Replacing a Torn Bike Seat
ID: 161031
Description: With frequent usage and exposure to weather, it...
Steps:
- Use a wrench or electrical wrench to loosen the bolt located on the bike frame near the seat post.
- Once the bolt is loose, pull the seat post out of the bike frame.
- Orient the bottom of the bike seat so it's facing you, and place the short end of the Allen key into the bolt.
- Rotate the Allen key counterclockwise to unscrew the bolt until the clamp is loose.
- Slide the seat and seat clamp off the railings of the bike.
- Keep track of the orientation of the seat clamp as you will have to reinstall the bike seat with the same orientation of the seat clamp.
- Use a metal spudger to remove the staples on the perimeter of the bike seat.
- Carefully peel the old leather material off the bike seat.
- Place your bike seat on top of the new leather material and measure out enough leather to generously cover the entire top and sides of the bike seat.
- Mark a line around the perimeter of the material and cut along this line.
- Make sure the foam of your bike seat is dry and free of moisture before proceeding to the next step.
- Place the bike seat upright on a surface you don’t mind getting dirty and spray the foam seat thoroughly with adhesive spray.
- Carefully press the cutout leather sheet onto the top of the bike seat.
- Try to minimize wrinkles or air pockets to allow for a tight fit.
- Smooth the leather out, and carefully apply the rest of the leather sheet to the remainder of the foam seat.
- Keep all body parts clear of the heavy-duty staple gun and hold it firmly against the leather material.
- Press the leather sheet down as close to the bike seat as you can in a desired starting location. Allow it to fold, if necessary.
- Hold the staple gun directly against the leather and flush with the surface of the bike seat. Press down firmly, and staple the leather in place.
- If the staple doesn’t go through on your first try, that is fine. Use the screwdriver to remove the staple, and try again.
- Continue stapling the leather all around the bike seat until the leather is secure, folding or cutting excess as necessary.
- Use scissors to cut any excess leather from the inside edge of the seat.
- Assemble the bike seat in the original clamp orientation that was observed in Step 2.
- Slide the seat clamp onto the railing located on the underside of the bike seat.
- Once positioned, insert the short end of the Allen key into the bolt.
- Rotate the Allen key clockwise to screw the bolt in and tighten the seat clamp to the bike seat.
- Make sure that the bike seat is positioned and tightened properly before usage to prevent injury.
- With the seat on the seat post, lower the post’s metal tube back into the bike’s seat post holder to your desired height.
- Make sure that the bike seat is positioned and tightened properly before usage to prevent injury.
- Tighten the bolt on the bike frame following the instructions provided in Step 1.