Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

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Jason Tell
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Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#1 Post by Jason Tell »

I'm working on the reclining mechanism for my driver's side seat. The seat reclines with no resistance instead of stopping at intervals as it should. It looks like the spring that pushes on the reclining lever is no longer strong enough to engage the teeth that stops the seat as it goes back. I checked Stoddard and other sellers and have not been able to find a replacement spring. Does anyone know where I can buy one? (Number 28 in the diagram below.)

This is for a 1961 356B.

Thanks,
Jason
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Brad Ripley
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#2 Post by Brad Ripley »

Here's a Registry article for reference. https://porsche356registry.org/article/104 Do you see the spring you are talking about in any of the photos? BTW, those parts are only available as used parts.

Jason Tell
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#3 Post by Jason Tell »

Hi Brad,

Yes, I did read the article. Unfortunately, the spring is completely different than the one in the article. Sounds like I may need to get creative and see if I can stiffen the spring I have or manufacture something that will work.

Jason

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Martin Benade
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#4 Post by Martin Benade »

I might have such a spring but if yours is not broken, I would imagine something else is wrong. Are the teeth all perfect?
Cleveland Ohio
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Jason Tell
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#5 Post by Jason Tell »

I'll double check the teeth but I think they are fine. Again, it seems the spring just doesn't have much strength to it so it isn't pushing hard enough to engage the teeth. Let me know if you find your spring.

Brad Ripley
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#6 Post by Brad Ripley »

Oh, you mean this hair spring for the lever?
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Recliner lever spring.jpg

Jason Tell
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#7 Post by Jason Tell »

Yes, that's it. I believe mine has lost its spring so it is putting too little pressure on the recliner lever that controls when the seat back reclines or locks into place. I'll be taking mine apart again tonight or tomorrow and will double check to see if it could something else, but the seat stops reclining if I push down on the recliner lever and hold it with my hand, and it continues reclining when I take my hand off the lever.

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Jim Clement
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#8 Post by Jim Clement »

interesting..
I do not have that spring on my T1 coupe seat recliners either... should I have one ??
 

Brad Ripley
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#9 Post by Brad Ripley »

I'm not a student of seat recliners. I think Jim Braezel -EASY - is the expert. In any event there are at least two other versions of a spring to tension the adjuster. See below for photos. The extension spring version about 1960. Then with the some 356Cs and early 911 you get a spring wound around the adjusting arm -- those are the ones that have a flat outer chrome with no center axle showing -- and the ones were the backrest suddenly gives way! Ron's Popper Stoppers fix that.

Anyone care to dig up previous postings of Jim B. where he had extensive photos/years/models?
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Recliner lever spring. 21.jpg
Recliner lever spring 26.jpg

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Ron LaDow
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#10 Post by Ron LaDow »

Dunno if Jim still checks the email I have for him, but one went to that address asking for help.
Dealing with a guy right now who has the last one in Brad's post; AFAIK, that's a rare part.
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Jim Breazeale
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#11 Post by Jim Breazeale »

That spring appears in hinges (the outside hinge with the adjuster lever) from 1960 thru 1964. It could, very well be the problem. You may be able to remove it and bend it for more tension. The only way to get that spring is to sacrifice another hinge and there aren't too many people willing to do that these days.

Regards

Jim
PS: Yes Ron, I don't visit this forum as often as I should. Once I get the building cleared out and have more time on my hands, I will participate more.
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Jason Tell
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Re: Need seat recliner spring - 1961 356B

#12 Post by Jason Tell »

Thanks, Jim. Looks like I will try to bend it to create more tension.

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