Remove Seat Adjustor Mechanism

johnr9q@yahoo.com

johnr9q@yahoo.com

Senior Member
I can't figure out how to remove the adjusting mechanism on the front seat of my 1931 Fordor. I am trying to remove the front seat so I removed the 8 square head bolts and the two bolts that secure the adjusting mechanism and the seat frame lifts a little until the adjusting mechanism won't allow it to lift any more. How do I remove the mechanism?
 

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My 30 Fordor has a nut and threaded rod so I am not familiar with this mechanism. But, is there a way to move the ratchet arm to the rear of the car and away from the seat frame? There are probably some fasteners that hold the L shaped bracket to the floor, maybe rivets? To get to those you may have to move the seat frame. I am hoping someone with some actual experience will chime in.
 
You are going to want to put the seat release handle back on to do this.

As I recall, your seat tracks are stuck. Spray a penetrant like PB Blaster into both seat tracks from both the inside and the outside of the seat. Spray it into the track from the front and the back. Work the seat forward and back to loosen it up. The penetrant will loosen up the dried grease and dirt in the tracks.

Slide the seat back to reveal 2 of the 4 seat latch mounting screws. They are flathead screws going down into the floor. Remove those 2. Then slide the seat the other way to reveal the other 2 and remove them.

Now the latch is no longer attached to the floor. You can work it out, using the handle to turn the shaft 1/4 turn to release the teeth from the bracket.

You will see the seat base is held down by 8(?) square nuts, 4(?) on each side. Remove all of them and the seat will lift off of the tracks.

Now you can really get in there to clean the tracks and get everything sliding smoothly.

When you put it all back together, don't forget to install the large spring between the lower latch bracket (screwed to the floor) and the back of the seat frame bottom. You will find small holes that the spring ends slip into. This spring is often missing. It serves as a assisting force to help move the seat forward when you want to do that. Here:

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=978902&cat=41740

There is also a small spring attached to the adjuster to pull it back and hold it in the locked position. If you don't have it, you should add it. You can see it in the picture for this product (the full latch):

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=978901&cat=41740

After cleaning the tracks, lubricate them.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks Jim/GA, I see how to do it now. I see the 4 flathead screws but I can't slide the seat back to get to the front 2 cause the seat won't slide. Maybe I can put a jack on the seat and force it back. I'll let you know how it turns out.
 
Try using an offset screwdriver on those 2 screws.

Don't force the seat back. Spray stuff down into the track to free it up. Make sure both tracks are being moved back the same amount; if one side goes ahead of the other it will jam.

Once you have the seat base out, access to the sliders to free them up is easier.
 
Jim, with your help, I got it out. The slides are a bit rusty so I looked to replace them. Mikes said he no longer makes them. Any other suggestions? If I clean them up and reuse them, should I lub them with Lithium greese?
 
On my seats I used the greasiest grease I could find. You can use some rust remover to clean them up.
 
With a lot of work I got the slides to slide. They were rusted up and one of them, the slide that bolts to the floor, the floor at the front of the slide was bent down .030. I put a .030 shem in and it now slides great.
 
Now I can't figure out how to get the accelerator pedal out of the way so I can remove the front floor board. Does the pedal screw onto the end of the rod?
 
nkaminar said:
It just feels greasy. It was a more expensive grease.
Click to expand...
FWIW, I use Sta-Lube Sta-Plex Extreme Pressure Premium Red Grease SL3190 as my go-to lubricant for bearings, chassis lube, and general parts slipperiness. It's available both in a can and in tubes for grease gun. I use Honda Moly 60 for tight tolerances, and a special assembly lube (I don't have it here to remember what it is) for engine assembly.
 
Thanks JayJay, I Got the seat all put back and the throttle spring on with all your help. The slides were moving smooth as silk but now that I have it back together, I get in and turn the seat adjustment knob (I have to put a wrench on it to turn it 1/4 turn counterclockwise) and I have to push very hard to get the seat to go back. Both springs are installed. Should it be this hard or what am I doing wrong?
 
johnr9q@yahoo.com said:
Thanks JayJay, I Got the seat all put back and the throttle spring on with all your help. The slides were moving smooth as silk but now that I have it back together, I get in and turn the seat adjustment knob (I have to put a wrench on it to turn it 1/4 turn counterclockwise) and I have to push very hard to get the seat to go back. Both springs are installed. Should it be this hard or what am I doing wrong?
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I remember mine being pretty stiff even with lube. Had to sit in the middle of the seat, reach down between my legs, and push with both feet on the floorboard to get it to move rearwards. You might check that the two slides are aligned with each other and possibly shim, as someone suggested somewhere.

With some luck you will adjust it once and leave it alone. On my car, sticky seat adjustment is one of the lesser of my concerns. ;)
 
Thanks again JayJay, there is no way I can turn the adjustment control knob by hand. I am thinking that spring is too strong. As far as the seat being too hard to move, I'll check if maybe I tightned the 8 squar bolts that hold the seat frame to the floor board are too tight and causing binding. I'll check tomorrow. I'll order a new spring also.
 
johnr9q@yahoo.com said:
Thanks again JayJay, there is no way I can turn the adjustment control knob by hand. I am thinking that spring is too strong. As far as the seat being too hard to move, I'll check if maybe I tightned the 8 squar bolts that hold the seat frame to the floor board are too tight and causing binding. I'll check tomorrow. I'll order a new spring also.
Click to expand...

On the seat adjuster that your car uses, the seat is released by pulling a lever up 90 degrees. There is no knob to turn on your style adjuster.

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=978396&cat=41740

You hold it up while the seat slides forward and back. When you have the seat where you want it, you release the lever and let it drop back down into a notch. If it does not fully drop, nudge the seat forward or backward until it drops in.
 
Jim/GA, Thanks for that great answer. Mine just had a knob on the end of it and no way I could turn that knob. I'llorder the one you suggest.
 
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