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Arm rests - not level

The arm rests on both the drivers chair and passenger recliner are not level.  I would love to be able to fix this or at least make them more level.  They aren't off by a lot but it's enough be annoying.

I pulled the arm rest cover off most of the way but couldn't feel anyway to make adjustments, and didn't want to destroy the foam before I asked here.

I'm not even sure which chairs I have (Flexsteel or Villa).

Here is a picture of the drivers chair.

Thanks,
Douglas
The selected media item is not currently available.
Douglas and Amanda
1997 40' U320 "Brawley"
2007 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
Motorcade #17266 Escapee #113692

Re: Arm rests - not level

Reply #1 –
Look for an adjustment at the rear end of the armrest.
Mine had a Velcroed tab I could open to get to the adjuster wheel.
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Arm rests - not level

Reply #2 –
Quote from: John Duld –
Look for an adjustment at the rear end of the armrest.
Mine had a Velcroed tab I could open to get to the adjuster wheel.

I don't see anything like that, is this tab on the chair or arm rest?  And where?
The selected media item is not currently available.
Douglas and Amanda
1997 40' U320 "Brawley"
2007 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
Motorcade #17266 Escapee #113692

Re: Arm rests - not level

Reply #3 –
On mine it was on the arm at the back where the arm attached to the chair.
It was a thumb wheel adjustment.
You may be able to feel the adjustment wheel through the leather on the bottom about an inch from the very back of the arm rest.
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Arm rests - not level

Reply #4 –
push the arm against the seat and lift up or down, I don't remember which and the arm will come off. There are screws that need to be tightened. They just go into wood so they don't stay in the proper position for long. I've got to take mine off again and see If I can do something permanent to them.
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk

Re: Arm rests - not level

Reply #5 –
Our coach came with FlexSteel captain's chairs, both of which did NOT have adjustable arms. We could not find a way to raise the arms.

We decided to purchase new FlexSteel chairs and specified adjustable arms and adjustable lumbar. We wanted the exact same model number that originally came with our coach because we knew it would fit and feel the same and would rotate in the same limited driver's space. Did not want any surprises with different chairs as to how they fit our body or how they were bolted to the floor.

Original coach is manufactured with floor supports matching original chairs. New chairs usually come with new bases that may be too tall and will require new floor holes that may be drilled where there is no steel safety support.

Our original bases are very low and may not be readily available as new, so we put new bearings rings in our original bases with new 6-way and new chairs on the old bases.

Re: Arm rests - not level

Reply #6 –
Douglas, I believe that I wold crawl up under the chair and find out who made it and hopefully a serial number, I'll bet it is a Villa. Nevertheless, call the customer service folks at the manufacturer and ask them how to adjust the arm rests. On my '94 U 240 with Villa chairs they were adjusted by raising the armrest all the way up, then pressing it toward the body of the chair and lowering it to he desired level then releasing the pressure inward.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: Arm rests - not level

Reply #7 –
Quote from: ScubaGuy –
The arm rests on both the drivers chair and passenger recliner are not level.  I would love to be able to fix this or at least make them more level.  They aren't off by a lot but it's enough be annoying.

I have the same furniture.  My arm rests are level but the internal padding under the leather is worn.  The chairs padding is worn also.  My recliner does not work correctly.  Seems like the mechanism is bent?

The Villa guy that was a friend of mine 20 years ago is still there according to their website.


Not sure if they rebuild stuff or even if its possible. Will check when I get off the current road trip.

Seperate issue:  my coach used to have a "dead" spot in the steering?  Wander? Does yours?

Mechanic fixed mine.  Hardly moves with opposite truck traffic.  Zero dead spot.

He changed the wheel seals and redid the wheel bearings tightness.  Every other part was exactly the same.  All the fancy thoughts and it was the tapered roller bearings adjustment.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Arm rests - not level

Reply #8 –
Pretty sure a call to Villa is going to be in order.  Pushing on the arm rest while in the up position, then rotation downward does something.  The arm rest won't travel as far downward before it stops.  But when you release the pressure, it goes back to it's normal operation.

I did however, use some dry lube and sprayed just about every thing that moved under each chair.  The leg rest now comes up for the first time, and all movement is much smoother, it's almost like having new chairs. ^.^d

Caflashbob ~ I'm really not sure.  I can't say I'm totally 100% happy with the way the coach drives.  Only in that the two coaches I looked at both owners really talked up the way they handle.  Yet there were a few white knuckle moments already.  That said I have nothing to compare it to.  The thought of getting an alignment has crossed my mind.  I think mine has "wet hubs" but I haven't pulled anything apart to look.  I don't think that would affect the wheel bearings? 
The selected media item is not currently available.
Douglas and Amanda
1997 40' U320 "Brawley"
2007 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
Motorcade #17266 Escapee #113692
 

Re: Arm rests - not level

Reply #9 –
Quote from: ScubaGuy –
Caflashbob ~ I'm really not sure.  I can't say I'm totally 100% happy with the way the coach drives.  Only in that the two coaches I looked at both owners really talked up the way they handle.  Yet there were a few white knuckle moments already.  That said I have nothing to compare it to.  The thought of getting an alignment has crossed my mind.  I think mine has "wet hubs" but I haven't pulled anything apart to look.  I don't think that would affect the wheel bearings?

You have a giant set of inner and outer tapered roller bearing in a oil bath enclosure.

My seal leaked so the wheel was covered in oil on our first drive.

Coach wandered, trucks pushed it around.  Had a definite "dead" spot. 

Different mechanic redid the right front wheel and did the left for the first time.

No wander, no "dead" spot, no movement with opposing truck traffic, even close just to test.  Every small movement of the wheel results in a exactly corresponding relationship.

Long stretches with tiny movements of the wheel needed to keep the coach straight.

Every part is the same other than the seals.  And the bearings were readjusted during reassembly. 

I have driven a bunch of new rigs that drove just like this one does now. 

My mechanic buddy is a long term Foretravel, country coach, and all high lines with 20 years experience.  Was Foretravel of California's top mechanic for many years. 

Not sure why Vince can adjust things better than most of the other mechanics or even if he did do this differently than others would have but the results pay the bills.

To redo this after no more leaks was my personal paranoia as the first mechanic used a seal that rides on the hub itself.  The correct way is to green Loktite a inner wear ring on the hub that the different larger ID seal actually rides on.  Versus wear the big steel arm itself. 

Correctly adjusted wheel bearings fixed my issues 100%. 

Drove two back to back 650 mile 80+ mph days in a row.  Not hard work.  Small pressure on the steering wheel corrected the coach.  Even low side winds hardly affected the coach anymore. 

Cm fore at the unihome introduction in oct 1987 mentioned the coach was done European style where they picked the tires first and built the coach around the tire characteristics.

Xca-1 pilots were the original equipement.  Mine has those tires still.

If someone like Barry beam wanted to test tires maybe switching my perfectly setup up coaches tires with a different set might show and change to the handling from switching tires away from the xca-1's

Did a lot of tire switching over the years to define handling issues.  Unihome with xca-1's and konis fixed all issues.

Was at 8 1/2 inch ride height on return to ride height checked ride height valves.  No sticking valves to confuse things.

A previous owner did the alignment that turns out to be correct now.

Not sure if my guy does the adjustment different from the "normal" but I can ask him...
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4