Duff 206 #1 Posted January 15, 2013 Need some advice/instruction, folks, please? I just got a nice one-owner '88 310-8 from a fellow member. Among its many positive qualities is an original seat with the embossed WH logo. It has only a very tiny (1/2") cut which a friend of mine who does upholstery repairs can fix pretty easily. Now here's the problem.... I was removing the seat to take it to my friend and discovered hairline cracks in the seat pan at the holes where the seat bolts attach to the supports. In the short term this probably wouldn't be an issue, but over the long haul (all of my tractors are workers to some degree) these will only expand. How difficult is it/how do I go about removing the seat cover and padding from the pan so I can have it welded? Thanks for any and all suggestions! Duff :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,128 #2 Posted January 15, 2013 If the metal clip at the center front of the edge trim is still crimped tight, you might need to spread it a little. Once it's free, just pull the edge trim off - beginning at the splice. After the edge trim is removed, the cover & foam (they're "glued" together) will pull off of the pan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #3 Posted January 15, 2013 Thanks, TT! I was hoping it would be a fairly simple task - just never tried it before, and didn't want to mess up a good seat! Duff :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,128 #4 Posted January 15, 2013 By the way - make sure the cover is 'summer day' warm before you begin. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #5 Posted January 15, 2013 Roger, that! Fortunately my workshop gets up to about 80 degrees with the wood stove cranking. Thanks! ~D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackC 616 #6 Posted January 15, 2013 Let us know how it goes. I have a similar situation. Some pictures would help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevbo 80 #7 Posted January 17, 2013 After your seat is repaired I have heard it is good to let the seat soak in some type of Under Armor or Meguiar's to keep the vinyl nice a flexible so it doesnt tear anymore. I just got a C-160 with a near perfect original seat and I let some Meguiar's soak in to hopefully preserve its condition as long as possible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #8 Posted January 17, 2013 Thanks, Kevin! Anybody got any specific recommendations for a good product? Duff :bow-blue: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,128 #9 Posted January 17, 2013 Anybody got any specific recommendations for a good product? Duff This is what I used to use on my cycle seats: http://www.303produc...protectant.html Armor All and similar protectants are too slippery for seating surfaces. The most important part is getting the cover as clean as possible before applying the protectant. If you don't, you'll force the dirt further into the vinyl and make it worse. I just read an interesting thread on another forum about using Goop waterless hand cleaner to clean vinyl seats. They claim it lifts the dirt from the pores of the material and helps to soften it at the same time. I have never tried it, but I will as soon as I get some Goop. :handgestures-thumbup: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #10 Posted January 17, 2013 Goop....hmmmmm! I keep a supply of that stuff in my bathroom at all times - one of the best handcleaners out there. If I get to my seat before you get some Goop, TT, I'll report back! Thanks! ~Duff 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roscoemi 245 #11 Posted January 18, 2013 Goop will also work as a great stain remover on clothes before they go into the wash. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,128 #12 Posted January 18, 2013 The Goop is in the house! Next step is to find a seat to serve as a "guinea pig". :handgestures-thumbup: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,128 #13 Posted January 19, 2013 FAIL! The guinea pig is an officially-embossed seat cover from an early 80's Work Horse LT Even warmed up, it's quite brittle and stiff. Although the Goop "trick" I read about was technically for vinyl automotive seats, I figured it was worth a shot on this seat cover. Here's the seat: The Goop seagull flew over Worked in with my fingers first, then an old toothbrush: Nothing really changed in the feel of the cover, but it did remove the surface dirt: Once that spot dried, I applied some mink oil. It made it a little better looking, but didn't penetrate the cover or soften it in any way. I applied another round of Goop and left it there for approximately 16 hours. It turned into a clear liquid and once again had no effect of the hard seat cover. My conclusion is that auto upholstery is a more porous "fabric" vs. the plastic-like vacuum-formed material used on this type of molded seat. The Goop might work on the sewn covers found on the earlier tractors, but it did absolutely nothing on this cover. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
varosd 1,185 #14 Posted January 19, 2013 TT Terry: Mythbuster or Consumer Reports guru? :rolleyes: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ericj 1,576 #15 Posted January 20, 2013 i have a nearly perfect 2 piece seat for an early C series that i want to put on my 73 16 auto but half afraid that it might get messed up. does any one think goop would work on this style seat to give it extra protection eric Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,128 #16 Posted January 20, 2013 Goop allegedly cleans and softens the seat, but offers no protection. The only way I know to protect and preserve a seat is keep it covered and don't sit on it. :hide: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
