Seat removal problems

[B and C]

Okay, so I should have named this seat situation mission impossible.

If there was something to grab on top, I'd have a wrench hold the nut still while I spun the top. No, it's rounded. I can't think of a way to go from here.

You are doing good so far.  Hang in there.  Mission difficult, not impossible.  It looks like you wrench pretty good

The rounded head bolt is probably the pivot point for the seat swivel lever and would do no good to remove at this point.  You will probably have to remove it when this is apart to get the lever handle welded back on though.

Now this is where I wish I was there as I cannot find an exploded view of how this is assembled to show you.....  Disclaimer, this is how I would proceed if it were mine.  YMMV.  If you are not comfortable doing these steps at this point, take it to a body shop or mechanic to remove, weld and reassemble the base.

It is definitely jammed if you can't lift it off at this point.  Pry around the edges of the big rectangular plate while watching the plate where the bolt sticks up through it.  If you see the back of the hole raising but not the front of the hole when you do the prying (upward) on the plate, it is jammed on the front edge of the bolt.  You stated earlier that the seat would rock forward but not backward.  This tells me that the swivel adjuster under there is jammed holding the plate hole against the bolt.  Take a hammer (I know, dangerous words) and try to nudge the plate back and forth like you are trying to swivel it.  Don't swing it like you are tearing down a house, but be forceful.  A little movement in one direction, then coax it in the other direction.  Back and forth a couple of times.  It should pop loose and you can then lift it off.  

Stop if this does not get it loose, I recommend taking it to a body shop or a mechanic.  They can get it off and maybe weld the handle back on for you.  You have already done the slow work of getting access to it so it shouldn't take them very long to finish it.  Bring the big nut and the washers you removed so they can put it back together for you and you can check the operation before the seat is installed.  You can put the seat back on when you get home.  They may not charge much more to finish putting the seat on too if you bring it (and the bolt/nuts) with you.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Sometimes ya gotta get out a bigger hammer

Did ya learn any new cuss words getting it off

 

[lterry]

You are doing good so far.  Hang in there.  Mission difficult, not impossible.  It looks like you wrench pretty good

The rounded head bolt is probably the pivot point for the seat swivel lever and would do no good to remove at this point.  You will probably have to remove it when this is apart to get the lever handle welded back on though.

Now this is where I wish I was there as I cannot find an exploded view of how this is assembled to show you.....  Disclaimer, this is how I would proceed if it were mine.  YMMV.  If you are not comfortable doing these steps at this point, take it to a body shop or mechanic to remove, weld and reassemble the base.

It is definitely jammed if you can't lift it off at this point.  Pry around the edges of the big rectangular plate while watching the plate where the bolt sticks up through it.  If you see the back of the hole raising but not the front of the hole when you do the prying (upward) on the plate, it is jammed on the front edge of the bolt.  You stated earlier that the seat would rock forward but not backward.  This tells me that the swivel adjuster under there is jammed holding the plate hole against the bolt.  Take a hammer (I know, dangerous words) and try to nudge the plate back and forth like you are trying to swivel it.  Don't swing it like you are tearing down a house, but be forceful.  A little movement in one direction, then coax it in the other direction.  Back and forth a couple of times.  It should pop loose and you can then lift it off.  

Stop if this does not get it loose, I recommend taking it to a body shop or a mechanic.  They can get it off and maybe weld the handle back on for you.  You have already done the slow work of getting access to it so it shouldn't take them very long to finish it.  Bring the big nut and the washers you removed so they can put it back together for you and you can check the operation before the seat is installed.  You can put the seat back on when you get home.  They may not charge much more to finish putting the seat on too if you bring it (and the bolt/nuts) with you.

I shoved a screwdriver into the business end of the mechanism and used a hammer to pound it in their harder. It worked! The plate swiveled and I was able to pull it off then. Nothing broken other than what was already broken. The weld of the handle onto the mechanism was SO weak. It might as well have been glued on. As a matter of fact I'm not sure so it wasn't JB weld...they should have used more.

 

[lterry]

Sometimes ya gotta get out a bigger hammer

Did ya learn any new cuss words getting it off

Yup!

 

[B and C]

Congratulations on a job well done.   Two thumbs up.

Now to get that pesky handle welded back on.

 

[rvpopeye]

well , good going so far ,,,you dood it !
And you know what JB Weld is too....hmmmmmmm
You'll be just fine fixin' up that rig !!!
To risk copywrite infringement .
"You'll get by with a little help from your friends"

 

[lterry]

well , good going so far ,,,you dood it !
And you know what JB Weld is too....hmmmmmmm
You'll be just fine fixin' up that rig !!!
To risk copywrite infringement .
"You'll get by with a little help from your friends"

I dood it!

 

[lterry]

Congratulations on a job well done.   Two thumbs up.

Now to get that pesky handle welded back on.

Thank you, thank you. You can't see me but I'm taking a bow

 

[bigsallysmom]

Thank you, thank you. You can't see me but I'm taking a bow

With all this newfound confidence, just think of all the repairs you can tackle now.

 

[highdesertranger]

so true a little confidence goes a long way. highdesertranger

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I just found 2 swivel bases in working order for $12 each in Quartzsite.

 

[Patrick46]

I just found 2 swivel bases in working order for $12 each in Quartzsite.

Hmmmmm....you may need to come back up here sooner than you thought, huh??

 

[Patrick46]

btw...now that you mention that the lever was inside the glove department...that explains why this swivel doesn't work!!


Well, now you've got it apart, and fix it proper like!

 

[lterry]

Hmmmmm....you may need to come back up here sooner than you thought, huh??

I'm almost positive I can't go this time, though I'd love to :/

I'm probably going to reattach my seat without the swivel mechanism in place. It will swivel freely, I presume, but not if I have the seatbelt buckled over it. This will do until I find the right fix. The driver's seat already swivels wherever, and even though I knew it wasn't supposed to that, I haven't minded so much because it makes for an easy exit out of the door. Until I find easily accessible replacement parts, I want to at least be able to use the seat as a recliner of sorts, facing the rest of the van.

 

[lterry]

I just found 2 swivel bases in working order for $12 each in Quartzsite.

*sigh* wish I could go.

 

[B and C]

Remember that round headed bolt?  You will want to remove whatever it is holding in place (the seat swivel locking mechanism).  Without the handle to hold it in the unlocked position will make getting the base back on difficult.  I take it that welding the handle back onto the swivel locking mechanism is not feasible.

 

[lterry]

Remember that round headed bolt?  You will want to remove whatever it is holding in place (the seat swivel locking mechanism).  Without the handle to hold it in the unlocked position will make getting the base back on difficult.  I take it that welding the handle back onto the swivel locking mechanism is not feasible.

Maybe it could be welded, but for it to be a strong hold it would need to be overlapped which would make it too short to reach...maybe. It's hard to tell now. The mechanism popped off when I pulled the plate off, so now I don't know how it's supposed to go back on there. I wish everything would have stayed in place so I could take a picture for directions later.

 

[B and C]

A welder will know how to fix it without it being too short.  He may even be able to figure out how it goes back together for you too.  Someone mechanically inclined should be able to figure it out but may need to see both halves.

Got pictures?

 

[lterry]

A welder will know how to fix it without it being too short.  He may even be able to figure out how it goes back together for you too.  Someone mechanically inclined should be able to figure it out but may need to see both halves.

Got pictures?

Yup!

 

[highdesertranger]

wow not much of a weld there. highdesertranger