repair of tear in seat?

[zj1182]

Just got back from a long trip and noticed a 3 corner tear in my seat, about 3/8" on the two torn sides.  Stock HD seat material ('02 Heritage Softail).  It's in a high contact area, probably caused by something sticking out of my back pocket. 

I'm looking for suggestions for repair techniques and materials.

TIA

zj

[rawshog]

I tried the vinyl repair kit sold for auto seats etc. that uses the little heat tool to cure it.  Lasted about two weeks.  Went to an upholstery shop to see about getting it recovered.  That would have been about twenty bucks less than a new seat from HD.  I bought the new seat.  (99 Electra Glide with pillow look seat)

[Rags722]

Now, on the surface this may sound funny, but go to your local big name auto dealer.  They always have the business cards of the local paintless dent repair guy, the local headliner repair guy, and the local upholstery repair guy.  You would not believe the number of seats in new cars that are damaged while removing the shipping covering.  My buddy got an emergency call to touch up some chips on a brand new car that was being delivered that day.  While he was just about to do the paint repair, the car bounced, and he realized the upholstery guy had just gotten in to fix a slit in the leather seat.  Bottom line, there are guys around that do this kind of repair.  You just need to know how to track them down.

[dynaglide]

I've done the following before:  use a piece of electrical tape to hold the edges of the tear together.  Then, apply a very thin coat of liquid tape to hold down the edges of the electrical tape.  Once dry, add another layer of the liquid tape, over a slightly wider area, to smooth it out.  Kinda like mudding drywall repairs...
I used a toothpick to apply and smooth the liquid tape.  The key is to a) only apply a little at a time, and b) not mess with each layer too much; only work it enough to get it smooth.

[Bakon]

Burnt a cigarette hole in my new seat at Sturgis. No way am I paying for a new one at $900, heated Hammock HD one. Looking to add a piece of something over the burn. Like a piece of buffalo hide or something tougher. On the nose where I dont sit so I was thinking a piece of something which looks good and would not look like a repair job. Seen some seat guys at different rallies adding exotic skins over plain seats. Something like that. Anyone know a shop?

[eglideic]

 There is a business here called Vinyl Doctor, and another one is FibreNew.
He does a professional version of the late night TV vinyl repair and it is GREAT.
It looks like new when he's done, with no evidence of ever had a tear, and the damaged area is as strong and durablle as the undamaged areas.
He's fixed a whole lot of seats for me and my friends and note one bad experience.

[reg_beagle]

Check Craigslist for a takeoff. You can set up a search of a bunch of. CL sites. You might be surprised what is out there. There is a stock Fat Boy seat on Buffalo CL for $75, for example.
Al