Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 12, 2025 ...

passenger seat arm rest removal

September 07, 2015, 02:24:19 pm

I have a Villa leather seat, 2001.
  I am having sheepskin covers installed on the seat and need to remove the arm rests. I pulled the leather cover back on the arm rest and cut through the foam and was hoping to find a bolt. No such luck. There is a metal brace that runs the length of the arm rest with wood surrounding it. There is a metal shaft from the arm rest to the seat frame so the arm rest can pivot.
The arm rest is up against the seat frame so tight that you can barely see the metal shaft. I'm unable to figure out how it connects and dis-connects.
Any help is appreciated. Villa is closed for the holiday.

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #1 – September 07, 2015, 02:36:03 pm

The right arm of the pilot's chair in my 1999 40ft U320 still for sale (see the classifieds for info - see our FT at Bernd's shop) was welded to the rod that allowed the arm to be rotated up and ease the exit of us old folks. Don't ask me how I know ;o)

best, paul

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #2 – September 07, 2015, 03:13:42 pm

Don't know if it applies to your chair but the arms of our Flexsteel chairs can be removed by pushing the arm inward toward the chair back and then rotating the arm up while holding it in until you clear the stop detent. Then straight out away from the back .with the arm--continue rotating until a gentle tug pulls the arm out of the hole.

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #3 – September 07, 2015, 03:37:20 pm

Paul, thanks, I know it pivots, its the separating the arm rest from the chair frame I'm having trouble with.

Nitehawk, thanks I tried that method and got no results. Guess I just have to wait and call Villa tomorrow.

It's too hot out to work anyway.

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #4 – September 07, 2015, 04:29:33 pm

My reply addressed that issue, Jon.

My arm rest was welded to a rod in the chair (the rod was supported by the chair frame). THAT ROD rotated.

In my case the arm rest simply fell off one day. I thot the welding was poorly done (I'm an old unreconstituted structural engineer ;o)

Bernd had it repaired.

best, paul

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #5 – September 07, 2015, 05:23:41 pm

Had the same challenge. Hopefully you can view the attachment, if not google "flexsteel arm rest removal" Once you see it apart you understand how it works. Good luck.

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #6 – September 07, 2015, 05:46:28 pm

Jon:
Not sure this will help but I've had to readjust or remove an armrest in two coaches ... one being our 2012 Nimbus with Villa Seats... with the same mechanics.
Rotate the armrest 180 degrees backwards ... i.e. pointing to the rear of the coach. Ours have a metal pin pushed through the rod running into the seat back. Hard to get to and grab with vice grips. It can fall out too.

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #7 – September 07, 2015, 06:09:07 pm

Jee whiz this seat is hard to work on. Paul I did see where the shaft moves with the arm rest. Still could not find the right combination of wiggling, pushing, pulling and swearing to get the arm off. As the arm goes up it gets tighter and tighter against the side of the seat. Almost no wiggle when straight up and when shoved all the way back. (approx. 15 degrees)
Ron, thanks for the diagram. Although this is a Villa seat I figured it was worth trying the Flexsteel method. No dice.
Doug, this seat is older than yours and only goes maybe 15 degrees from straight up towards the rear. I couldn't see much of the shaft to tell if they use a pin or some other device to hold it in place.
I've been hoping the darn thing would just fall off. No such luck.

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #8 – September 07, 2015, 07:41:02 pm

Jon:
I installed a sheepskin seat cover that I bought on Amazon and did not need to removed the arm rests.  It fits down the middle of the seat only. A little bit fiddly to install but I love it.

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #9 – September 07, 2015, 07:51:57 pm

Jon:
This is what I bought at Amazon.
Eurow Genuine-Australian-Sheepskin-Sideless seat cover ... $98.95
Doug

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #10 – September 07, 2015, 09:23:11 pm

The armrest on my 03 Villa seat has a zipper on the back of the arm. Unzip and expose the pivot point. I hope my photo shows a plastic "C" shaped piece that can be pried out from the top. Once out the arm will slide off. I hope the photos help. If better photos are needed let me know and I will try to get better ones. Good Luck!

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal

Reply #11 – September 07, 2015, 09:26:37 pm

Ok I forgot photos.

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Re: passenger seat arm rest removal (update, sucess)

Reply #12 – September 08, 2015, 03:56:34 pm

Finally got them off. Of course I had to take it to Villa in Cerritos and Mike showed me how to remove them. This particular seat was only used one or two years. It helps if two people do the removal.
Have two people on opposite sides of the seat with one holding the seat steady while the other on the opposite side raises the arm rest straight up and push in at the pivot point with their knee and move the arm rest to the rear. Pushing in with the knee and pushing the arm rest clockwise you will feel it give and the arm rest go horizontal and the shaft releases from the seat. It's not as easy as it sounds, but it is doable.

If you have a question or need help (like I did) Mike at Villa is the one to contact. Good company, good service.

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