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Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 6:16 pm
by Mike Wilson
Question: what shape of knob(s) were used on the passenger seat to release the seat back? The B supplement and the C parts manuals both show a round knob. However, I've also seen the tulip-shaped knobs used. Did the tulip-shaped knob come with the late C's?

This is the knob that allows the seat back to be unlocked and folded forward not to adjust the angle of the seat.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 9:30 pm
by Mike Wilson
A very knowledgeable 356-er sent me a PM expaining that the tulip knobs were for the C models and the round ones were actually a press-fit, not threaded, for the B's. However, my B coupe, #213532, had threaded levers so I'm assuming that perhaps the later B's and then the C's with the threaded levers had the tulip knobs.

If you have a car that you know has the original recliner knobs, I'd like to hear from you. It would be good info to pass along and perhaps included in Brett's reissued book.

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Wed May 01, 2019 12:35 pm
by Doug McDonnell
My 65 C 130660 7/14/64 completion date It has the plain 65C type seat hinges.

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Wed May 01, 2019 2:56 pm
by Mike Wilson
Thanks, Doug. Are the round knobs threaded or press-fit?

Mike

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 3:14 am
by Edwin Ek
My dad's 1964 C coupe, which he picked up at the factory in the summer of 1964, had spherical (round) knobs. I was a small kid then, so I rode in the back seats and used those knobs many times to get out.

I can't say whether they were threaded or press fit.

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 9:00 am
by David Lawrence
My unmolested 1964 C Cab, 160578.
Kardex build date 5/22/64.
Kardex sold by Hoffman, PC Northeast on 8/06/64.
Has tulip-shaped threaded knobs.
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Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 11:58 am
by Mike Wilson
Thanks everyone for your input. At last week's North Meets South I inspected the passenger side recliners on many cars. Most had the tulip-shaped knobs; a few had round.

Ken Ito sent me pics of original tulip and round knobs. The tulip knobs were threaded; the round ones were press-fit. I'm working on an assumption that if the seat back release lever was threaded, a tulip knob was installed and if the lever wasn't threaded, it had a round knob. To verify that, if you have an original round recliner knob, check to see if it is press-fit or threaded. If you have an original round knob and it is threaded, that blows my theory out the window but further supports my mantra: "Porsche...consistently inconsistent..."

Mike

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 1:02 pm
by Dan Macdonald
My 65 C coupe (Karmann) 220256 has the round black knobs.

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 1:06 pm
by Mike Wilson
Thanks for that info, Dan. Are the knobs/levers threaded?

Mike

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 1:12 pm
by Dan Macdonald
Yes, I think so but I better go check.

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 9:59 pm
by Bob Kittel
august 12, 63 build with threaded tulips

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 10:36 pm
by Dan Macdonald
Mike
I finally looked. My round knobs are a press fit.
65 C Karmann Coupe 220256

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Wed May 29, 2019 11:13 am
by Mike Wilson
Thanks, Doug. It seems that there were no definitive applications of tulip or round knobs as others who have weighed in note that the knobs weren't limited to certain years.

My conclusion: the recliners were assembled using whatever knobs were on hand at the time. Another reaffirmation of my mantra:
"Porsche...consistently inconsistent..."

Mike

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Wed May 29, 2019 10:53 pm
by Jim Breazeale
Round knobs came both threaded and press fit. So did the tulips. Press fit knobs only came on 65 356Cs and SCs. All the rest are threaded.

Regards

Jim

Re: Seat recliner knobs

Posted: Wed May 29, 2019 11:06 pm
by Jim Breazeale
65 Cs also came with a little rubber flap and a fiber washer near the knob.