Seat cover and glue

[Wildkat]

John bought me a new seat cover for Something Special as a Christmas present... I finally had a chance to put it on this last week... Unfortunately, our kids lost the directions before I could get it on... When I finally found them in the backyard (the directions... not the kids)... it said to use a spray adhesive... I didn't do that.

My question: Do I need to take off the cover and spray on the adhesive? or should it be okay without it?

I'm concerned about the metal tabs breaking off at this point... but I sure as heck don't want the seat cover sliding off with me on it... if that's a possibility...

[HobbyMan]

the seat cover on my Dad's LH did not use any adhesive. I think the only adhesive was between the foam and the seat pan. Some of the tabs were kind of weak. My Dad actually put a layer of plastic underneath to make sure the foam wouldn't get wet and rust the seat pan again. Because the tabs were weak, we took some thread and made a sorta spiral stitch going from hole to hole in the cover that looped around the tabs as well. That way if one of the tabs broke off, the string would hold the cover in place.

[Czekus21]

I put a JCW seat cover on a Kawi 750 I had. I didn't use any adheasive. I probably should have though. It loosened up after a few rides but didn't come off.
I just fixed a bubble in my cealing wall paper with a spray adheasive made by 3-M. I didn't use very much of it and with how well it worked, I'll use it in the shop for seat covers and such.
When and if you decide to spray some adheasive, and need to bend some tabs, I would meticulously slightly bend the tabs and stretch the cover off of each one, one at a time.
Reassemble just as meticulously as disassembly, hopefully all the tabs will still be there.

[Ken Talbot]

When the tabs break off, you can switch to upholstery screws .

BTDT...

[nubee]

Hey Kat,

How about snaps?

If you wanted to add some kind of jell insert later, or repair the cover, it would be a snap. They also make decorative snaps too.

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat2851&PRODID=prd11252&source=search

[DiverRay]

Ken, The 3/4" length is TOO long. I used 3/8" on the seat pan of daily ride. It's NOT a stock pan, but from E-Z-Berg, a seat builder back in the day...
Ray

[Dennyz]

"don't need no stink'n glue"

I have recovered Three XS seats and did not use glue. All three seat are still working and look great.

[mro]

I did not know there was to be any glue.
Mine worked on the G just fine...I hope.


mro

[Dennyz]

A trick I use is to put the cover in the dryer (low heat). It makes it easy to stretch it tight so it will not loosen up on hot days.

Putting in the sun for a while works also, but we don't get to see the sun until June.

[Ken Talbot]

Originally posted by DiverRay
Ken, The 3/4" length is TOO long. I used 3/8" on the seat pan of daily ride.

Good catch, Ray. I just grabbed the first google hit showing a photo. I'm sure 3/8" would be plenty long for this application.

[Wildkat]

Thanks all!

I think I will go ahead and pull it today... at least if (when) I break off any tabs, I have some repair options now.