new seat question

[jazzrat2000]

Hi, I just bought a beautiful new seat cover/cushion to put on the pan I already have (79 special)... I found the old cover/cushion had been glued on, and it took me a while to get the glue off... anyway, can someone tell me if you are supposed to glue the new cushion in? and if so, with what? PS anyone who needs a cushion, let me know... I think it could be recovered OK... I also have an old Special seat, new cover, but rust in the pan, if anyone needs it...

[xswilly]

the seats on a standard are not glued on
they are just held on by the little
prongs around the edges of the seat pan

they prob glued it on, because some of the prongs broke off

good luck with it
later

[jazzrat2000]

thanks, I was hoping that was true!

[fredintoon]

cover attachment

Hi Jazzrat,
like xswilly sez; the dreaded PO glued it on 'cos he had to.
The foam should just sit there, it's held on by the cover.
I just got a new seat cover for my BSA. It bypasses the problem of all the spikey things busting off by including a whole package of springsteel clips that hold the new cover to edge of the seat pan. The clips are hidden by a skirt sewn to the cover that folds down over them.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[jazzrat2000]

that sounds like a great solution... my seat cover just has the material, no clips... does anyone know the best way to get it on straight the first time? I am thinking maybe an upholsterer might be the best bet, knowing my clumsiness...

[Czekus21]

I had to reweld some of the supports on a pan. I had to strip the cover and cushion off. But had to be carefull because I had to reuse the same cusion and cover. I found that everything was glued on. Pulled everything apart carefully,( like skinning a dear )
When I put everything back together, I pulled the cover tight, Drilled a series of 1/8 inch holes at the edge of the pan through the cover and used pop-rivets to hold it all together. Doesn't look bad at all and the next time I have to do a simular job, I'll use the same meathod.

[jazzrat2000]

pop rivets! you are a genius! That's the way I am going to go, I think that will look cool! thanks!

[Czekus21]

I used the pop-rivets on the underside of the seat. I have seen them used on the sides but I don't think that looks good. But,, to each their own.

[jazzrat2000]

you are probably right, if they are on the inside I also have a little more room for error... and I need room for error!

[Czekus21]

[fredintoon]

getting it straight

Hi Jazzrat,
essentially, you start at the nose & work back.
Should you need the instructions I can scan & e-mail them to you.
I am at fred650@shaw.ca
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[jazzrat2000]

thanks for the directions, I finally today looked at using them... it seems to me the end of the material of the back end of the cover is about 3" too short to even come close to working... and yet this is the seat cover for the 79 Special, and the seat pan works fine (it had an old cover on it)... am I missing something?

[Michael March]

Re: new seat question

Originally posted by jazzrat2000
Hi, I just bought a beautiful new seat cover/cushion to put on the pan I already have (79 special)... I found the old cover/cushion had been glued on, and it took me a while to get the glue off... anyway, can someone tell me if you are supposed to glue the new cushion in? and if so, with what? PS anyone who needs a cushion, let me know... I think it could be recovered OK... I also have an old Special seat, new cover, but rust in the pan, if anyone needs it...

I have a 1981 Midnight Special. Will this seat fit it? If so, I'm interested--

Mike

[Geezer]

Originally posted by jazzrat2000
pop rivets! you are a genius! That's the way I am going to go, I think that will look cool! thanks!

If you use pop rivits on the bottom of the seat pan you'll have all those tiny points sticking up. They will eventually dig into you as you compress the seat foam.

If you use pop rivits on the sides, put washers over the back so rivits have something to grab onto and spread out the load on the cover.

Geezer

[Pat Kelly]

Yesterday I received my seat cover from JC Whitney for my 80 MN Special.
It fits great! Took me about 40 minutes to put it on.
The original seat cover was glued in places and took a little work. I didn't glue the new one and I was able to use all the 'spikes' from the seatpan.
I saved the original torn-up cover as a pattern for the new replacement. The JCW cover is temporary.
I got a quote of $300 for a leather cover with any stitching I want in it. I'll probably go with the original Yamaha MNS 'double-row' stitch. I prefer smooth but I want the bike to remain (mostly) original.
Any mods I've made I've kept the original parts (octopus, handlebars, etc.) and are reversable. Now to jinx myself... it still has the original fuseblock and I've diligently checked the fuse holders and they are fine (I gently tried to break them).
After removing the dirty, old wax (use ammonia) I polished then rewaxed the paint. SimiChrome worked fine on the black chrome exhaust. The new seat cover makes it look like a new bike.