106 replies to this topic

[29 Chev]

Looking good, cant wait to see the finished product!

I bet your right on those drain holes

 

Thanks for the kind words.  I am looking forward to seeing the finished product as well and see if it meets the expectations of the two members blackjackjakexix and chubien.

Edited by 29 Chev, November 21, 2015 - 08:07 PM.

[blackjackjakexxix]

Stew,really looking good,I think i'm going to be very happy with mine

[Chubien]

I agree, that seat is looking real nice. No wonder Bolens only manufactured that seat one year, must have cost them quite a bit more to produce than the later designs such as the 850/1050, etc...

[29 Chev]

Glued the seat covers to the new padding and then glued the padding to the seat pan - not many pictures as it is hard to operate the camera and work with glue at the same time.  Then I sewed the covers along the edge to the rear vinyl - found out I should have used red thread or kept the stitching lower so it would be covered better by the edge trim piece.  The originals were stapled together which would have been quicker if I had a heavy duty stapler - will have to put one on my wish list.  Took two pieces of 3" wide white vinyl to make the edge trim, joined them end to end and then folded the edges in and sewed them lengthwise to get a seam I could follow by hand and starting at the back in the centre I sewed the trim piece on by hand - time consuming but unfortunately I could not fit the edge in the sewing machine. 

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[29 Chev]

After I sewed the trim on I found that the white thread that I had sewn the red covers on showed up around the bottom edge in spots so rather than remove the trim piece and resew the red covers with red thread I took the easy way out and sewed a second seam around the bottom about a 1/4" higher. 

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[29 Chev]

Here are the results.  In my opinion the white edge trim really makes the red cover stand out.

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[Bolens 1000]

Simply outstanding work!!!!!

Put me down for one if you decide to replicate a complete unit !! 

[Chubien]

Great stuff Stew, I can't wait to pick mine up! Couldn't be happier with the result.

[Bruce Dorsi]

NICE   WORK  !!!!!!!!

[blackjackjakexxix]

Stew,it seems like no matter what you attempt the results are always outstanding,as Chubien said can't wait to get mine back,I really glad I asked you to do this,now I have to get busy on the rest of the tractor

[29 Chev]

Started working on Chubien's seat this week.  Won't do many posts on doing it - just a few where I change how I do things after learning from the first one.  Attached are a few pictures of the seat pan after adding the metal along the outside and trimming it for the cushions.  Got the holes around the hand hole piece much neater and more evenly spaced - this should allow me to sew the trim around it rather than staple it.

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[29 Chev]

Finished filling in the sides and then I trimmed the outer lip to 1/4" of the bend down.  This time I precut the 5/8" x 1/8" rods with a hacksaw and then I welded then along the edge.  Then I used a piece of 1/8" rod and welded it to the ends of the rods to create an outer lip with a space that I can sew the trim piece through - it gives the seat an outer lip that is just as strong as using sheet metal and is only 1/8" wide instead of 1/4" like the seat I made was and the round rod should not fray any thread so I can keep the sewing closer to the outside edge when I sew the covers to the back vinyl.  This should keep the thread I use from showing through after I sew the trim piece on.  Just have to clean up the welds a bit and give it a little paint.  Found out that a 4-1/2" 60 grit flap wheel disc on the angle grinder does a really nice of leveling the welds and also takes the sharp edges off the edge of the sheet metal where I trimmed it with the tin snips.  

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[blackjackjakexxix]

Looking good Stew,keep up the good work (LOL)

[29 Chev]

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.  Got the seat pan cleaned up and painted where I did the modifications.  I went with white paint (looks a little splotchy but it is all covered when the seat is finished) - when I was sewing the trim on I noticed the white thread had a red tinge to it when I sewed around the 1/8" diameter rod supports - I assume it came from the white thread rubbing against the soft red paint.  This way if the thread rubs up against any soft paint it should stay white.  Then I set the seat pan aside to let the paint dry for a day or two and moved on to blackjackjakexix's seat.

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[29 Chev]

I have reached the conclusion that the seat pan was left as bare metal when it was made which makes sense as Bolens probably did not figure it would rust much with the spray adhesive for the cushions and plastic backing on it - no paint saves cost of production and nice clean metal meant the adhesive would stick well and not react with any fresh paint.  The seat pan back is virtually rust free but the bottom is rusted from moisture being trapped in between the bottom cushion and the metal as well as between the metal and the plastic cover - especially around the rods.  The rear padding is in good shape but the bottom padding came with a surprise as it appeared that mice had taken up residence at some point and decided that they need some room so they remodelled the padding to their liking leaving a rather large hole that I will have to repair - will probably just cut that area out and glue in a new piece.  The moisture in the bottom area also rusted the two bolts that mount it to the hinge as they twisted off when the seat was removed from the tractor.   

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