Seat slides backward, seat adjustment Options

[Mike1981]

Hello

I just picked up a 1970 914
I was hoping for some advice please

I seems as if the clutch pedal must be depressed all the way to the floor to avoid grinding

However the seat is all the way back to the firewall

When I move the seat forward my legs can easily depress the pedal as well as the reach to the gearshifter is better.

The only problem I have is when pushing in on the clutch the seat detaches from its setting and slides all the way back

I took the seat out oiled the rails and it slides easily by hand

Once I put pressure on it, the seat will again snap out of it setting and slide back

Has anyone had this happen

Could anyone offer a solution?

Thanks

Mike

[Harpo]

Sounds like the teeth are not fully engaging. Pull the seat & the seat base out of the car so you can examine better

You will most likely need to adjust your clutch cable

David

[JawjaPorsche]

Agree on the clutch cable. If you ever had a 914 you will know that the cable can snap at the worse times.

Look at the cable near the tranny and check to see if it is fraying and ready to break.

Replacement is not that hard and we can walk you through it.

As for seat, here is link to remove the seat and check sliders:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...430&hl=seat

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[barefoot]

The seat adjustment lever is spring loaded so it will secure the seat in the chosen position once you release the adjust lever. One of mine was broken ( a lever type spring) so I replaced it with a small coil spring I had laying around and it now latches OK.
Remove the seat and you will see where the lever spring is supposed to go.
You can probably find a spring that will work on McMaster Carr.

New add:
BTW, there is a catch on the opposite side of the rtrack that prevents the seat from bieng fully slid off the track. gotta shove a long flat blade screwdriver down that track to dis-engage this spring loaded catch to allow full seat removal.
An alternate is to unscrew the 4 bolts that hold the seat mechanism to the floor, then you can see everything from the undeerside.
Barefoot

[Mike1981]

Thanks Everyone

For the advice the link and the pic.

I found the clutch cable under the car

I tightened it 3 turns but felt no improvement.

I will turn it a few more turns this weekend to see if the engagement point moves closer to the drivers position.

I agree I did remove the seat oiled it and replaced it

Maybe I did something wrong.

I will check the spring tension as well as alignment of the track

Thanks

Mike

[BeatNavy]

Just one random idea for the clutch:

You may also want to check to see if the clutch cable tube is coming loose from its welds. It runs through the center tunnel underneath the gear shift and back through the firewall. It's welded in two places to secure it in the tunnel (I believe) and one where it exits the firewall. When mine was giving way (one of the welds broke and eventually the sheet metal at the firewall cracked) I noticed I had to depress the clutch further to the floor. It's a common problem on these cars. When the last weld gives, you'll suddenly have no clutch. I agree the first check is the cable, but if that feels like it has no more than the required slack then I would look at the tube.

One way to easily check is to remove the carpet on the tunnel and lift out the access panel between the seats near the rear firewall. You can also remove the gear shift plate to see if that gives you a good view into the tunnel. Push the clutch while looking into the tunnel. You may see a tube move slightly. That's the clutch tube. If it moves "significantly" when you depress the clutch it's likely one or more of the anchor welds has failed. If that's the case, repair it before you're left high and dry somewhere.

Good luck, Mike.

[Mike1981]

I will check the Clutch cable tube as well

[Mike1981]

Hello

Well I checked for the clutch tube movement did not see any.

I crawled under the car

Grabbed the clutch cable with a set of vice grips to stop it from spinning

While I tightened the 2 nuts on the opposite side of the shifting fork.

I only have 3 more threads left

Jumped inside and the clutch feels much better.

I am still having trouble with the seat.

It is fine until pulling out of 1st the torque that throws me back overcomes the spring on the right side adjuster of the seat.

I took the seat out again and it seems to operate correctly

I replaced the seat and it slides up and back fine, it also locks into position.

But every time I shift and feel the cars torque the seat spring gives way and I slide back.

My foot becomes unsteady on the clutch and the car lurches

Does anyone know of a spring replacement number or model I could buy and put into my seat?

Thanks

Mike

[76-914]

Drill and pin it. Your the only driver, right?

[bdstone914]

Hello

Well I checked for the clutch tube movement did not see any.

I crawled under the car

Grabbed the clutch cable with a set of vice grips to stop it from spinning

While I tightened the 2 nuts on the opposite side of the shifting fork.

