Installing springs in a recliner?

The tension spring in our Flexsteel Recliner (model 2800-51) broke. I found a 3 3/4" replacement spring with a 9/16" diameter, which matched the broken spring. I had to guess where the broken end attached, and found a helpful post which explained the spring is less stretched with extension of the footrest and, and more stretched when it is down. That prevents forward drooping of the footrest When the chair is in its fully erect position. Using that information, I found the probable connecting point, a post diagonally in front of the eye where I found the broken spring dangling. Even with the footrest completely open, the spring didn't reach the connecting post. As noted in the previous post, the spring is impossible to stretch by hand. I found this post, and used screwdriver, nickel method to expand the spring. I pried each coil open with a screwdriver, and put a nickel between each coil, using a total of 17 nickels for a 19 coil spring. That stretched the spring just enough to reach the post. I put a towel underneath the spring to catch the nickels. When I closed the footrest, the spring stretched more and the nickels fell out onto the towel. Voilà, the chair is fixed! Thank you for the helpful post about the nickels. It really worked.

Ms. Fixit
June 2015

Chuck - your suggestion was very helpful!!!! With my husband’s help he used a large screwdriver and light hammer taps to pry open spaces between the actual springs. Then I inserted two nickels in the space and we carefully removed the screwdriver. We did this in a second spring coil with two more nickels. We needed 4 nickels on each spring to get the right height to reattach the spring. We did this with both springs. Also note we needed to put the nickels on the back of the spring (the side that goes against the chair) in order to get enough height. Once the springs were rescrewed to the chair we wiggled the rocker (with the chair still on its back) and used a screwdriver to get the nickels out. It was a little tricky since they were at the back against the wood of the chair but not too bad. The chair works like new. Why did I wait so long to fix it - we really love that chair. Thank you again Chuck for the ideas and to Bob for asking the question - good luck to others who need to make the same repair!

Happy wife and handy gal
July 2010

wrap piece of twine or thin rope around your hand and loop it around 1 end of spring to pull spring open.jack

jackscustomfurniture@yahoo.com
November 2008

bob,
get a bench vice. drill & tap vertical holes in the top of the clamping surfaces (and install bolts) or use safety-wire around each end of the vice.
run the jaws together enough to hook the spring ends, to either the bolts or the safety-wire loops.
unscrew the vice using the handle.
when the spring is extended enough, install a nickle between each gap on the spring.
screw the jaws back toward each other, & removed the spring from the vice.
set the chair, to a point where the spring would be at it's lowest tension. slip the spring onto the posts/hooks on the chair.
remove the nickles.
it worked for me.

chuck
June 2008

SCRAP THE CHAIR AND BUY A NEW ONE MUCH EASIER

BOB
June 2008