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Concept1 Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2004 Posts: 334 Location: Calgary, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:09 pm Post subject: Repairing a flat back (55-57) middle seat springs |
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Anyone have any tips on repairing flat back middle seat springs? I have a middle seat with a severly rusted fold down section.
Thanks in advance. |
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Rick Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2003 Posts: 1539 Location: Soquel, California
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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I'm repairing one as well and could use some advice. I've been told that you shouldn't weld the spring steel as it will likely break, unless you re-heat treat it? I'm replacing 2 springs and one of the hoops on the end. FYI - I got a bay window front seat at a junkyard for $5. The hoop radiuses are the same so it will just be a matter of grafting everything in. |
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///Mink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5051 Location: Fair Oaks, CA
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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I repaired a few broken coils on my flat back recently. I ended up using a short bit (1 inch or so) of hard brake line, curved it to match the curvature of the coil, used it fix the break (slide the broken spring ends into the metal pipe) and crimped it down. Worked like a champ...wish I'd taken pics. |
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arthurnugen Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 3081 Location: The PNW, where "going green" means rolling with moss.
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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^ Dang, that's a good idea. I'm glad this thread came up as I am going to be modifying a bug rear seat for my DKW. _________________
cdennisg wrote: |
Lawyers don't deserve buses. |
zozo wrote: |
Don't worry too much. You can always trust a lawyer. |
ALWAYS WEAR STEEL-TOE BOOTS IN THE GARAGE!
1965 Bus (Riviera camper)
1972 Bug 'vert
1967 Bug sunroof
1961 Ghia 'vert
1957 DKW 3=6: 3 cylinder 2 stroke! |
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Rick Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2003 Posts: 1539 Location: Soquel, California
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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^^great idea. I think crimping is the way to go on these. I think for my hoop section I'm going to lap the two pieces and steel rivet them together. Blast, powder coat and cover and all will be good! pictures forthcoming. |
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Concept1 Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2004 Posts: 334 Location: Calgary, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe a picture would help, I think "Repair" might not have been the right choice of terms...
And the upholstery channel in the back...
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Dave24 Samba Hack Purist
Joined: April 14, 2004 Posts: 7442 Location: Hablamos Ingles, So. Cal.
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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That seat is a little rough... |
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Kommercial Samba Moderator
Joined: December 28, 2000 Posts: 1154 Location: San Tan Valley, Arizona
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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Is this the middle seat that was for sale in the classifieds? Looks very familiar... |
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splitpile Samba's Worst Speller
Joined: May 03, 2000 Posts: 5927 Location: back to living where hell meets the suface
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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I heat the broken springs with my Mapp Gas torch till red hot then hit it with the mig, quench with cutting oil in a old school oil can, seems to be working so far, even though Minks brake line trick seems easier and quicker _________________ Stocking distributor of "The Funky Green Panels"
www.BUSTORATION.com metal and more for your bus
"no more hacking my sig line" |
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nlorntson Crazy VW Lady
Joined: March 13, 2004 Posts: 3783 Location: Twin Cities, MN
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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I'd gladly take that seat on. I've been looking for a flat back middle seat for our early 57 for a while now. Any leads are appreciated
I have heard that springs and structure from 60's era Type 1's seat backs are also a good source of the flat spring packs. Just haven't had a chance to check it out myself |
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Rick Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2003 Posts: 1539 Location: Soquel, California
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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Inspired by this thread and the desire to have a new seat I tackled my flat back repair today. It went well and wasn't too hard.
Here's what I started with:
half a spring and the entire hoop on the end was gone.
I pillaged this early 70's bay window front seat for parts:
Hoop radiuses were the same and lots of other usable stuff. I cut the hoop sections I needed about 3 inches long, then riveted the two together:
Now with my new end hoop piece, I used the metal crimps available from the bay seat to crimp the new end in place. I used many other crimps to attach the springs and repair a few broken ones. I also took one of the springs from the bay seat, cut it down and scabbed it on, again with a few of the crimps, to the original, of which half was left. After taking the bay seat apart you realize that VW didn't weld them together either. Everything was mechanically crimped in place. All in all no welding required, only a $5 bay window seat and an afternoon. Off to the powder coater and then the upholstery shop. Here's what I ended up with:
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BarryL Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2004 Posts: 14271 Location: Casa de Oro, California
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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:36 am Post subject: |
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I like it and I didn't even let the pictures load all the way. |
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arthurnugen Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 3081 Location: The PNW, where "going green" means rolling with moss.
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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:03 am Post subject: |
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Hey, that looks great!
BarryL, I thought I was the only one in the world still using dialup.
I still use an antenna for TV, too. _________________
cdennisg wrote: |
Lawyers don't deserve buses. |
zozo wrote: |
Don't worry too much. You can always trust a lawyer. |
ALWAYS WEAR STEEL-TOE BOOTS IN THE GARAGE!
1965 Bus (Riviera camper)
1972 Bug 'vert
1967 Bug sunroof
1961 Ghia 'vert
1957 DKW 3=6: 3 cylinder 2 stroke! |
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Stocknazi Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004 Posts: 5150
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Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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nice work _________________ WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).
"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."
