Motorcycle seat pan

[Screwdriver]

I looks like I'm going to have to draw a picture.

I think what is happening is that you want to do something that a professional upholsterer would not recommend i.e. using glue alone to hold down the edge of a vinyl cover. In practice that means gluing up the entire edge, gluing up the seat cover and then grabbing hold of it and applying it under considerable tension. Then you need to hold it there until the glue fully cures.

Received wisdom suggests a much better solution involves the use of mechanical fixings, staples typically for this application or barbed hooks to hold fast the material under tension. I have seen many occasions where all three are used, glue, hook and staple...

Reason being that vinyl is a bit stretchy and unless it is held under tension until whatever fixing system is in place, soon as you sit on the seat you'll get ugly creases. A lot depends on the complexity of the intended covering and the type of edge it is folding over. I will be watching with interest to see how you get on as it will be some time before I need to fit mine. FWIW I am hoping to leave myself the option of having a wood/plastic strip fixed to the steel pan to allow for the use of staples...

 

[keithski122]

I've glued covers down quite often to metal pans but you do need a decent glue and it doesn't allow for a great deal of tweaking of the cover, ideally the cover needs to fit well without stretching just a final pull to get it tight.A non aerosol glue has more substance to it plus as its brushed on you can get it where it needs to be not everywhere. I don't have any photos of the inner edges but these seat covers were glued down on the inner edges.

 

[Screwdriver]

They look awesome!

 

[redlig]

I've glued covers down quite often to metal pans but you do need a decent glue and it doesn't allow for a great deal of tweaking of the cover, ideally the cover needs to fit well without stretching just a final pull to get it tight.A non aerosol glue has more substance to it plus as its brushed on you can get it where it needs to be not everywhere. I don't have any photos of the inner edges but these seat covers were glued down on the inner edges.

" decent glue " for example ?

 

[keithski122]

Where I used to work we used alpha an189 contact adhesive.At home I use contact fix aht100 from as trim which is a bit thin as its sprayable, they do a brushable version though you can't buy it in smaller quantities, not really had a problem with brushing the sprayable one though, worth giving it two coats as it does soak in.

 

[Pete.]

Aerosol contact adhesives don't hold to a high temp, personally I would only use them for temp tacking something together.
If its self adhesive surely you don't need a glue.

Using spray glue on the opposite surface usually adds a lot to the adhesion in my experience. Many times I have had to fit up polyethylene sheeting onto damp walls for protection. Of course the tape (we like to use silver foil laggers tape) won't stick to even a slightly damp wall but if you wipe the excess off with a rag and then spray it with aerosol adhesive then the tape will stick very well. Same goes for textured coatings like wallpaper a quick spray of glue then let it go tacky and the tape will grab it very well.

 

[Screwdriver]

Eventually the solution to the tricky intersection revealed itself to be somewhat obvious.

Then weld it up and plug weld the seat back in place.

It fits.

Need to make some clearance for the vinyl to wrap the entire edge.

Weld on the tank shroud.

I did eventually decide to fill this and smooth out with filler.

I can hardly believe it fits first go.

That is precisely the third time I have ever even seen this bike!

Next stop: foam.

 

[Screwdriver]

So question for the potential foamer/seat cover-er (@keithski122 )

What paint/anti rust coating is preferred? It's going to need something and the thicker the better considering it's also going to be a sort of mudguard.

Just worried whatever I use needs to be compatible with whatever is used to stick down the vinyl. needs a couple of simple fixtures welding underneath then I'll be giving it to the owner to sort out the cover ( I'm guessing he'll want me to do the post+ packing, he is a busy bunny and rarely in the UK).

As for the actual foam, it is going to be super simple. 25mm on the base, thinner than that for the tail and tank hump. Easier and better I think for whoever is doing the cover Though we did discuss the idea of my doing the foam, there is no complexity to the "design". Just needs to look really nice...

 

[ajlelectronics]

What paint/anti rust coating is preferred?

You KNOW the answer to that!

 

[keithski122]

So question for the potential foamer/seat cover-er (@keithski122 )

What paint/anti rust coating is preferred? It's going to need something and the thicker the better considering it's also going to be a sort of mudguard.

Just worried whatever I use needs to be compatible with whatever is used to stick down the vinyl. needs a couple of simple fixtures welding underneath then I'll be giving it to the owner to sort out the cover ( I'm guessing he'll want me to do the post+ packing, he is a busy bunny and rarely in the UK).

