I need to know how to best re-foam these 38 year old seats. Worst than riding a hard tail, the cushions are dead. The covers are in good shape. The foam has left the assembly.

 

You can buy just the new foam sets, but I dont know how much luck you will have taking the seats apart and putting them back together re-using the old covers.

 

Al Knoch foams and vinyl!

 

The aftermarket places have the main foam bodies for the seat and back sections; but they do not have the foam strips for the padding built into the seat covers themselves. That is probably what you need. I have done that refurb on my seats and will gladly share the process I used if you send me a PM. It is not difficult...just a PITA.

 

Hi 7T1,
I really didn't think it was possible to replace the sewn in foam padding. How much of it did you replace and how successful were you? Had the foam turned into 'saw dust'? That's what happened to mine.Thanks.
Regards,
Alan

 

The 'scrim' foam in the seat channels was almost completely turned to yellow dust...there were also some clumps of yellow 'stuff', but no foam was left. With the ComfortWeave seat coverings, sunlight could get to that foam and destroy it. After 34 years in sunny San Diego, the channel foam in my covers was gone. The 'body' foam in the seat and back were fine, however.

The process is to remove the seat covers, slit the foam cloth backing about 3" up on each channel, use a shop vac with a crevice tool to suck out any remaining foam [dust, clumps], then re-stuff the channels (carefully, that's 35 year old cloth!) with new UV-resistant 3/4" thick scrim foam. Scrim foam has a cloth backing on it and is meant to be sewn onto some other surface (like the original stuff was sewn onto the ComfortWeave fabric to form the padded "channels"); but I just cut it into 2-1/2" wide strips and stuffed them up into the remaining cloth channels. The end of the foam strip can then be pushed down into the base of each channel [below your slit in the fabric]. There are a few 'tricks' to installation to help make it easier, but that's about it.

After cleaning the seat covers, re-stuffing with foam, and shooting with vinyl dye, the seats look like new...AND they have the original coverings still on them! I wish I could post photos, but my 'puter crashed {big time!} and I can't get to the photos.

 

I got my new foam and covers from Willcox, they came with instructions and were a good value.

 

I just did my foam, when I got in the car when they were done I felt like I was 5 inches taller. Be prepared to lose some head room.

 

Hi 7T1,
Thanks very much for the explanation. I thought about trying to do that on my seats but decided on new covers instead, since I couldn't find anyone who had done it. I might take another look at re-doing the originals.
Regards,
Alan

 

Be prepared for the height difference but it will look good and
you can do it. I have pics so you ifyou have questions just ask.

 

Al Knoch is the way to go. You can also unbolt your seats and "rotate" them to save wear and tear.
75' 76' and 77 all are interchangeable left to right not sure on other years.