Author Topic: Chrome seat trim (Read 12816 times)

Scott S · « **on:** August 22, 2011, 10:58:06 AM »

I have a seat from a '75 550 and it appears to have been recovered. It's very nice and whoever did it did a fine job.

However, it looks like they re-used the chrome trim strip. It's showing it's age. It's cracking and faded and sorta stands out against the new seat. Where can I find a replacement strip?
Thinking about hitting up an upholstery shop down the road from me when I get the bike on the road and see what they have, but until then, any ideas?

Gordon · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2011, 11:04:12 AM »

AFAIK, the chrome strip on the 550 seat is part of the seat cover, as in it can't really be replaced separately. I'm sure it's possible with a certain amount of work, but as it is it's permanently part of the cover and is what holds the cover onto the seat pan.

Scott S · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2011, 11:16:52 AM »

I just checked and the strip is definitely a seperate piece on my seat. I suspect that whoever did the cover cut the strip from the old seat?

It slides over the lip of the seat on the outside and is held in by the stock clips underneath.

JustinLonghorn · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2011, 11:19:46 AM »

If it indeed just slides over the lip, you can buy replacement chrome trim at any Auto Parts place.

Gordon · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:37:25 PM »

Quote from: Scott S on August 22, 2011, 11:16:52 AM

I just checked and the strip is definitely a seperate piece on my seat. I suspect that whoever did the cover cut the strip from the old seat?

It slides over the lip of the seat on the outside and is held in by the stock clips underneath.

Can you pull it away from the seat cover on the outside edge?

Scott S · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2011, 12:53:36 PM »

Yes. The chrome is attached to a rubber/vinyl looking strip. Upon closer examination, I think maybe it's the original strip that was cut from the old seat and then slipped over the edge of the new seat cover.

KingCustomCycles.com · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2011, 01:07:37 PM »

All the seats I have done had the chrome piece as a separate, slip-on, part after the vinyl was stretched and secured. Imagine, if you will, trying to get that strip on that edge perfectly everytime during manufacture with it attached to the vinyl. Any imperfections or variations in the vinyl installation could not be corrected if that was attached prior to finishing the installation. I am not saying it wasn't glued on at the factory, in combination with the clips, but it had to be added after the vinyl. In answer to your question about where to get that piece, I have no idea and am watching this thread for the answer also.

BobbyR · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:37:57 PM »

In the threads I have read people use those chrome door edge guards they sell at auto part stores.

wingman1946 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2011, 03:34:52 PM »

Find a professional motorcycle seat repair/rebuild shop and they will have access to a replacement of some sort.

WarwickE36 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2011, 03:51:02 PM »

When I did my seat, I used a black one instead. It is definitely separate. I didnt like the chrome at all and am very happy with the black replacement.

Stev-o · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2011, 04:06:38 PM »

I bought the strip on eBy or about $8.

BobbyR · « **Reply #11 on:** August 22, 2011, 04:09:27 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on August 22, 2011, 04:06:38 PM

I bought the strip on eBy or about $8.

What they usually sell is door guard strips. You got a good price.

Gordon · « **Reply #12 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:45:23 PM »

Quote from: KingCustomCycles.com on August 22, 2011, 01:07:37 PM

All the seats I have done had the chrome piece as a separate, slip-on, part after the vinyl was stretched and secured. Imagine, if you will, trying to get that strip on that edge perfectly everytime during manufacture with it attached to the vinyl. Any imperfections or variations in the vinyl installation could not be corrected if that was attached prior to finishing the installation. I am not saying it wasn't glued on at the factory, in combination with the clips, but it had to be added after the vinyl.

I'm guessing you've never worked on a stock 550K seat cover. The chrome strip is what holds the seat cover onto the pan. It and the plastic lip that folds over the edge of the pan and gets held on by the clips are a bonded one-piece with the cover itself. There is no way to install the stock vinyl cover without the strip because there would be no way to hold it onto the pan.

Duanob · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2011, 09:36:20 AM »

Quote

I'm guessing you've never worked on a stock 550K seat cover. The chrome strip is what holds the seat cover onto the pan. It and the plastic lip that folds over the edge of the pan and gets held on by the clips are a bonded one-piece with the cover itself. There is no way to install the stock vinyl cover without the strip because there would be no way to hold it onto the pan

I've worked on them, I think you're a bit off. There are sharp tangs that hold the cover in place. Then you install the trim to keep the cover tight and looking nice.

