Seat Cover Tearing Because of Latch Issue

[runtotorun121]

Yes, I am pretty sure this must be covered somewhere in the past posts, but I did a search and can find nothing. Anyway, tonight I was noticing that the little tear on the bottom edge of my seat (which I always assumed was due to me trying to shut my seat with something sticking out over the edge ) was poofier and definitely larger. I began scrutinizing it and noticed that now I have a small tear beginning on the opposite side directly across from the old one. At first I thought maybe it was from shutting the seat with the saddlebags on the Buddy, but as I began to do the multi-slam/shut process to get the latch "just right" so the seat would catch my eyes zoomed in on the two bolts holding on my rear rack. Getting down close with my old eyes and my nose almost on the back of my Buddy I saw that the tears line up beautifully with the edges of those bolts. So now I see that because of the off-centered latching problem the seat has been hitting the bolts and tearing up my seat. Crum.

I have seen the seat latching tech thread, but did anyone else have problems with their seat being torn by this problem? In my fantasy world Genuine would send me flowers and a new seat, but am I dreaming that there might be some warranty coverage for this since it is a mechanical-type issue that caused damage to the seat? I have a feeling I am dreaming happy dreams that won't come true, but I hate the idea of a $79.00 seat. Nope, I don't want a fuzzy seat cover, or I would have to go join the sweaty butt thread. I like the looks of the one that came on Buddina, and I was out there trying to use some adhesive, but I don't hold out hopes for any longevity there. . .

[jmazza]

Yup. Happened to a few (probably many) of us here. I posted about it somewhere a long while back.

I'm still awaiting my flowers and new seat delivered by cherubs from Genuine! In the meantime, I just lower the seat slowly and then give it a little hit with the side of my fist and it latches right away without scraping and making the tear worse.

[runtotorun121]

Yup. Happened to a few (probably many) of us here. I posted about it somewhere a long while back.

AHA! Okay, I figured.

I'm still awaiting my flowers and new seat delivered by cherubs from Genuine!

ROFLMAO

In the meantime, I just lower the seat slowly and then give it a little hit with the side of my fist and it latches right away without scraping and making the tear worse.

Yeah, when I lined up the little bugger I noticed there was almost no room for error with the clearance. Did you, by any chance, do anything to try to mend your tears? I would be glad to try something different than I used tonight. Wish it had stayed 'little' but I must have really got it off center, and the little tear on the left is now bigger than little.

[jmazza]

Did you, by any chance, do anything to try to mend your tears? I would be glad to try something different than I used tonight. Wish it had stayed 'little' but I must have really got it off center, and the little tear on the left is now bigger than little.

No, I think I asked for suggestions in my post but didn't get any good ones. Things I thought of were nail polish, rubber cement, and super glue. I think super glue would be bad. The other two might work, but I don't know.

[ANG]

When my mechanic put the chrome rear rack on my Buddy 125 a friend noticed that the fit was very tight when opening and closing the seat. She mentioned it to him and he ran to the hardware store and bought a package of table leg caps. I think they may be 5/8", he snipped away a section and placed them over the nut and bolt assembly. Perfect! Since then he added the cowl protector and it still seems fine.
I might suggest that you put some pliable putty type substance in the caps to keep them on.
Some people have also purchased rounded bolts that work too.

[Orange Guy]

I just took my seat off to make some patterns for a cover and I GOT RIPS!

Not happy over here. Just over 500 miles and my seat looks like it's years older.

[runtotorun121]

Oh no.

Where did the rips happen?

[Orange Guy]

Oh, you know ... on the left side right where the rear rack bolts on.

[Queen]

As ANG said, the little feet things that go on table legs work really well...here are the ones our mechanic found:
http://doitbest.com/Main.aspx?PageId=64&SKU=209449

So far no rips, just a small dent in the vinyl.

[KABarash]

I think someone had mentioned something about "cap Nuts" and/or something about replacing the bolts with "flat head Hex bolts"

[k1dude]

Yes, my dealer put on stainless hex bolts when they installed my rack. With their rounded heads there are no sharp edges to tear the seat. If your seat is just beginning to show the signs of tearing, I imagine you could use some Seam Seal to try and slow the progression while replacing the bolts at the same time. But once your seat is torn like the photos, I have no recommendations. I know there are vinyl repair kits available, but I have no idea if they'd work on the heavily textured vinyl that comes on the Buddy. Perhaps some black duct tape would buy you some time to decide on a more permanent solution.

[runtotorun121]

Okay, we are going to be busy re-homing a foster doggie this weekend, but if I get a chance I will take some photos of my seat. I actually had a tear on one side that was similar to what you have, and the other side was only a slight cut that was in danger of becoming larger. I used an adhesive that actually has done a very nice job and looks good.

