What's The Best Way To Put On A New Seat Cover?

[TrikeMike]

I have purchased a new seat cover for my 84 200x and my 86 250r. I need some help on how to install the new seat cover. The old cover has staples into the "hard" plastic. How can I get staples into that plastic as it is very hard and dense. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!

[ClayW]

You have to get a good staple gun or air nail/brad/staple gun. Try to find 1/4 inch staples. If you go much longer they may cause problems. I use an electric staple gun. It will shoot thru it or most of the way. I usually have a few that I have to force down with a push from a small tack . Take the cover and heat it up with a hairdryer. Not too hot. good and warm. Makes it stretchy. Position the front where you want it and staple it down. Then go to the rear stretch it and staple it down. On the front and rear start stapeling in the center. I usually leave the corners for last. Next grab the center part of the cover on the side. Stretch it down and staple it in the center. Then work your way in each direction. Do the same on the other side. Then stretch and staple down the corners. The cover will likely overlap on the front and rear corners. No big deal. Fold it and staple it. Then go back and cut the excess cover reminants off the bottom side. Put any other stapels in you need. Some people say use spray glue on the cover. I dont. Drys to fast. Leaves wrinkles for me. I tend to take my time. Just pull on the cover on each side until the wrinkels are gone and staple it. Hope this helps. Oh yeah, if you have a staple that is preventing you from getting a wrinkle out. Pull it back out and restaple it. Wont hurt a thing.

[Red Rider]

I replaced the seat cover on my '86 250R many years ago, and it was a fairly easy job. I used a heavy duty stapler with the same size staples that Honda originally used. Make sure you remove all of the old staples first. Just work slowly & methodically to pull & stretch the new cover to remove any wrinkles and keep any logos straight.

[vartiak15]

first thing i did was throw mine in the dryer. then i got my electrick staple gun with lil staples then layed it out and worked from the front back. and if your not happy dont be lazy tear it off and make it right!

[badpig121]

I must confess, after realizing I didn't want to screw up a perfectly good seat, I paid an upholsterer $25. No creases, no rusty staples in the fingers, and a LOT less swearing!

[Kintore]

lol badpig I htink im doing that too, I have one quick question, sorry to steal your thread but it has to do with seat covers, does anyone know if you can use black fabric from a store and get a upholster to do it?

[Wickedfinger]

Kintore hit the nail ... er ah staple on the head when he said try and find 1/4 staples. Using anything longer is a mistake as the staples wont go all the way in to the shank - which is what really hold the cover on. Also, a good old fashioned chrome Stanley T-50 is your best bet - I've found the cheaper electrics don't have enough power to do the job correctly. Vertiak's "dryer" trick is another one I've used - (heat=stretch/cools=tighten) - but is not necessary - just keep good, even tension on the cover and check the topside often. Another "trick" I use to stretch the cover is to pull it tight by hand - then sort of "dig" the head of the stapler into the fabric and push it a little more before shooting in the staple. Also, don't shoot alot of staples close together at first - work your way around and leave space between them. You can fix any sagging or uneveness by next going back around and repeating the process by stapling in between your first set. I've put 8 covers on 8 different trikes and quads now and I've been happy with every one. I have used CEET, Travelcade before but Hi-flite by far makes the best product and they can custom make anything. Hope this helps. Here's a couple of the seats I've done .... the Z has a Travelcade on it, the rest are Hi-Flites

[MTS]

Kintore, you can go to the Local Fabricland and pick up some ski-doo viynal its good for -40 for cracks and last along time and lookes good.....if they dont have it in the colour you want just ask them to special order some for you.... dose take some skill to get it right this way tho...but shouldent be too hard...might be cheaper than a seat cover too....