tight and hold in place with binder clips you can get at office supply store until you get kit clips and trim in place. No kidding, it's easy and I'll do it again in the future as needed. DSS pattern covers are imprinted with "Honda" on the back of seat.

[rlarkin70]

Looks good. Good idea about the clips, Im sure that would help...feels like you need an extra hand sometimes. =)

This is the one I got...from a place in New Zealand. $49 incl. shipping to the USA and arrived in less than a week:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-CB500-CB550-SEAT-COVER-NEW_W0QQitemZ330156686421QQihZ014QQcategoryZ35589QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[hapsh]

Anyone got a link to where to get the DSS kits?  Also, how about the JCWhitney seat kits, anyone try them?
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-VehicleBrowse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2007062/p-2007062/N-111+1976+200730429+600014410/c-10111

[mattcb350f]

Anyone got a link to where to get the DSS kits? 

I think the DSS means "David Silver Spares", a good source for SOHC4 Honda parts..

here's a link to a seat cover for a 750K0/K1/K2/K6..... they have more models 
http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/cgi-bin/dss2-cgi/ProdSel.pl

[Drewery]

Okay, so I have two small rips starting lenthwise down a seam. I thought about taking the cover off the foam and reinforcing the viny on the backside but an upholster around the corner says that never works. Anybody know different? Or why?

[Bob Wessner]

I had a K0 seat repaired just that way. It was a T-shaped rip along two seams. I removed the cover and took it to an upholsterer and had the entire top surface matched with a piece of vinyl underneath. She had to stitch along both sides of each rip, but it worked. Just make sure the reinforcement piece is stout and doesn't stretch. One drawback is that the stitching becomes a problem with rain. I don't ride in the rain so it didn't pose an issue for me.

Just happened to think. What seems are you talking about, edge seems or the simulated pattern seems in the middle of the seat? If the edge, your upholsterer might be right. Mine were in the middle of the seat covering.

[Drewery]

Mine are also in the middle. Too bad, because other than that the seat is perfect. The same thing happened on my old seat and I left it too long and so it soon became wrecked. I no longer drive in the rain either if I can help it but when I sit on the wet seat i end up with the dreaded 'wet butt'. Isn't there some glue I can just use to stick the insert on with? It's the second millennium, for godssake. Where are all our super-glues?

[Bob Wessner]

Isn't there some glue I can just use to stick the insert on with? It's the second millennium, for godssake. Where are all our super-glues?

NASA probably has something, but it would cost about $2,000/oz.

[keiths]

Try "Tear Mender" as seen on TV. It's amazing. I used it to fix a hole in my leather jacket and to hem my leather pants. In three minutes you can't get the pieces apart. I bought it at the local fabric store.