Removing front seat cushion

[Deleted]

Tis I once more !
Have started on the upholstery and, would like to remove these cushions to renew the foam.
The 'Manual' says it can be done to give access to the frame but not how !
For "ease" so far, have removed the whole seat and frame to have a proper gander but everything looks solid !
Sensible ideas invited !

Thanks, John A.

[Phil Nottingham]

The manual refers to Mk2 and earlier seats. The "modern" inferior seats used on later models are built up around the frame as you have now realised!

[Allan NZ P5b]

May find what you want in one of these 2 threads
roverp5.proboards31.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=interior31&thread=1116715585&page=1

or

roverp5.proboards31.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=interior31&thread=1111656935&page=1

Regards I found the manual invaluable but a little confusing.

[Deleted]

Phil/Allan,
Many thanks for the info' and, links - they make interesting reading !
Funny how Easter comes into it !
Will keep you posted.
By the way, I am using 'Connolly' hide food treatment, after a simple clean; it certainly gives the leather some suppleness.

Happy motoring, John A.

[Phil Nottingham]

Yes we use Connolly's - it does not mend cracked leather or split seams though

[doojab]

I've tried Connelly's on my somewhat ancient mulberry seats and got rather a lot of mulberry on the cloth! I gather this may mean my seats need to be re-coated (expensive?). I have also given them a thorough dosing with rejuvenating oil and this has made the leather nice and soft.

[Deleted]

Suppleness is not really a problem but which make of the rejuvenating fluid did you use, please ?

Phil - re the tears/splits seams - the front passenger seat just has the two front seams split and, a little bit of scuffing on the side of the seat back. The driver's seat is similar but has a tear around the pivot bracket so, an "honest" repair will be done !
The main problem is that the constituent parts of the re-constituted foam, have separated and, were swept up !

[doojab]

LEATHERCARE Rejuvenation Oil ordered online from www.leathercaredirect.com
The instructions suggest applying the oil with a cloth. I found that my leather was so dry that I actually used a trigger hand sprayer and covered the leather in the oil and left it to soak in. This is easier with your seats out though I did mine with the seats in. I am planning on replacing my shabby carpets so it didn't matter so much.
The oil will soak into your leather and only when the leather is fully 're-hydrated' will it lay on the surface and require wiping away. I have used 1.5 litres so far and it still soaks in. Don't be fooled, it isn't going through into the foam, it really is your leather soaking up the oil.
Note that it will not soak into any vinyl covering and will need to be wiped off.
I like the stuff and will use again.
Let us know how you get on.
Good luck!

[Phil Nottingham]

I find that clenaing the leather with saddle soap rempves dirt, softens the leather without removing the colour. Do this several times if dry/dirty then finish of with the Connolly's cream. Several applications will be needed over months to get the leather soft again and its better to do it warm weather in future as its soaks in more easily.

Saddle soap will also clean the vynil parts but Cillet is best to remove ingrained dirt as long as you do not do this too often. Bad stains can be removed with cellulose thinners carefully

The foam crumbles way and can also degrade into a sticky mess, often found in teh balck window sill trims on saloons.

The seats will then need rebuilding with the correct foams, different grades etc to get teh right shape and suppleness/springing


Seams can only be properly repaired from the back using waxed upholstery thread an the original holes. Apparently Rover did not use rot proof thread until the very last cars of 72/73!