recent posting referral

[John Betsch - "SADIE"]

I believe there was a recent posting about using swimming noodles to temporarily reinforce seat bottoms.  I have tried everything and cannot find it.  Can someone help me?

JB

[Garry]

They are not just for temp reinforcement, i have had mine in for 6 years and they still work just fine.  Here is one article.  Just do a search in the home line for “seat noodle” There are a few


https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=29798.msg215965#msg215965

[Norm]

Go to the section covering "Body, Interior, Paint, Chrome and Cosmetic Items"  and search for "noodle".  There are 17 threads displayed.  Noodles can be used for other applications like protecting the rear plastic window when you put the top down by wrapping the noodle in a towel and placing it in the folded window before lowering the top.

Norm

[WRe]

Hi,
if you only want to tighten your sinuous springs you can use these special rubber straps, see att. pic.
You can find them in shops for upholstery supplies.
...WRe

[John Betsch - "SADIE"]

Thank to everyone for their help; I appreciate people taking the time to answer such a mundane request

jb

[mdsalemi]

Hi,

Those rubber band thingies pointed out by WRe, IMHO, will do nothing.
That spring material shown in his photo, however, is used extensively in our seats. It's a common material called "nosag" or "zigzag" upholstery springs. You can find it at most online upholstery suppliers, even Amazon.

When I took my seat apart, I tested it and I "bottomed out"; the bottom of the seat (the springs) hit the floor. So, I bought new spring material--heavier gauge than factory. I "siamesed" additional spring material onto the existing springs. I added additional rows. I added cross rows. When I was done, I could barely budge the springs with my hands. Then I sat on it...and it bottomed out. It bottomed out when my lightweight daughter sat on it. Clearly, the springs were not enough.

Enter the pool noodle. Basically you take a cheap pool noodle and bend it into a C shape; you'll need to do some cutting. The back of the C fits at the front of the seat where the springs form a coil. The legs of the C taper back. You'll need some cutting, but don't worry--a pool noodle is the least costly thing you'll ever buy for a Pagoda. Cut and carve and stuff it into place. It firms up the seat quite a bit.

[Garry]

Some photos of a setup.

[WRe]

Hi,
I use both, noodles and rubber straps. The noodles tighten the edges - mostly worn from get off and in - and the rubber the seat center. These special rubber straps - I use more than shown in the picture - are very tight and hold the strings more together.
...WRe

[teahead]

Hi,
I use both, noodles and rubber straps. The noodles tighten the edges - mostly worn from get off and in - and the rubber the seat center. These special rubber straps - I use more than shown in the picture - are very tight and hold the strings more together.
...WRe

Instead of rubber bands, what about zipties?

[WRe]

Hi,
I think that zipties are too tight not elastic enough. If you connect every zig zag with a tight rubber band it will make an impact.
...WRe

[mdsalemi]

I added the zig zag springs (remember I used heavier duty thicker versions than stock) to "beef up" the existing springs; then I added additional spring material at a diagonal and laterally. I affixed these additional lengths of springs with the crimping clamps made for this purpose, and crimped them with the special tool for this. By the time I was done, on a bench, the additional forces required to move the seat springs was quite noticeable. I thought I did a pretty good job; after all, the purpose was to tighten up everything and require more force to make the springs move, and on the bench with my hands, that's exactly what I did.

Then I sat on it.

It as as if I had done nothing. Yes, all that additional springing did nothing when the force was your "butt" in the seat as opposed to your hands crudely measuring forces when the seat bottom was on the bench. All that additional springing just added more weight to the seat. So, based on that, I did NOT do anything to the passenger seat...

...except the pool noodle.