I only have 3 more threads left

Jumped inside and the clutch feels much better.

I am still having trouble with the seat.

It is fine until pulling out of 1st the torque that throws me back overcomes the spring on the right side adjuster of the seat.

I took the seat out again and it seems to operate correctly

I replaced the seat and it slides up and back fine, it also locks into position.

But every time I shift and feel the cars torque the seat spring gives way and I slide back.

My foot becomes unsteady on the clutch and the car lurches

Does anyone know of a spring replacement number or model I could buy and put into my seat?

Thanks

Mike

Mike,

I have replacement rails. Which one is it? With or without the handle?
Bruce

[Mike1981]

Hello

Well I checked for the clutch tube movement did not see any.

I crawled under the car

Grabbed the clutch cable with a set of vice grips to stop it from spinning

While I tightened the 2 nuts on the opposite side of the shifting fork.

I only have 3 more threads left

Jumped inside and the clutch feels much better.

I am still having trouble with the seat.

It is fine until pulling out of 1st the torque that throws me back overcomes the spring on the right side adjuster of the seat.

I took the seat out again and it seems to operate correctly

I replaced the seat and it slides up and back fine, it also locks into position.

But every time I shift and feel the cars torque the seat spring gives way and I slide back.

My foot becomes unsteady on the clutch and the car lurches

Does anyone know of a spring replacement number or model I could buy and put into my seat?

Thanks

Mike

Mike,

I have replacement rails. Which one is it? With or without the handle?
Bruce

Hello Bruce

It is the one with the handle

Thanks

Mike

[malcolm2]

a fresh one could solve the problem.

I have taken mine out several times. I have the opposite problem, the driver's seat just will not move. I am tall so back is good for me. I LET the wife drive the other day and it took alot of work to get it to move to the closest setting.... long story-short,

When you take your seat off of the rails, is there a leaf spring on one of the rails that is attached to the seat? that is what keeps the seat from adjusting all the way off (forward). And when pushed up it allows the seat to come off when adjusted all the way forward. Could be an issue if it is gone.

without having it in front of me, it seems that your HANDLE is not engaging in the holes once you set the seat. Does the handle have the little square blocks in it that go in the square holes?

Clark

[Mike1981]

Drill and pin it. Your the only driver, right?

That is not a bad idea, however I do like to slide the seat back to get in and out of my car

If I pin the position I would have to contort my legs to get into the seat.

As time goes by this becomes more painful


Thanks for the input

Mike

[Mike1981]

a fresh one could solve the problem.

I have taken mine out several times. I have the opposite problem, the driver's seat just will not move. I am tall so back is good for me. I LET the wife drive the other day and it took alot of work to get it to move to the closest setting.... long story-short,

When you take your seat off of the rails, is there a leaf spring on one of the rails that is attached to the seat? that is what keeps the seat from adjusting all the way off (forward). And when pushed up it allows the seat to come off when adjusted all the way forward. Could be an issue if it is gone.

without having it in front of me, it seems that your HANDLE is not engaging in the holes once you set the seat. Does the handle have the little square blocks in it that go in the square holes?

Clark

Hello Clark

I believe you are correct in saying "it seems that your HANDLE is not engaging in the holes once you set the seat"

Yes there is a leaf like spring on the outer rail beside the door.

I can reach under the rail and push it up and the entire seat slides off the rails and can be removed.

The opposite side has the handle that I reach for to adjust the position.

It also works as it should, I can slide the seat fore and aft and it finds a position,it behaves normally.

However this car is a renegade, with much more torque , so when shifting from 1st to 2nd the teeth on the left side rail are overcome and disengage.

I have been told the teeth wear out.

I am meeting John "Garland" this weekend, he lives by me and offered to help.

I'm already meeting many kind and giving people on this site.

Thanks for your help!

Mike

[Mike1981]

Hello Everyone

Well I got an email from a new friend I met on 914 world, Garland.

We met over at his house where he has a collection of 914's

His daily driver is in much better shape than mine, but he was very kind about it.

He helped me out by giving me a new seat rail.

We got it in and I drove it home

No more Sliding backwards!!

We took a look at the teeth on the rails I had, compared with Garland's, and they were simply worn out.

Simple fix and I feel much safer in my 914.

Hats off to you Garland!! Thanks Very Much!

Thanks for everyone's help on this

Mike