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Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...

  • wrenchmonkey
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19 Jun 2016 07:43 #731987 by wrenchmonkey
Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh... was created by wrenchmonkey
So let's say you were attempting to resurrect, I mean restore you old KZ :whistle:
You got a new seat upholstery kit - foam & cover. :)
Then you discover that your old seat pan's metal triangle points are borked, rusted or missing. :ohmy:
What do you do to secure your new seat cover? :unsure:

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19 Jun 2016 08:43 #731993 by loudhvx
Replied by loudhvx on topic Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...
I found a piece of old refrigerator sheet metal, and fabbed a new spike strip, and popped it onto the rusty pan.
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19 Jun 2016 13:02 #732013 by davido
Replied by davido on topic Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...
I like that solution,especially if the pan is rusted away. If its still reasonablly solid,you could punch some new triangles in it. Use an old carpenters chisel or sharpen up a piece of angle iron to make a V-shaped chisel.

www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/594313-csr1000-project-build
CB550 (1978)
CB500/4 (1972)*
KZ1000CSR (1981)
XT 600E (1999)
TDM900 (2003)
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19 Jun 2016 13:21 #732015 by 650ed
Replied by 650ed on topic Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...
These folks make & sell spike strips: www.pandkclassicbikes.co.uk/

Here's how they can be used:


1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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  • Tyrell Corp
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19 Jun 2016 14:55 - 19 Jun 2016 14:57 #732028 by Tyrell Corp
Replied by Tyrell Corp on topic Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...
slightly off topic, but when you fit the cover get it really hot - either in the sun or I heat it with a gas radiator for that skin tight look.

get some thin upholsterers wadding if the foam is damaged in any way...works for me ( The ELR seats are the hardest of the lot )

1980 Gpz550 D1, 1981 GPz550 D1. 1982 GPz750R1. 1983 z1000R R2. all four aces
Last edit: 19 Jun 2016 14:57 by Tyrell Corp.
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19 Jun 2016 16:31 #732038 by wrenchmonkey
Replied by wrenchmonkey on topic Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...
Gents!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I really like the looks of that system Ed posted about but I'm like ready to cover now and don't wanna wait for shipping from ol' Blighty so I reckon I'll have a whirl at it with Loud's idea and just punch out some from scrape steel. I shoulda' thought about this beforehand because I just rebuilt the pan along the entire side but couldn't think of a way to punch through the steel with anything I have in the garage. sigh... David's idea to sharpen a piece of angle iron to make a shear sounds promising. I have some bits of smaller sized angle iron kickin' around here somewhere...
Here's the pan yesterday after welding in steel:

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  • SWest
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19 Jun 2016 16:35 #732039 by SWest
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29 Jun 2016 16:56 #733310 by 76KZ900
Replied by 76KZ900 on topic Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...
I had the exact problem with my 83 KZ1100. Seat pan is a bastard size. Could not.locate one so I braised and braised. When it came to triangles I was missing a few. I used lol rivets with washers. Worked really good. Painted pan and it looks new with only the pop rivets to show any repairs were done. I considered punching new triangles out of the fresh metal I installed but with the time it would take decided against it. I ordered the cheap eBay cover for my bike and don't have any problem with it

78KZ400 (sold)
78KZ1000 (sold)
82KZ1100 (sold)
76KZ900 (sold) regret
03ZRX1200R (sold) regret
83KZ1100 LTD Shaft

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29 Jun 2016 21:34 #733348 by Nelson
Replied by Nelson on topic Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...
I drilled holes and used short sheet metal screws. Kinda annoying but functional

Restoring and customizing a KZ1000. Click here to read about it.
Plated KTM, DR650, KZ1000, Former MC mechanic (eons ago). 40 yrs. of dirt and street.

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  • DoctoRot
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29 Jun 2016 23:17 #733354 by DoctoRot
Replied by DoctoRot on topic Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...
i used the old pan as a plug for a fiberglass pan

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30 Jun 2016 06:46 #733368 by 76KZ900
Replied by 76KZ900 on topic Seat Re-upholstering 101... Uh oh...

Nelson wrote: I drilled holes and used short sheet metal screws. Kinda annoying but functional


Good idea!

78KZ400 (sold)
78KZ1000 (sold)
82KZ1100 (sold)
76KZ900 (sold) regret
03ZRX1200R (sold) regret
83KZ1100 LTD Shaft

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