Thomas Jefferson |
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Rick Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2003 Posts: 1539 Location: Soquel, California
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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bringing this thread back for a progress report. Today I tackled repairing the seat base frame. Here's what I had to fix:
I had already cut the tab end off of this existing seat which was in good shape. If you remove it surgically it has a tube attached to it that is the ID of the seat frame tubing, so you just hammer it into you're new tubing and tack it in a few places. I cut some more tubing from the afore mentioned bay window seat frame and fabricated new corners. Make them long so you can cut them in to fit. Here's what I ended up with:
I then cut out the offending section back to good (ok, "decent") metal. I used a piece of MDF as a jig to clamp into the frame to keep everything lined up. Only cut and repair one corner at a time so that everything goes back together in the same orientation:
Now, my epiphany for the day. While walking by the garbage can a couple days ago I saw the broken tie rod I had removed a while back. Hmmm. That tube looks like the right OD for the seat frame ID. Is it? No. But it's close. I took 4 one inch sections and turned them down a little to fit in the seat frame tubing. This allowed for lots of flexibility when cutting in the new pieces. I plug welded these in through some holes I drilled in the seat frame tubing.
finally I fit the new sections in, and making sure everything was straight I welded in the new parts and ground them down flush. So, a few hours work but I didn't need to buy a new seat! Here's the finished product:
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sparkleplenty Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 1110 Location: California
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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Rick wrote: |
bringing this thread back for a progress report. Today I tackled repairing the seat base frame. Here's what I had to fix:
I had already cut the tab end off of this existing seat which was in good shape. If you remove it surgically it has a tube attached to it that is the ID of the seat frame tubing, so you just hammer it into you're new tubing and tack it in a few places. I cut some more tubing from the afore mentioned bay window seat frame and fabricated new corners. Make them long so you can cut them in to fit. Here's what I ended up with:
I then cut out the offending section back to good (ok, "decent") metal. I used a piece of MDF as a jig to clamp into the frame to keep everything lined up. Only cut and repair one corner at a time so that everything goes back together in the same orientation:
Now, my epiphany for the day. While walking by the garbage can a couple days ago I saw the broken tie rod I had removed a while back. Hmmm. That tube looks like the right OD for the seat frame ID. Is it? No. But it's close. I took 4 one inch sections and turned them down a little to fit in the seat frame tubing. This allowed for lots of flexibility when cutting in the new pieces. I plug welded these in through some holes I drilled in the seat frame tubing.
finally I fit the new sections in, and making sure everything was straight I welded in the new parts and ground them down flush. So, a few hours work but I didn't need to buy a new seat! Here's the finished product:
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Way to go....Looks great...
Do you have any others scoots inhabiting your garage _________________ '56 European Oval Ragtop-Stock
'56 Karmann Ghia Coupe-Stock
'59 Italian Series I Li150 Lambretta-Stock
"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."
"Only when the tide goes out do you discover who is swimming naked." |
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Rick Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2003 Posts: 1539 Location: Soquel, California
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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sparkleplenty wrote: |
Do you have any others scoots inhabiting your garage |
Just that one. It actually hasn't seen the road in years and may have to go to make room
When I put up that picture I actually thought it wouldn't be long before somebody here picked out the vespa. It's like Where's Waldo around here! |
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sparkleplenty Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 1110 Location: California
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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Rick wrote: |
sparkleplenty wrote: |
Do you have any others scoots inhabiting your garage |
Just that one. It actually hasn't seen the road in years and may have to go to make room
When I put up that picture I actually thought it wouldn't be long before somebody here picked out the vespa. It's like Where's Waldo around here! |
Indeed it is (Where's Waldo)...Don't get rid of it. You could always park it in the house. What year is it? I restored a 59' Lambretta a couple of years ago. Of course, like all projects, I spent double what I thought I would on the restore. My new formula for restores is: come up with a figure, double that figure, add another $2,330 then after you think you are done, add another $455. It's usually pretty accurate. _________________ '56 European Oval Ragtop-Stock
'56 Karmann Ghia Coupe-Stock
'59 Italian Series I Li150 Lambretta-Stock
"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."
"Only when the tide goes out do you discover who is swimming naked." |
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clusterluck12 Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2014 Posts: 8 Location: Bay Area Coastside, CA
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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:05 pm Post subject: seat spring repairs |
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I know this thread is ages old, but ...
Here is a great, cheap source of flat zigzag springs and coil springs.
http://www.diyupholsterysupply.com/upholstery-spring.html
I have an issue with my 1971 bus front seats where the zigzag spring that is essentially the 45degree bent ones on the front edge are all broken. I've been trying to crimp them back together with cable crimps, however, they just work themselves back loose.
I might try buying these flat zizags from the link above and somehow overlay them. The problem is, how to bend the zigzags to the 45 degree angle.
Any good ideas?
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KombiMadness Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2011 Posts: 388 Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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Don't have any photos yet because I haven't picked it up but, I just got my middle seat sandblasted and epoxy primered in black. Then, I'm taking it to a guy who will weld in new steel tube to replace some of the rusted out sections.
The springs are all good except for the 2/3 seat back section; it was trashed.
Not sure if I will try and replace that section with a modified Bay Window bit or just have the upholsterer do a conventional foam on back board for that section only - it comes down to practicality & cost.
Here's a photo showing the seat before sandblasting. You can see the base springs are in good condition, the flip seat springs (behind the trashed OG upholstery) are good but the seat back springs on the 2/3 section are gone. What you can't see is the backs of the seat back tubing which is half rusted out.....
_________________ My brother & I on the roof of Dad's Splitty circa 1967 - I'm the half pint with the skinny legs! |
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