As for the actual foam, it is going to be super simple. 25mm on the base, thinner than that for the tail and tank hump. Easier and better I think for whoever is doing the cover Though we did discuss the idea of my doing the foam, there is no complexity to the "design". Just needs to look really nice...

Looking good.
I use simoniz aerosol primer and simoniz aerosol satin black on anything I do. Whether its the best, probably not but its quick and cheap and is in the budget for any covers I do. Epoxy would be good, something not gloss so it will hold the glue better.
A tack strip of plastic or ply around the inner edge to hold a staple would be nice, I'd use a 6mm stainless staple, cannot get anything shorter in stainless, 4mm in galvanised.If a tack strip is fitted the cover can be glued to the strip then stapled so any finish underneath is fine.
I'm experimenting with gym mat foam at the moment(NBR foam whatever that is!), 15mm on top of two half inch layers of chipped foam.

 

[Screwdriver]

OK thanks. I'll prime and finish it as suggested but I thought the "staple strip" had been put to bed long ago.

There is no room for a 4mm internal strip, the shut lines are very tight indeed.

Let me know if this is a deal breaker, there may be some wiggle room but a bit late to change the internal size now.

 

[keithski122]

Not a problem, I'll just glue it around the inner edge.
I will use a thin rubber trim over the metal edge to protect the cover from the metal edge.

 

[Screwdriver]

OK thanks. Went a bit nuts smoothing it all down, especially the edges. Paint on order. Just need to finalise a latch/seat fixing then hand it over to my client who will probably just get me to send it to you!

 

[Screwdriver]

Looking good.
I use simoniz aerosol primer and simoniz aerosol satin black on anything I do. Whether its the best, probably not but its quick and cheap and is in the budget for any covers I do. Epoxy would be good, something not gloss so it will hold the glue better.
A tack strip of plastic or ply around the inner edge to hold a staple would be nice, I'd use a 6mm stainless staple, cannot get anything shorter in stainless, 4mm in galvanised.If a tack strip is fitted the cover can be glued to the strip then stapled so any finish underneath is fine.
I'm experimenting with gym mat foam at the moment(NBR foam whatever that is!), 15mm on top of two half inch layers of chipped foam.

Well I ordered some paint. Got it from this chap who appears to be half the price of most other sellers. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370694721645

Unfortunately I stupidly ordered matt instead of satin. Just trying to sort that out now, hopefully I can swap it out.

As for the foam, just to forewarn you, the chap is asking for a very thin foam. Circa 25mm (!) I think you might be able to go a bit more than that but he's made the seat height a bit too high....

I'm still faffing about trying to come up with a decent seat fixture and I need to finalise that before I can paint and send it off for covering. The issue being I need to come up with something that I can weld in place, prime, paint and finish before I can even test it on the actual bike. That's why this whole thing is taking so long.

 

[keithski122]

Previously you said about doing the foam yourself or did you want me to do it? I have chipped foam in half inch which can be layered up and also the gym mat foam at 15mm.Generally chipped foam is the norm in customs seats but comfort is something that is personal, what someone finds comfortable another may not. I'm hoping a friend will try out a seat that I've just refoamed so I can find a good replacement for failing seats.
It looks ugly now but once covered will look fine.

 

[Screwdriver]

Yes I had considered foaming it first but the complications over the edging and how that affects the shape puts me off.

I did do a quick mock up to see how it might look.

Even then I struggled to decide how best to finish the front. I'm guessing a slight slope matching the hump at the rear and the tank section probably just a thin 10-15mm.

Certainly better if you were to do it or at the very least, tell me how I should do it!

 

[keithski122]

I wouldn't try to do it out of one piece.Shape a piece to fit the flat bit first, around the nose piece and angled to fit the shape of the tail bit leaving it oversize on the sides.Tail piece next, angled to join the flat and glued together(brush contact adhesive), again oversize around the edges. Nose piece next, if a thinner foam is used then it should mold around. If using a closed cell foam it might be worth giving any glued areas a quick sand before just to give it some grip. Then you can trim back the oversized edges with an electric meat carving knife and using the edge of the seat/tailpiece as a guide. If needed you should be able to shape the foam carefully with either a grinder and sanding disc(very carefully) or a spice/cheese grater!
I'll see if I can find some instagram posts that may help.:-

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