Well I was happily driving along when suddenly instead of looking at the road I was looking at the roof
It seems the recline mechanism suddenly gave and now it won’t hold the seat back in position. I plan on stripping this down to see what’s happened - has anyone done this before and have any tips?
Driver’s seat back collapse
Moderator: Board Moderators
- Hawaiis0
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 4130
- Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
- Model: Excel SA (No 3); Elite 504
- Colour: BRG; Dirty White
- Year: 1986
- Location: West Oxfordshire
Re: Driver’s seat back collapse
Think there may be an old thread on it. the actuating pull rod may have snapped or popped out
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!
- rbgosling
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1702
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: Midnight Blue
- Year: 1990
- Location: Rugby
Re: Driver’s seat back collapse
With care all the upholstery comes off the seats just fine and will go back on again if you remember how it came off! Shouldn't need any special tools.
My problem was a broken bit of frame rather than the recline mechanism, I just got another seat from Lotusbits' big container full of random old seats, and swapped my covers onto the other seat, picking the best of the foams.
When re-fitting the seats I'd strongly recommend replacing the fixing bolts with Allen key (socket head) bolts, much easier to restrain from turning than hex-head, and stainless bolt and nuts.
My problem was a broken bit of frame rather than the recline mechanism, I just got another seat from Lotusbits' big container full of random old seats, and swapped my covers onto the other seat, picking the best of the foams.
When re-fitting the seats I'd strongly recommend replacing the fixing bolts with Allen key (socket head) bolts, much easier to restrain from turning than hex-head, and stainless bolt and nuts.
"Farmer" Richard
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)