Seat Adjustment mechanism 55-56

[smtichy]

Hi,

I just acquired a '55 Fairlane (Sunliner) and the mechanism to adjust the bench seat doesn't work. The adjustment lever just hangs loose. I've looked under the seat, it looks like it was rebuilt (looks new in fact), everything is clean, and then tension on the spring in the middle and the connecting wires to each side seems okay.

It just looks like the adjustment lever is not mounted right, but before I tear into it all I wanted to ask if someone has any info or a diagram on how the mechanism works. I couldn't find anything in the shop manual, and don't have the body & trim manual.

Thanks,
Steve

[Herman Munster]

Maybe this will help.

[smtichy]

Thanks Herman,

That is a big help. At first glance it looks like the mechanism on mine was not put back together correctly. Mine has a large spring from the point at 61744 to just under the point where the 2 seat backs join. I'll let you know what I find once I did into it.

Steve

Steve

[junkyardjeff]

The rods that go to each side is supposed to go through a eyelet in the middle of the seat frame to keep up the slack.

[Ole Don]

Dont fight that spring. Remove the rails from the seat and they will travel further to put the spring back on, then center the rail and reinstall it on the seat.

[smtichy]

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Reporting my findings to round out this thread. The diagram helped, but there was some variation on the levers that lock the seat into position, and the release mechanism.

On my '55 this is what I found:
- the seat release mechanism is on the driver side (instead of a central lever/rod), disengaging the lock and at the same time putting tension on connecting rods (61727 & 61726) to disengage the lock on the passenger side.
- the locking mechanism on each side is held in place by a wimpy little spring instead of the heavier 61828. Being smaller it is much easier to manipulate, but it is not quite big enough to do it's job.

The issue with mine was:
1) the release lever was loose & bent
2) the spring on the passenger side lock mechanism was stretched and lacking sufficient tension.
3) increasing tension on the central rods & spring, put to much pull on the weak passenger side spring, so the lock mechanism would not engage.
4) To fix I shortened the passenger side spring, and then by trial and error adjusted the tension on the central eyelet to which the rods tie into.
5) I found the balance of tension eventually ... it took 2 hours, ugh!

As it is a pretty simple set up, I'm guessing this problem is pretty common on these. In particular the springs being shot after 50 years. Also the diagram in the post above from Herman looks like a more durable set up. I'm guessing this is from a later model.

Thanks again for all of your advice.