1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Info 1995 Yamaha XV250 Virago seat retrim in leather

Discussion in 'Tech Tips' started by my67xr, Aug 25, 2018.

  1. my67xr

    my67xr Bike Enthusiast Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member

    Messages:
    4,313
    Likes Received:
    2,383
    Trophy Points:
    898
    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2016
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Panel Beater, Spray Painter, Custom Fabricator
    Location:
    Adelaide, South Australia
    My Bike:
    Yamaha's , 1990 FZR250R 3LN3 , 1986 XT250TS 57R , 1984 IT200L 43G, 1976 IT400C 510
    Today i retrimmed the seat for my uncles' Virago, the original vinyl cover had seen better day's.
    I used some of the leather i got off the couch a while ago.


    20180824_093954.jpg 20180824_093931.jpg
    Started off by removing all the old staple's

    20180824_094012.jpg



    Then took the cover off

    20180824_093909.jpg


    Laid the old cover over the new leather and trimmed it a bit larger than needed

    20180824_105443.jpg

    Next thing was to mix up some stretching fluid to be able to stretch the leather piece over the seat cushion and seat frame without leaving wrinkle's everywhere.
    The leather stretching fluid is made up of 2 part's rubbing alcohol, 1 part shampoo and 1 part water

    20180824_111203.jpg


    Sprayed it onto the inside of the leather and rubbed it in.
    Within a minute the leather was stretchable, this piece is around 500mm wide and i could stretch it to about 545mm
    One thing to note is leather stretch's more one way than the other, so i laid the leather out so it stretched left to right before i marked it out and cut it to shape.

    20180824_111714.jpg

    You need a decent staple gun to shoot the staple's through the plastic seat base, and some good staple's
    I used my Black and Decker Powershot stapler that i've had for year's and some Arrow 10mm long staple's

    20180824_093818.jpg

    So i've sat the seat foam and base on the leather (with the stretching fluid sprayed on)

    20180824_111821.jpg

    Started off putting in a few staple's at the back, then a few at the front to get it sitting right

    20180824_112141.jpg

    This show's the top of the cover with it stapled on at both end's,
    once i start stretching it on and stapling it there is enough slack in the leather for it to sit flat against the foam

    20180824_112238.jpg

    I've started stapling at the widest point of the seat and stretched it slightly to to pull the leather close to the foam
    Then kept stretching it bit by bit and worked my way around the seat toward's the back, then back toward's the front.
    You need to keep the leather looking pretty even on top and every now and then have to give the leather a slight fold to take up the slack

    20180824_112704.jpg 20180824_112910.jpg 20180824_112920.jpg 20180824_114528.jpg 20180824_114554.jpg 20180824_115430.jpg



    Lot's more stretching, stapling, stretching and stapling again...
    Some of the staple's needed to be taken out and the leather restretched to get it all sitting nice then restapled down again, think i had to redo about 30 staple's

    20180824_120426.jpg 20180824_121421.jpg

    And this is the stapling all finished, the excess is ready to trim off, and refit the rubber frame cushion's to the plastic base.
    It took about an hour to fit the cover.

    20180824_143225.jpg 20180824_143216.jpg



    I forgot to get a final pic with the leather trimmed back underneath.
    I dropped it back to my uncle today and he was stoked, i'll have to get a picture of it fitted back to his bike in the next day or so.
    But here's a couple of pic's of the finished seat
    It need's a couple of coat's of Dubbin to soak into the leather, and then it can sit in the sun for a couple of hour's to soak in.

    20180824_143154.jpg 20180824_143136.jpg
     
    • Winner Winner x 3
    • Love it! Love it! x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  2. TonyZXR

    TonyZXR Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    259
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2018
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    New South Wales
    My Bike:
    GPX250, ZXR250A, ZXR250C
    awesome job, didn't know about stretching fluid , i'll have to try it next time i trim a seat!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Thanks! Thanks! x 1
  3. my67xr

    my67xr Bike Enthusiast Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member

    Messages:
    4,313
    Likes Received:
    2,383
    Trophy Points:
    898
    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2016
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Panel Beater, Spray Painter, Custom Fabricator
    Location:
    Adelaide, South Australia
    My Bike:
    Yamaha's , 1990 FZR250R 3LN3 , 1986 XT250TS 57R , 1984 IT200L 43G, 1976 IT400C 510
    Stretching fluid is just what i've called it, lol
    And it only work's with full grain type leather's, not on bonded type leather
     
    • Like Like x 1
  4. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,066
    Likes Received:
    6,872
    Trophy Points:
    1,168
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2010
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Brisbane
    Amazing job mate, well done
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Thanks! Thanks! x 1

Share This Page