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Author Topic: Recovering seat  (Read 4883 times)

Offline chrisr65ls

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Recovering seat
« on: January 07, 2017, 07:21:34 PM »
Has anyone ever recovered the seat of an LS themselves? . I have the cover, just not sure if I should be attempting this myself. Should I use staples? current cover seems to be glued and riveted, or should I just get a pro to do it?

Offline marcmax

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Re: Recovering seat
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2017, 09:00:43 PM »
Hi Chris. I have recovered a couple of seats, R65 and LS. It is not that difficult and can be done yourself/ Staples will not work as you need to attach the cover to the metal seat pan. A pop rivet tool is what you need. You can use glue along the edges if you need to but I just stretch the cover and use a series of spring clips to hold it in place while I replace the pop rivets. That allows you to make on the fly adjustments to the cover in case you get a small wrinkle, etc. just release the clamps, pull it tight and re-clamp it before riveting in place. All of the holes in the seat pan should already be there, just stretch the cover, place the metal strips over the edge and pop rivet in place. I am about to install a new cover on a 1979 R65 seat that I am installing on my LS. I will take some pics and post them.
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1982 R65ls    1984 R65ls

Offline marcmax

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Re: Recovering seat
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2017, 07:53:38 PM »
Hi Chris. Sorry for the delay but here are some pics of the seat cover I just installed. I know it is not an LS seat but the principle is the same and this seat is going on an LS.
Keep your bike in good repair: motorcycle boots are not comfortable for walking.

1982 R65ls    1984 R65ls

Offline Barry

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Re: Recovering seat
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2017, 03:21:18 PM »
I recovered mine in the same way marcmax describes so not much to add. It just takes a little patience to make sure the cover is correctly centred. I was going to say it's not a job I would attempt in winter because the heat makes the cover easier to stretch into place ...but then I see you won't have that problem.
« Last Edit: January 10, 2017, 03:26:05 PM by bhodgson »
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45

Offline chrisr65ls

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Re: Recovering seat
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2017, 02:35:21 AM »
Thanks for that. I'm feeling a lot more confident now. Can't wait for the weekend to get into it.

Offline Adrian

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Re: Recovering seat
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2017, 06:58:49 PM »
Hi and thanks for this info and pics. I was going to pay someone to do one but I can see that it's relatively easy to do. I bought a pre shaped cover from a company in Canada so fitting should be fine. Great photos I love the use of the clips
1984 R65 (860)

clonmore1

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Re: Recovering seat
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2017, 04:35:37 AM »
Barry,

Is that the toolbox cover attached to the underside of your seat?

Mine doesn't have that, is it glued into place?

Offline Barry

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Re: Recovering seat
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2017, 03:14:54 PM »
Chris,

It's just a self adhesive foam gasket and that's the original one that I managed to remove and replace after painting the seat base.

It does seal around the top of the toolbox and I guess stops it rattling.
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45

clonmore1

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Re: Recovering seat
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2017, 03:30:59 PM »
Barry,

Thanks, I haven't been able to find that in my (now dwindled down) box of bits, Inwill need to make something up.

Cheers

Chris