Topic: A lovely seat rip

[nunnik6]

I bought this '74 750 a few months ago, and it seems like every time I look at the seat, this rip gets bigger. Is there an easy fix for this, or do I have to take it to a professional. I saw a posting a long time ago for this stuff called "Goo Gone", but I think this is too big of a job for a simple fix. Help please!

[techy5025]

I would check the prices on replacement covers before I had this fixed.  You
can install a replacement yourself and the final cost may be the same plus you
have an new one.   How is the foam?

Jim

[nunnik6]

The foam is great, its just that the leather is ripping every time I look at it. I would like to fix the original seat if I could, I just didnt know if there was a kit that could handle this or if I do need to go the cover route.

[techy5025]

I took my seat in to have it repaired, but in my case the vinyl was OK but the foam
was shot....crumbling in fact.  You can probably get that fixed, but with that long
a rip it may not look perfect.

Why not look for a cheap seat on ebay.  If its not an early "ducktail" seat, you should
be able to get a good one fairly cheaply. You could keep your pan and foam and just
swap the vinyl...just a thought. 

Jim

[cbjunkie]

ditch the cover. once that vinyl rips there's no fixing it, unless you are fond of the look of globby black vinyl repair kit stuff or electricians tape.  just bite the bullet - there's a couple of sellers on ebay that have covers up all the time - fix it before that foam gets crunchy

[heffay]

goo gone is not the right product... it is made for removing sticky stuff thus, the name goo gone.  you know like when you stick a sticker somewhere and you take the sticker off and the goo stays... it makes the goo... gone.

[TwoTired]

You are probably thinking about shoe goo, not goo gone.  You could remove the cover and shoe goo a patch over the tear from the back side.
However, the seat is torn because the vinyl has hardened with age.  If you fix that tear, it will just tear on the other side, very soon most likely.  cbjunkie is right, get a new cover for it.   And, do it before the foam has a chance to deteriorate further which will happen much more rapidly now that there is no vinyl to protect it.

Cheers,

[KB02]

Travelcade Seat covers are the best that I have found. Easily available and easy to install. I replaced the seat cover on my old Nighthawk with a Travelcade cover. Not only does the rip disapear, but the slightly faded, moldy look goes away as well. AND, I found the new seat cover to be much more comfortable as well. It took me all of about a half an hour.

http://www.saddlemen.com/saddleskins_street.html
(mid way down the page)

I have never seen a patched seat that didn't look[/i] patched, either. For what it's worth...

[eldar]

yeah a new cover is in order. they are not too expensive. You have to worry about the seat pan too. It will rust and corrode and is much harder to replace than the foam. A cover is around $50 - 60.

[Ebrandon]

What's a good fix for a small tear (about the size of a finger tip)? The vinyl is still supple, and the tear is small, so what is the best stuff to keep it from getting bigger?

[Bob Wessner]

I had a "T" shaped rip in my cover. It was suggested I repair it rather than replace it. I pulled the cover and took it to an upholsterer
and had them stitch a swatch of naugahyde on the underside after bringing the torn edges together. So far so good. Any repair less than that is not likely to be strong enough or hold-up.

[nunnik6]

Bob,
How much did that run you to patch it up like that? Id like to keep it as original as possible, but if a cover is needed, I guess that will have to do.

[Bob Wessner]

As I recall, she charged me $20, over priced for 5 min. work. I brought the patch with me.

[huili]

well I had a rip in the seat just like that and this is how I did repaired it. wne to JoAnn fabrics bought a piece of vinyl big enough to cover the rip with about an inch over lap bought some vinyl glue cost everything cost about $10.  I slip the vinyl behind the rip making sured it is centered applied the glue on one side of the rip between the new vinyl and the back of the old seat vinyl let it dry then I did the same with the other side now once the glue is applied take duct tape and use it to pull the rip together making sure ther are no creases in the seam take you time this is where patience and worksmanship counts.  once the glue is dried the seat should look pretty good. Ill try to post a picture later on so you can see hos it turned out.  I hurried the job the is a little gap about 1/4 in at the widest point but with a little black perminant marker it is not very noticable.  and Ebrandon to prevent tears from getting bigger use the same vinyl glue just apply it on top  the leading and trailng edges of the tear it self levels and dries clear so it is not very noticable and it gives the old vinyl a little more elasticity so the tear won't get bigger.