CRB DIY TIPS

TIPS: The list below describes CRB's typical 30 point restoration process on a pan / frame up complete seat restoration. For in depth explanations and photos of these services please see our SEAT RESTORATION page.

The comments (in red) under each service listed, address problems that arise in restoring seats and are for the benefit of the DIY customer who is considering whether to restore their seat themselves or have an expert do it for them. We always encourage our customers to do as much of their own restoration as possible, as this is the joy of restoring old bikes. However, even the simplest of seat restoration techniques can be more difficult than what they seem on the surface and have their own unique 'pitfals' and requires a certain degree of skills and proper hand tools and in some cases , electric power tools. You may want to consider the use of hazordous products, the investment in special tools, and the knowledge required of use of these items and the basic how to skills required before beginning restoration on your vintage seat, especially if it has a valuable, irreplaceble repairable /saveable OEM cover still intact.

1) Remove seat belt strap from base (hardware rusts, bolts / nuts strip, requiring cut off tool and extreme care as not to damage strap bolts)
2) Remove seat trim strip / rivets from seat base (hardware rusts, bolts / nuts strip, requiring cut off tool and extreme care as not to damage original cover if saving for reuse)
3) Adjust cover retainer prongs (prongs rust, become weak, requiring extreme care as not to damage or break off retainer prongs)
4) Remove seat cover from base (requires extreme care as not to damage original cover, if saving for reinstall )
5) Remove all hardware & cushions from pan / remove springs from frame (hardware rusts, bolts / nuts strip, springs and retainer clips break, rubber cushion retainer tits weaken requiring extreme care and special tools as not to damage parts )
6) Strip paint from pan / frame ( requires hazordous chemical strippers and extreme care as not to contact skin)
7) Blast pan / frame to de-rust (pan / frame rusts, requiring special tools and supplies and extreme care as not to damage parts or skin )
8) Treat pan /frame w/ rust oxidizer ( requires hazordous chemical strippers and extreme care as not to contact skin)
9) Prime pan / frame with black laquer primer ( requires paint mask and extreme care as not to contact skin, requires knowledge of prepping steel for paint and painting skills )
10) Paint with auto. grade black enamel ( requires paint mask and extreme care as not to contact skin, requires knowledge of prepping steel for paint and painting skills )
11) Repair foam - install foam ( requires extra skills with foam , glues , mask and extreme care as not to contact skin, requires knowledge of foam and foam repair skills )
12) Adjust mishapen foam w/ underlay &/or resurface ( requires extra skills with foam , glues , mask and extreme care as not to contact skin, requires knowledge of foam and foam repair skills )
13) Install NEW FAUX FOAM to breather holes ( requires extra skills with foam , glues , mask and extreme care as not to contact skin, requires knowledge of foam and foam repair skills )
14) Repair any rips, holes in original OEM cover & dye ( requires extra special skills with vinyl repair and vinyl dye-BEST LEFT TO THE EXPERTS! )
15) If new cover required, fabricate ( requires extra special skills with vinyl, fabricating, tracing patterns and cutting and stitching vinyl -BEST LEFT TO THE EXPERTS! )
16) If custom or not in stock cover required, disassemble old cover,
fabricate pattern, cover etc ( requires extra special skills with vinyl, fabricating, tracing patterns and cutting and stitching vinyl -BEST LEFT TO THE EXPERTS! )
17) Refurbish, repair, restitch original OEM belt or fabricate new one ( requires extra special skills with vinyl, fabricating, tracing patterns and cutting and stitching vinyl -BEST LEFT TO THE EXPERTS! )
18) Clean, prep, dye belt ( requires extra special skills with vinyl repair and vinyl dye-BEST LEFT TO THE EXPERTS! )
19) Refurbish original OEM belt reinforcers or install new ( requires basic skills to derust, special skills to renew /laminate or fabricate new ones-BEST LEFT TO THE EXPERTS! )
20) Re-install new or refurbished OEM cover ( requires basic skills to install new cover, special skills to re-install old original OEM cover that has shrunk or stretched and has old weak threads and seams -BEST LEFT TO THE EXPERTS! )
21) Re-install/replace button rivets ( requires basic skills to install )
22) Remove original OEM seat logo ( requires special skills with vinyl and vinyl solvents -BEST LEFT TO THE EXPERTS! )
23) Re-install new seat logo ( requires skills with applying stencil masking to vinyl and spray painting / air brush , color matching skills -BEST LEFT TO THE EXPERTS! )
24) Refurbish / sand / polish chrome-stainless trim strip ( requires skills in sanding /polishing metals with numerous grades / grits of supplies. May require high speed buffing wheel )
25) Re-install/replace chrome trim strip, button rivets w/ new hardware ( requires basic skills and hand tools to install )
26) Re-Install Belt with New Hardware ( requires basic skills and hand tools to install )
27) Refurbish seat hardware & re-install ( requires basic skills and hand tools to install )
28) Refurbish rubber seat cushions &/or re-install w/ new ( requires knowledge of treating rubber w/ solvents and special skills and hand tools to install )
29) Silicone condition seat hardware & cushions ( requires knowledeg of what detail products to use and NOT to use for best results )
30) Silicone condition seat cover & belt ( requires knowledeg of what detail products to use and NOT to use for best results )
0030) Silicone condition seat cover & belt