Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010 20:42:53 -0700
Reply-To: Peter DiFalco <peter.difalco@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Peter DiFalco <peter.difalco@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: repairing arm rest
In-Reply-To: <595636.97716.qm@web111719.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I followed the excellent guide on this site which includes pictures of
the beloved rolled pin.
http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/ (look under interior)
I ended up pulling our with some force a bent thin metal piece not
unlike a very strong paper clip which must have originally existed to
keep the armrest shaft from being unscrewed too far. With it gone and
the remaining armrest pieces carefully realigned, my armrest works
well but unfortunately there's the possibility I could over-adjust it
and it would fall apart again internally... Or infernally as the case
may be.
I regard the armrest well-built but poorly designed; that said I will
fix it forever because it makes driving even more of a pleasure.
-Peter
On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@yahoo.com> wrote:
> here is ONE post from the archives: http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind9901D&L=vanagon&P=R8230
>
> their are many more. m2cw m
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
>
> Jay asked about this, and it might be of general interest, so I am forwarding my reply to Malcolm earlier missive to the list. this is for arm rests that are, as someone once said on the list, "loose as a goose." That is, they simply swivel around, the adjustment mechanism will not hold the arm rest in place. Not difficult, just awkward.
> --
> David McNeely
>
>
>> Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010 10:17:15 -0500
>> From: <mcneely4@cox.net>
>> To: Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@yahoo.com>
>> Subject: Re: [VANAGON] cleaning seat upholstery
>>
>> Malcolm, what is the "drift in"? Is that a name for the pin that secures the arm rest to the seat hardware? I pushed that out with a punch, and put it back in similarly. I would need to examine it again to be sure of the mechanics, but it was pretty straightforward, though rather awkward. If I recall correctly, the most difficult thing about it was that I had to hold the dense foam out of the way with a screwdriver as a lever in order to get at the mechanism. After removing the arm rest, I I then had to cut into the foam of the armrest to get to the adjustment screw and put it back on its track as it had suffered some kind of a blow that made it jump out of the track. I had some trepidation about cutting the foam, but when I fitted all back together, all was well. Works great now.
>
> At the time, about a year ago, I consulted more than one local repair service (body shops, interior trim shops) about this, and was told there was no solution except to replace the seat.
>
> When I did this, I was impressed by the quality of the entire assembly compared to things I see on many makes of vehicles. Most such parts are rather fragile plastics, whereas this entire thing is steel, wood, and dense foam.
>
> Thanks, DMc
>
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