Seat Upholstery

[MichiganSportster]

Question- I am getting ready to re-upholster the seats on a budget and wanted to see if anyone has just covered the seat without having any stitching done? I see the stitching done on the upper rests but if that is it, I figured the material would still mold correctly. I've bought the material already and am pretty much ready to go. Thanks

 

[Steelmesh]

Question- I am getting ready to re-upholster the seats on a budget and wanted to see if anyone has just covered the seat without having any stitching done? I see the stitching done on the upper rests but if that is it, I figured the material would still mold correctly. I've bought the material already and am pretty much ready to go. Thanks

I got the ZZ auto group premade set 2-way stretch vinyl, they stitch the rear back rests and 2 middle bolsters, front back rest and front bottom (with mesh bottom and zipper like stock). The rear bottom had two seams, but it was a large rectangle so I assume you can make that work with one large piece. I used about 3,500 staples, removed maybe 1,000 new staples though just working and redoing spots.

Rub rail is going colorbond platinum silver, eventually graphics and turf I'd imagine. Throttles and handles colorbond blue, the handles were really gross on top of being teal.

 

[MichiganSportster]

Nice Colors Steelmesh! I was thinking about changing the colors on my sportster but will keep the originals this time. How long did it take you?

 

[Steelmesh]

Nice Colors Steelmesh! I was thinking about changing the colors on my sportster but will keep the originals this time. How long did it take you?

I would say 4-5 days but wasn't counting, and took breaks and gave up a couple times while pulling maybe 1,500 staples 1-by-1 by hand and a screw driver.

I removed the old junk covers, and let the foam seats bake out in the hot sun for many hours to dry out, but multi-tasking as well.

Repairing the foam (custom cutting foam to shape and thickness of the gouge or rip, pain staking) alone took 1.5 days at least. Use 3M Super 77 spray glue, that works 100 times better than the loctite version, the loctite professional spray glue did not bond you could pull the foam apart.

Extra cushion for the tushion with 1" hd foam from Joanne:

 

[MichiganSportster]

Nice! OK, I'm already having a heck of a time just getting the back support out! stripped two screws (on the control plate) and now the starboard side bolt is just spinning and not unscrewing! I'm done for right now. The weather is nice this weekend so I'm putting everything back together and hitting the lake. I'll get back to it next week.

 

[MichiganSportster]

Oh and I busted up the cupholder taking it out and numerous finger cuts. Not a good past few days for me or my boat!

 

[Steelmesh]

Oh and I busted up the cupholder taking it out and numerous finger cuts. Not a good past few days for me or my boat!

It was close fitting my arm in the cupholder hole to unscrew the port side armrest, it demotivates me to work out because there would be no way I could fit my arm in if I gain any more muscle mass (hehe). It was so close a fit, I kept a bottle of dish soap water with me just in case I got stuck. I also recommend you safety wire your tools just in case you drop them into the hull. The front seats on my 1996 use "Christmas Tree" plastic retainers, I recommend GM part number 10121502 on amazon for $8.50 pack of 25. You'll need at least 7 for the front seats on a 1996.

 

[MichiganSportster]

Got it, thanks for that GM part number, will get those on order now.
Funny, I had that same problem getting my arm in in the cupholder

 

[MichiganSportster]

OK, before and after shots. Being that I did the job my self completely with raw material (mostly no stitching) I don't think it came out that bad. I used carriage bolts for the seat cushions and that worked out pretty good. The only stitching I had done was for the inner arm rests. I pinned them and had a tailor do the stitching. I don't think they came out too bad, what do you think?

 

[MichiganSportster]

 

[Steelmesh]

OK, before and after shots. Being that I did the job my self completely with raw material (mostly no stitching) I don't think it came out that bad. I used carriage bolts for the seat cushions and that worked out pretty good. The only stitching I had done was for the inner arm rests. I pinned them and had a tailor do the stitching. I don't think they came out too bad, what do you think? View attachment 40900View attachment 40901

About 1,000 times better, the old seats belonged in a museum.

 

[MichiganSportster]

Thanks Steelmesh. about 12 hrs of pulling old staples and a few days of sore hands. It was worth it!