Seat cover...

[skiracer]

I am having problems installing a new seat cover on my 75 Jackpiner.  No matter how I stretch it, it still sags.....  I have a photo posted on "What have you done to your Penton" thread.  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

[Lew Mayer]

Maybe tighten it towards the back of the seat. Keep it warm to work with it. I never had the trouble you seem to be having. I can bounce a quarter off mine. If anything, I stretch mine too tight and they wear through at the corners of the seat pan. I use 3M weatherstrip adhesive on my covers.

Lew Mayer

[Dale Sonnenschein]

Jim, Like Lew said,Its best to have the cover warm so you can stretch it some when you put it on. Pull the sides down tighter and see what happens.

74 puch 175 SD
73 Husky 360 WR/RT
75 Penton 250
10 ktm 250xc
02 bmw r1150r

[Rocket]

I use a heat gun to warm the cover and contact cement.  To me, this is the worst job in the restoration process!!
Rod

[skiracer]

Thanks guys!  I have done 8 or 9 of these seat covers, and I thought I had it down.... until this one!  I normally fit the cover to the seat, do all the trimming that is needed, and then put the cover in the oven for about 5 minutes.  When the cover is baking, I have already put the contact cement on the base.  Once I pull the cover from the oven, I then put the contact cement on the cover, wait about 5 minutes and then install.  I checked the seat foam, and it doesn't look like it had any modifications.  I even put the cover over my '76 seat, and it seems to be okay, telling me the cover is correct....  I don't know, I might put an additional slice of foam on top of the seat to take up some of the slack....  Thanks again for your help!  James

[454MRW]

James,
Bob is definitely correct about the pic of your bike showing the rear frame loop bent upward very far, probably from someone looping out the bike at some time in the past. It has probably warped the seat pan which is causing a lot of your problem with the seat cover fittment. Check the seat pan and see if it has a slight curvature to it, as it should be flat, and definitely bend the rear frame tubes back down. They should be straight out until the rear loop portion, where it angles upward, not curved upward before then. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[skiracer]

Ummmm...  Well, I am with you on the bent frame loop.... however, I am having a hard time with a bent seat pan.... it's fiberglass.  Fiberglass doesn't bend, it breaks, no?

1976 MC 5 Original Owner
1980 KTM GS
1976 Hercules 175 GS
1982 Suzuki PE 175
1976 Husqvarna 175GP
2002 KTM 200 EXC
1975 Jackpiner (project)
1976 Penton 175 GS (project)

[454MRW]

It would over time get a warp or bend to it, especially when put in a position like pictured. The fender is obviously pushing upward hard on the rear curvature of the seat pan, and the rear mounts look like they have been modified and/or extended to get it to even reach the mount holes. Does the seat cover look better on the seat when it is not mounted to the bike and it relaxes some? Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[checkcrew]

James, hi,

just called and left you a voice mail,

if the seat was attached to the frame for years in that position the pan most likly conformed to that position ??

you should straighten the rear of the frame and maybe look for another seat pan,

Rod G. said he has the rear sections for the pipe as well,

"IMO" it appears to be a very nice bike and warrents the extra work !!

hope this helps,

regards,

Mike Gallagher, NJ.
[email protected]

[gooddirt]

I can trade you a good seat base for a 1977 seat base. If you or anyone  else has one.

[skiracer]

Hey Mike, The mounts are the same length as stock.  I had to make one that was broken.  No, the seat does not relax any when off the bike.  I can take a seat off a 1976, and bolt it right onto this frame without any binding or other fitting issues.  James

quote:Originally posted by 454MRW

It would over time get a warp or bend to it, especially when put in a position like pictured. The fender is obviously pushing upward hard on the rear curvature of the seat pan, and the rear mounts look like they have been modified and/or extended to get it to even reach the mount holes. Does the seat cover look better on the seat when it is not mounted to the bike and it relaxes some? Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R

[skiracer]

Sorry, I don't have a seat base to trade for, but thanks!  James

quote:Originally posted by gooddirt

I can trade you a good seat base for a 1977 seat base. If you or anyone  else has one.

[454MRW]

James,
The seat should fit down against the frame rails in the back to the point where you can not see the frame rails from the side of the bike, thus the original rear mounts with slots for the bolts to slide up into the mounts as you install the seat. You will notice in the pic I posted of the Mint 400 you can not see the rails until the end of the seat and where the rear fender loop bends upward. If you were to sit on the bike with the seat hiked up that far in the back, it would bend in the middle. Even rigid fiberglass will flex quite a bit with weight on it. The seat base is designed to support a riders weight by laying flat evenly along the length of the frame rails, not supporting the weight by the rear mount brackets. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R 79 CR250R