Ok... how the hell do you install a homemade seat cover?

[Dammit!]

I decided it would be a great idea to use the 225DX I'm selling as a guinea pig for recovering seats. Went and bought some marine vinyl, cut out a piece that was way too big and started stretching and stapling and quickly got frustrated with it. Now I got a trike for sale with no seat cover on it. Not good.

How the hell do you do this and have zero wrinkles by the time you're done?

Do you clamp the cover as you stretch it instead of using staples right off the bat?

Do you heat up the vinyl or something?

W.T.F. :wondering

P.S. The powershot staple gun I bought a while ago sucks for this.

[freaksfix]

lol!! the first few are a pain in the arse!! ive found it easier to sew a piece on the back so the corners are fitted and you dont end up with all the wrinkels and extra vinyl in the back... I own a boat upholstery business, so i have excess to all the tools of the trade.. i was thinking of broadening into wheeler seats awhile back then noticed the moshs where doing it and didnt want to step on there toes, plus i didnt want to turn my hobby into my business i hate boats now that im working on them 50plus hours a week.

the stock covers are vacume fitted and heat formed thats how they do it with a one piece cover. ive done it but by the time i was done i had hand cramps so bad i couldnt hold a wrench or ride for a day...

[TheOlderFox]

I cut out a few panels and stitch them together so I make one that mirrors the stock cover. Don't have to force it that way. For plastic pans I have an electric staple that works ok if I hold it against the pan tight and staple against something hard like the floor so no energy is wasted.

[scooterroo]

i did all 4 of my seat covers, plus the one on my r6. i usually start at both ends. staple the front in place, then the pull, stretch, staple the rear part. then i usually go and do the sides starting in the middle. pull and stretch, staple, then work my ways towards the corners. all of mine came out flawlessly, no wrinkles. i also use an electric staple gun.

[Twilight]

I used two people and started from the top, stretched as much as I can and stapled the bottom a couple times and then did the sides and kept stretching. It is a pain in the ass, escpecially on a 200x seat. Damn plastic bottom

[firehart]

I made a Power Ranger seatcover for my ATC 200. It doesn't look to good but its better than it was.

[fabiodriven]

I was trying to do the one on my 86 Tecate by myself when the wife came out to the shed wondering about all the swearing. I was drenched in sweat, my seat looked like crap, and I was about to lose it. I got the cover off Ebay and just figured it was a ripoff and a poor fit. My girl got me calmed down, we pulled it off and started over. Turns out I was trying to put it on backwards! Even still, it wasn't easy after that. She was a great help. It is an extremely frustrating job and I would definately suggest getting help, even if it's from a broad...

[ceaserthethird]

Let's see some pictures of your - Recoverd Seat's

[fabiodriven]

Here's mines-
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r275/fabiodriven/Tecate%20500/P6250189.jpg
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r275/fabiodriven/Tecate%20500/P6250188.jpg

[edog]

I made a Power Ranger seatcover for my ATC 200. It doesn't look to good but its better than it was.

gO GO pOWER RANGERS!!!!!!

[Dammit!]

Victory is mine!

First pic is how it looked when I got it.

111267111268111266

[Mr. Clean]

Victory is mine!

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=69033&d=1221261175

WOW Doug, that looks great!!! Time to start on a 250r seat :beer

[Dammit!]

The 250R seat is gonna be WAY harder but I'm going to give it a shot.

I'll spare you guys the atrocity that is the underside of that Yamaha seat. :lol: Hey it looks good on top and that's all that matters! :D

[fabiodriven]

Nice job! It really takes alot of patience, for sure. (And sometimes help from the old lady)

[SpeedBump]

Call Tammy! Best way to do a seat!!!! (yours looks good Doug :p )

[Dammit!]

Call Tammy! Best way to do a seat!!!! (yours looks good Doug :p )

Oh don't worry. They get plenty of business from me. :lol:

[Dammit!]

Victory is mine again! :lol:



111270111271111269

[Dammit!]

I bought about 7 of these. Could use two more actually. They made everything way easier. I did both without a second person helping me.

http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/259325_front200.jpg

I'd clamp it, sit in the arizona sun for a minute to heat it up, stretch it out some more, clamp, staple, rinse, repeat.

[CanadianThomas]

Where did the pics go? I need to see this as I'm about to do my 350x's seat and would like to see the new dudes results. Yes I know it's an old thread but it's what I found in my search. Hey Dammit! if you see this could you maybe repost the pics?

[SeaBass8]

I seem to remeber Mosh do a nice thread on this but I don't see it in the world class help section.

[Dammit!]

A LOT of my old threads have broken pic links in them. I have no idea why. I'll see if I still have the pics and try to fix it.

[CanadianThomas]

A LOT of my old threads have broken pic links in them. I have no idea why. I'll see if I still have the pics and try to fix it.

Thanks dude. I'm a hands on guy so love to do it myself.

[pirate122]

I did my 1986 br and it is not easy but you can do a good job if you have patience,I always use a 300 WATT work lamp to heat the vinyl and it take about one houre to do the job start from the top and folow by the side and you need to overlap each rear corner to finish. Not a easy task....