I would look for the Honda trim if you can find it, it's bit more beefier than the door trim. But if you can't find it the door trim works great. Try and find the stuff that has glue on the inside of the channel.

ekpent · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2011, 09:44:18 AM »

The stock 750 seat covers I have removed have had the chrome strip permanently attached to the seat as Gordon has mentioned. If you want to save it you literally have to cut it off.Never have had a 550 though.

Duanob · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2011, 10:15:43 AM »

On the 550 he should be able to just pull the old chrome strip off and put a new one on. Should only take a few minutes.

keiths · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2011, 07:29:49 PM »

I bought some channel trim and had a hard time getting the glue to stick on the thick edge and around the bends.

I always wanted to try this stuff, but never did.

http://www.brandsport.com/trmg-ww2-wc-05.html

It's cheep enough and might look better than the channel trim.

Let us know if anyone tries it.

Stev-o · « **Reply #17 on:** August 24, 2011, 06:29:18 AM »

Gordon - the cheap aftermarket seats for the 550 don't have the chrome trim, it attaches like Duad states above (I recovered one 2 years ago on my 550). Didn't like the recovered seat and sold it and found an original.

Duanob · « **Reply #18 on:** August 24, 2011, 11:18:49 AM »

Quote from: rotortiller on August 23, 2011, 12:09:13 PM

I just did a 750 cover and the chrome strip is channeled underneath for rivets, The rivets go through the outer seat cover, seat pan and folded seat cover . Seat cover is attached with little spears/wedges on the seat pan. Rivets for chrome strip are held with clips or tinnermans. Stock aluminum rivets are also bent after the clips are installed. I used aircraft rivets on mine and filed the heads so they would fit better into the channel. Clear as mud?

you guys need to read a little better, he said 75' 550. No mention at all of a 750 seat.

Gordon · « **Reply #19 on:** September 07, 2011, 08:18:22 PM »

Quote from: Duanob on August 23, 2011, 09:36:20 AM

Quote
I'm guessing you've never worked on a stock 550K seat cover. The chrome strip is what holds the seat cover onto the pan. It and the plastic lip that folds over the edge of the pan and gets held on by the clips are a bonded one-piece with the cover itself. There is no way to install the stock vinyl cover without the strip because there would be no way to hold it onto the pan

I've worked on them, I think you're a bit off. There are sharp tangs that hold the cover in place. Then you install the trim to keep the cover tight and looking nice.

I would look for the Honda trim if you can find it, it's bit more beefier than the door trim. But if you can't find it the door trim works great. Try and find the stuff that has glue on the inside of the channel.

Okay, so you guys had me doubting myself on this (not that hard to do

). I had some time this evening to take the seat off my '76 550K to see if I had just missed something obvious the last time I took it off to find out what I would need to recover it, and as far as I can tell it's exactly how I remember.

The chrome trim is permanently adhered to the seat. The only way to remove it from the cover would be to cut or tear it off, and then there would be no way to hold a new cover onto the pan, because the only clips on the bottom of the pan that hold the cover on are the same clips that hold the chrome trim and rubber strip onto the pan. There are no separate clips or hooks to hold the vinyl cover by itself.

Am I just crazy? Is there something I'm completely overlooking?

Scott S · « **Reply #20 on:** September 08, 2011, 04:58:11 AM »

That's what mine looks like from underneath, too. Like I said before...It appears someone installed an aftermarket cover and carefully trimmed the old seat cover to remove the trim, then installed it around the freshly covered seat.

Gordon · « **Reply #21 on:** September 08, 2011, 06:09:58 AM »

Quote from: Scott S on September 08, 2011, 04:58:11 AM

That's what mine looks like from underneath, too. Like I said before...It appears someone installed an aftermarket cover and carefully trimmed the old seat cover to remove the trim, then installed it around the freshly covered seat.

I'm very interested to know how the cover is held onto your seat pan. My 550 seat is badly torn in two places and I've been wanting to recover it for a long time, but the only covers I can find don't come with the chrome/rubber strip so there's no way to attach them to the pan.

Scott S · « **Reply #22 on:** September 08, 2011, 12:18:54 PM »

Gordon,
I'll be removing the seat in the near fiture as I've found a correct '77-78 seat. I'll take plenty of pics when I can get to it (the bike is pushed up against the wall of the garage right now and I can get better pics once the seat is off ).

