Saturday 14 April 2012

ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY

When I first bought the scooter I was impressed with the two new seat covers.  I thought "that's good at least I will have somewhere to sit".  As time went on I started to remember that there was a grab handle for the pillion.  I remembered that whilst sorting through the box of O & S i saw one.  I found it again and despite needing a new plastic cover it was as I remembered it.  

As a moment of diversion I thought it would be fun to fit it to ensure I had all the right bits.  When I came to look for the mounting holes on the rear saddle I couldn't see any.



I found them covered by the nose of the pillion seat cover.  No way could the handle be fitted.  





I kept coming back to the problem.  How could this be?  It became obvious that the seat cover was too long at the front.  In fact the front of the cover was unsupported and hung down.  The mounting holes were there, just covered.  Not another cock up!  Eventually I removed the seat cover by straightening out the securing clips taking care not to damage the cover material.



 Now I could see the handle fixing holes and the grab handle fixed easily in place.  So why was a wrong cover fitted?  I wondered if the covers could have been swapped and fitted on the wrong frames.  The one on the front looked smaller and the front nose length was defiantly shorter which is what I was looking for.




To check if the the front seat cover would fit on the pillion seat meant that I had to remove the pillion cover.  I hadn't noticed just how bad the fit of the cover on the front seat really was, something was wrong. With the cover removed I tried it on the pillion seat frame.  With a bit of adjustment it fitted and was defiantly the correct cover.   I'm convinced it was made for a pillion seat.  Unfortunately that leaves me with the question what does my rear cover fit, how do I get rid of it and where do I find a replacement front cover to match my pillion cover?

With the seat covers remover I had the opportunity to have a look at the seat springs.


 


The front seat wasn't too bad with all the springs in place. Some had see better days and were quite slack.










The pillion seat was in far worse condition with missing springs, some showing signs of having been over stretched.  
 I have no idea if it's possible to buy new springs and that will have to be investigated.  In the mean time I can always use them as they are, I'm not planning to ride to Italy or anywhere daft like that!   (2 Vespas 2 Italy)

3 comments:

  1. Rex check out my blog I used drain cleaner spring and cut to length. they work great

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for that, I will investigate. I admire you work and I am amazed at what you have done form what looked like a pile of bits. Congratulations.

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  2. Hi Rex,

    I have a question. I need my seat covers reupholstered, since they are original I don't want to loose them, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to remove them. Any tips?

    Thanks!

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