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Seat building question

  • Thread starter Thread starter jfsebastian
  • Start date Start date
J

jfsebastian

Guest
My seat pan is rusty beyond salvage.
I have made a new pan out of aluminum, and my question is:
How do I attach the foam/covering vinyl to the seat pan?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

JF
 
Pop rivets !!!
Well, that might be something to consider.
Any other ideas?

JF
 
Agemax said:
how do you secure foam to ali with pop rivets? upholsterers spray glue is what you need mate
Click to expand...
there is an inexpensive tool , it is often called a "rivet gun", you also need a drill with an appropriately sized bit. possibly some small washers so the rivet heads dont pull through the vinyl/leather covering. If you can get a look at a Corbin seat, that is how they do it. oh, and use aluminum rivets.
 
Usually, the adhesion between foam and pan does not really matter much. Some spray adhesive should work there. What really holds it all together is the vinyl cover. In this case, it should be long enough to wrap under the pan and get held in by rivets every 2 or 3 inches.

.
 
Honda rivets from CB400F

Honda rivets from CB400F

Take a look on EBAY or a fiche for 75-77 Honda CB400F. They use chrome rivets that are inserted through the vinyl through a hole drilled in pan and then the legs are spread out to secure the cover this is of course in addition to the standard attachment method. If you don't mine the look of chrome buttons around the edge of seat it may work for ya?
 
jfsebastian said:
My seat pan is rusty beyond salvage.
I have made a new pan out of aluminum, and my question is:
How do I attach the foam/covering vinyl to the seat pan?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

JF
Click to expand...

I'd be interested in the final solution to this problem. Please post it here with your ideas of what worked and what didn't. I also want to know exactly how you made the seat pan. I'd think aluminum wouldn't be stiff enough to support the weight. But if it works I have a seat pan that needs to be replaced.

thanks
 
jfsebastian said:
Got this reply from another forum that I am a member of.
http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=6830.0

Velcro.

JF
Click to expand...


I wouldn't use velcro. First, it won't stick to your seat pan for long. Second, velcro is for kids who can't tie their shoes. Noel is a great guy, but some of his "methods" :rolleyes: are a little, well, too far on the "cheap and easy" side of things. Maybe even considered crude by some.

If rivets or little button head bolts are ok with you, here's what I've done.

DSCF1657.jpg


DSCF1673.jpg


You can read a little more here:

http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=1566.90

I've done the same thing for my seat build on the XS650. Works really well, easy, and easily removable and replacable.
 
I get the point, and really like the bike above, but my dilemma is that the seat pan is flat as the earth(!). Nothing to anchor the rivets in on the lower side. Had it like your first, but decided I wanted a slimmer look since I have quite thick foam to save my ass. Will probably try to do another seat once I get the welder, but for now, it?s only screwing, rivets, velcro or any other creative ideas.
But a very nice tip nonetheless.

This is becoming a very interesting thread.

JF
 
derwood said:
there is an inexpensive tool , it is often called a "rivet gun", you also need a drill with an appropriately sized bit. possibly some small washers so the rivet heads dont pull through the vinyl/leather covering. If you can get a look at a Corbin seat, that is how they do it. oh, and use aluminum rivets.
Click to expand...
haha funny matey, i was talking about the foam not the vinyl. saying that i still wouldnt use rivets as they will rip out sooner or later.
my seat is covered in black suede and is glued down with upholsterers adhesive. has been there for 5 years now without any problem
 
As an upholsterer I might be able to shed some light on this.
To secure the foam to the seat pan use general purpose spray adhesive coat both foam and pan allow to dry then stick.
For the cover to seat pan first you want to rough the ali up a bit around the edge underneath up to 2 inches in towards the centre of the pan then with a 1" paint brush give it a nice coat of contact adhesive my preference is s1358 which is made by Dunlop/Alfa, do the same to the first couple of inches of the cover all the way round I find it easier to use a plastic spreader to apply the glue to the vinyl. Then let it go off completely dry.
Next repeat the last process except this time don't let it go completely dry you want the glue to still be 'green' i e slightly tacky to the touch but definitely not wet.
Then you can start fitting the cover start from known points for example if a seam has to meet a certain point on the pan get that in place first tehn start working your way around try and get even tension on the cover and try not to pull it sideways as you may end up with a lot of surplus at the end. Once you have it stuck all the way round to your liking you can cut the excess of but make sure you leave enough to achieve a good bond.
If you need to you can carefully use a heat gun to get any creases out of the cover or if its a hot day leave it out in the sunshine for an hour or so.
God I need a cuppa now.
 
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