Duanob · « **Reply #23 on:** September 08, 2011, 12:34:49 PM »

Unfortunately from Honda all you could ever buy is a complete seat assembly. Most after market seat covers don't come with foam or trim. the trim is not hard to do. trust me if I can do it anybody can do it.

Gordon · « **Reply #24 on:** September 08, 2011, 03:19:34 PM »

Quote from: Duanob on September 08, 2011, 12:34:49 PM

Unfortunately from Honda all you could ever buy is a complete seat assembly. Most after market seat covers don't come with foam or trim. the trim is not hard to do. trust me if I can do it anybody can do it.

Okay, but how did you attach the cover to the pan? The clips that hold the stock cover on via the chrome/rubber strip will not work for holding vinyl by itself.

Stev-o · « **Reply #25 on:** September 08, 2011, 08:22:46 PM »

I put an aftermarket cover on my '76 550F about 2years ago. The seat pan had triangular "fangs" that I pulled the vinyl over, then punctured through the vinyl and it held it.
I no longer have that bike so cannot post a pic.

Ekimyar · « **Reply #26 on:** September 08, 2011, 08:43:04 PM »

Off topic, my apologies, but anyone know where you can get those little rivet things? I've lost all but one on my left side after redoing my seat cover. The little clip things did not hold them on.

Quote from: rotortiller on August 23, 2011, 12:09:13 PM

I just did a 750 cover and the chrome strip is channeled underneath for rivets, The rivets go through the outer seat cover, seat pan and folded seat cover . Seat cover is attached with little spears/wedges on the seat pan. Rivets for chrome strip are held with clips or tinnermans. Stock aluminum rivets are also bent after the clips are installed. I used aircraft rivets on mine and filed the heads so they would fit better into the channel. Clear as mud?

Gordon · « **Reply #27 on:** September 08, 2011, 08:52:41 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on September 08, 2011, 08:22:46 PM

I put an aftermarket cover on my '76 550F about 2years ago. The seat pan had triangular "fangs" that I pulled the vinyl over, then punctured through the vinyl and it held it.
I no longer have that bike so cannot post a pic.

Thanks, Steve. Unfortunately the 550K seats don't use that system for holding on the cover. It would be so much easier if they did. I guess the best option for using the stock pan is to rivet the cover, but if it's going to come to buying a tool just to recover one seat, I may just start looking at aftermarket seat options. I never carry a passenger on this bike anyway, so that really opens up the options.

nippon · « **Reply #28 on:** September 08, 2011, 10:38:00 PM »

Hi,

i have a few chrome replacement trims. They have the same black top edge like the originals and fit perfectly to the clamps at the inside of the seat in order to mount them.
They have the same profile like the stock trims and fit perfectly to the end caps at the front end of the seat. Seat covers and foams are also available.
If you need more information, please pm me.

nippon

DedHed · « **Reply #29 on:** September 09, 2011, 08:19:38 AM »

Quote from: Duanob on September 08, 2011, 12:34:49 PM

Unfortunately from Honda all you could ever buy is a complete seat assembly. Most after market seat covers don't come with foam or trim. the trim is not hard to do. trust me if I can do it anybody can do it.

Very true Duanob... I was able to remove the old cover and even managed to order another from the 'ol www.internets.getmea seat.com.
Problem I have is getting the new seat cover sufficiently attached to the seat pan, mine 750K4 has 6 - 8 tabs that the chrome trim attached to. Now with the new seat cover it, just doesn't seem enough to keep the seat in place. I had to add an inch thick piece of foam to build the foam back up and the seat looks ok... not as good as it could though....
Does anyone have a suggestion rather than drill holes and riveting the seat cover to the pan?
Thanks in advance,
Phil

If I missed that somewhere in this thread or in any other thread, please direct me to that... I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer.....

Scott S · « **Reply #30 on:** September 09, 2011, 12:45:23 PM »

The '75 seat cover is held on with these clips.

This is the '77. You can see the barbs as well as the tabs/posts that hold the chrome strip.

Scott S · « **Reply #31 on:** September 09, 2011, 12:46:47 PM »

Here are some close ups of the chrome strip. If you look closely, you can see the remnants of the old seat cover. It appears that it's just slipped on around the edge of the seat/new cover.

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Author Topic: Chrome seat trim (Read 12816 times)

KingCustomCycles.com