Before the post on the bolts and the furniture protectors (which I think are FABULOUS ideas) my husband came up with a thought for a type of guard on the seat right there by the bolts. I went ahead with that just because I can see me still mooshing the seat on the rounded bolts and smooth protectors since the fit is so tight with the rear rack bolted on there. I could see the seat not tearing and gouging, but I have a suspicion that the regular grazing would dent, and ultimately compromise the integrity of the fabric( i.e. thinning and tearing), as Pax described.

Anyway, if you want I can show you how the adhesive worked/looked, tell you which kind I used, and show you the metal guard protectors.

[Piedmont]

Anyway, if you want I can show you how the adhesive worked/looked, tell you which kind I used, and show you the metal guard protectors.

"metal guard protectors" you make it sound so fancy . Mine too has started to tear on one side. Just a little. So I'd be interested in learning about this magic adhesive.
Beware, the new rounded bolts that come with the rack do not protect against tearing. I found out the hard way.

[runtotorun121]

"metal guard protectors" you make it sound so fancy .

(Wish they had a batting-eyelashes smiley for the looking-innocent moments.) What??? Did you see them? Are they not metal? And do they not provide a bit of guarding or protecting?

Mine too has started to tear on one side. Just a little. So I'd be interested in learning about this magic adhesive.
Beware, the new rounded bolts that come with the rack do not protect against tearing. I found out the hard way.

Oh crap. Sorry to hear about Carmen's seat. But "aha!" I was just saying that I thought the rounded bolts and plastic furniture thingies still had the potential (at least for me with my typical luck) of abrading the seat. And after I thought your rounded bolts looked so nice and functional.

We are almost certainly going to be heading out in the morning, but I will try to remember to poke about in the garage when we get back so I can tell you the specific adhesive I used.

As for my hmhm "metal guard protectors", all I can say is that there is NO freakin' way those stinkin' bolts are going to mar my seat anymore, and all the more important because I may be acquiring a designer seat cover for Buddina, and tearing that would scar me for life!

[Piedmont]

No, no I love your solution. They are metal and they do protect. I will probably be employing the same technique as soon as I get back to my office . It'll work until I can adhere it.
This might give me a legitimate excuse to buy the Jolly Roger seat cover that;s on sale at Scooterworks

Edit: I wonder if that liquid rubber type stuff the hardware store has for dipping tool handles would do any good when dripped over the bolts?

[runtotorun121]

No, no I love your solution. They are metal and they do protect. I will probably be employing the same technique as soon as I get back to my office .

Good ol' office supplies! You have to admit, that if you aren't looking for them you don't even notice they are there. Completely functional! And cost effective!

It'll work until I can adhere it.
This might give me a legitimate excuse to buy the Jolly Roger seat cover that;s on sale at Scooterworks

And, I am reminding you that even after you gum the seat back together it will very likely happen again so you will keep having an issue without some kind of guard plate! I also maintain that your seat cover may take a rubbing too.

Edit: I wonder if that liquid rubber type stuff the hardware store has for dipping tool handles would do any good when dripped over the bolts?

What would make it work any better than just the smooth edge the rounded bolt already has?

And you must be puppy-sitting already if you have compooter access? Okay, I am getting ready to go try to liberate some covers to my side of the bed. Usually Elan and two rat terrors have claimed them, and I am left with a wee corner. . .

[michelle_7728]

Reviving this old post as I just found a solution in a different (older also) post, for those that are interested. Look about 2/5ths of the way down in this thread, to the post made by "dalvarado" on Tue May 27, 2008 at 10:10 pm.

[LunaP]

I've been having this problem ever since my dealer swap my stock seat for my white one, actually. My seat wiggles side to side when I go to shut it, so it doesn't shut immediately- I have to beat on it to make it shut grr. But I noticed the beginnings of a tear, too. I'm going to fabric glue it, maybe moleskin it, and look into changing the bolt I guess?? Not sure.

[ericalm]

There are a few solutions for the latch issue, including raising it using a couple of washers. I'll try to search for them because it came up recently…

[LunaP]

I thought I'd let everybody know that I found this stuff yesterday. I actually went into a craft store hoping they had ready-to-glue patches of vinyl or some other heavy, durable material, because my seat cover has started to tear on one side and I thought I'd patch it with something heavy and tear-resistant. All they really had was khaki and twill for pants, and I wasn't near a legit fabric store... but on my way out I noticed this stuff.

It's called 'plastic canvas'. It's CHEAP, and I'm sure can be found at any of the craft stores, also comes in a range of colors. You get a size that's comparable to a sheet of paper for less than $1, if you don't care for a color- my seat is white, so I picked up a standard slightly translucent whitish stuff, which was on sale for 25 cents at a Ben Franklin. I plan on cutting out a piece the right size and shape, and using fabric glue to apply a patch of it where the seat is being worn, and then a preventative piece on the other side if this ends up working.

I'm sure I'll have to re-glue a new piece EVENTUALLY... but I'd like to test out how fast it gets worn through. I'm hoping it's durable enough to be a worthy low low cost solution to this problem. I'll report back with my findings