How To Open Recliner With Broken Handle

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Recliners are perfect when you need to unwind after a busy day as they treat you to enhanced comfort. They provide support for your body while you watch TV, read, play games, and more. But to enjoy these benefits for extended periods, you need to care for the faults that arise.

One common challenge I intend to cover below is how to open recliner with a broken handle.

You remove a recliner arm by disconnecting the nuts and bolts on it. Alternatively, you fix a broken handle on a recliner by replacing the cable. That said, you recline a couch without a lever by using a leverless model.

Table of Contents

How to Open Recliner With Broken Handle

Gather the equipment you’ll need to do the replacement. You need a wrench or pliers and a screwdriver to remove the old handle. The process is quick if you have everything ready.

How Do You Remove a Recliner Arm?

With all set, proceed by:

Remove the bolts and nuts from the chair’s back. If you’re doing this with a wrench, ensure it doesn’t slide from your hands. If there are numerous screws, tighten them all evenly since if you make a mistake, getting the chair back into shape may be tricky.

Carefully lift one side of the seat off the ground to have both sides up. Next, pull back from the gap at the front. Don’t pull excessively, or the recliner may break.

Once it’s split, you should see a long bolt on the inside that slips into holes on the exterior and needs unfastening. Ensure you don’t lose these because they’re crucial to the operation of your recliner arm.

Remove the seat from the chair by disassembling it from the inside. At this point, your arm should be free.

The next step involves putting the handle back on.

Replacing the escutcheon (protective cover underneath the handle) comes first.
Next, install the new lever over it. Check that you have things in the right spot and that the handle works.
Fix back and tighten the screws. Put the cover back on your chair if it doesn’t have screws.
Lastly, flip the recliner.

How Do You Fix a Broken Handle on a Recliner?

Another way to fix the handle is as simple as the first hack above. Before you begin, you should order a new cable, pliers, and a screwdriver.

Gently loosen the handle screws with a screwdriver. When unfastening the screws, don’t twist them out of the screw hole, as you’ll need to replace them.
Flip the chair over or lean it against a wall to easily reach the region beneath.
With the cover removed, you’ll notice a cable extending from the handle with a holder clip. Squeeze the cable holder and pull it out.
Pull out the cable from the actuator’s hole.
Slide the new cable into the hole, then its head, before closing the lid.
Return the screws to their original positions using your screwdriver. Ensure tightness.
Then, return the chair to its upright position and test the handle.

Want to learn more? Here is the step-by-step guide on how to fix a recliner pull handle.

How Do You Recline a Couch Without a Lever?

There isn’t a way to recline your couch without a lever unless it operates in that manner. So, if your lever isn’t working, you have to fix it first.

That said, you can recline without a lever on lever-less versions. When you lean back in your chair, the frame pushes back to enable reclining.

The stress on the springs alleviates as you lean forward, and they return to their original position. The chair then moves back in place.

FAQs

Can You Replace a Handle on a Recliner?

There is no need to call a repair service or getting a new recliner chair—you can replace the handle on a recliner and save big.

Replacement handles are available from many chair manufacturers and third-party providers. Plus, you only need basic tools to replace the arm.

How Do You Replace a Spring Handle on a Recliner?

Like most chair repairs, you replace a spring handle on a recliner, starting by overturning the furniture.

With an adjustable wrench, loosen the recliner spring holding bolts.
Next, remove the bolts and detach the spring from your footrest.
Attach the new spring to the footrest.
Afterward, attach the spring to your recliner and tighten the bolts.
Flip your recliner and test.

How Do You Fix a Recliner That Won’t Open?

Based on your recliner, various issues deter operation. You fix a recliner that won’t open by replacing the problematic components, which may be:

A broken handle
Missing bolts
Broken springs
Broken cable
Spoilt motor

Conclusion

Instructions on how to open a recliner with a broken handle aren’t hard to follow. That doesn’t mean you should be messing around with your recliner. You only need to have a keen eye on the above instructions to have everything correctly done.

Also, be extra careful with the recliner handle. While most recliners feature high-quality handles, they can break if mishandled. For instance, allowing children to make the handle a toy or turn your chair into a trampoline will definitely cost you in the long run.

Author

Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith is the founder of CozySeating, is a father of 2, and an engineer from one of the leading furniture stores in the country. Due to his 10 years of experience, he has proved to be the best person to offer advice to clients regarding different seating furniture based on their needs and performance. Besides, he is a specialist in product reviews and always keeps up with the current trends in the market.

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