seat reupholstering

[FJscott]

To me the corbin and the daylong look too much like a horse saddle. 

In this case, form follows function.   

exactly. I might have a different opinion if I commuted on the FJ, but its a toy, a hobby for me.
we had a saying in the Navy "work, it may..shine, it must"

[Tapartacus]

Fred, your original seat looks modified. Looks like some extra bulk on the back? Great looking replacement cover though!

Andrew

[aviationfred]

That extra bulk and the premium folds added in looked like ass. I was embarrassed to ride the bike with the seat looking like that.

Fred

[Tapartacus]

Well I didn't want to say  

[Joe Sull]

I found this video on reupholstering the seat. I would say that this kids got it down good.
take a look. He makes it look pretty easy.
How to recover your motorcycle seat on the cheap!
Theres a few others there too.

[Joe Sull]

Tomorrows the day my seat gets a new hat.



Got everything together. $5.90 for the material, borrowed a stapler, bought some 8 mm staples,
Raided my wife's arts and crafts cubbit for the adhesive and found a heat gun in there too.

Warning "PICTURE INTENSE"

[Arnie]

Joe,

Get some 1/4" (6mm) staples too.  You'll want them at the front lower edge unless you're adding more foam there.

[Joe Sull]

It's done! Very easy to do. I got all worried for nothing. I got the 6 mm staples so I had
two sizes. I watched the kids video again and I started by throwing the vinyl in the dryer
and went outside to spray the adhesive on the seat. 5 min. later the vinyl was toasty.



I started with the sides. Streched across the flatest part of the seat, held it down with one hand
and tacked on each side. I worked the sides just stapling here and there.





The adhesive helped a lot to hold it. Sometimes I would peal it away, stretch and re-stick.



Working the sides toward the front, I had to pull some staples and stretch again. I used the heat gun a lot
getting this area stretched.







Worked more staples into the sides and removed extra material.





I had to work the back area again to get a bubble out and the foam was kinking so I sprayed adhesive
to stick the foam down and then stretched again.







Finished with the front. I used the heater to loosen the vinyl up and got that all stapled in.



Easy as changing the plugs almost. I'll take a few more minutes and tidy up the line of
staples. Sink a few that need it and maybe trim a bit more.





There! It's RED

[rktmanfj]

Not the first red FJ seat I've seen, but the best-looking... nice job!   

[aviationfred]

Very nicely done.  We all know where to send our seats for a new cover 


Fred

[Joe Sull]

Thanks guys!
I still got some red Fred. Nice and cool in the summer.

[markmartin]

Very nice job, it looks great. And for less than $10! Wow!

[X-Ray]

Nice work Joe! My cover is still ok, but after 20 years, I'm sure the factory foam is compressed and near useless so I'm going to get it redone with some newer tech foam etc. Local seat guru here does unbelievable work, but of course it does cost a little.

[Joe Sull]

I'm pleased with how it came out. Actually, The $5.90 doesn't include shipping. I think it was $9 for that
so I guess almost $15. It did sound more appealing though.

I missed this pic



Happy as a clam!

[TexasDave]

That is one good looking seat. Five years ago I purchased a 1981 yamaha XS650 for cheap. Naturely the vinyl was cracked and riding it home my rear end hurt so much I rode most of the way standing on the foot pegs. I took it to the local boat shop and told the guy I wanted it recovered and recontoured with some softer foam because it was killing my rear end. He said it needed harder foam. No I said it needed softer. He said he had done hundreds of boat seats and who spends more time sitting on their rear ends than fisherman. OK I agreed. He was right--can spend all day on that seat. I think I will leave the seat recovering to the professionals or Joe!          Dave