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stuck driver's seat
Posted: 01 Nov 2014 17:30
by gregory
Hi,My driver's seat is stuck in the runners,I can't slide it forward,is it posible to unbolt the runners.I bought the car recently and I don't have a manual yet.Also,can the rubber headlamp surrounds be refitted without removing the headlights,Cheers.Bob
mat
Posted: 01 Nov 2014 18:09
by nick
Yes to both of those. The rails come off with 4 bolts. There are spacer underneath so pay attention where they go. If the seats will not move at all it could be the release mechanism is not working. I took the seats off the rail and applied liberal amounts of WD 40 inside the mechanism and not they work fairly well.
The rubber surrounds comes off with 4 screws each. On the backs of the surround, where they mate to the pod there are 4 washers that should be imbedded in the rubber. Usually these come out and have to be re embedded. Without them the screws will not hold the surround in place. I used Shoe Goo on mine and that seems to hold them in place reasonably well.

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC
Posted: 01 Nov 2014 18:45
by sonscar
Catch 22.I found that you needed to move the seats back and forward to access the bolts.Go carefully as I found the bolts can be rusted into the captive nuts in the chassis sections.Sit on the seat,operate the lever and push/pull hard.Good luck,Steve..
Posted: 01 Nov 2014 20:11
by tr7jim
Mat
You should be able to get to the front or rear pair of the torque head or allen key heads. When these two are released you most likely get movement then so you can get to the other ones moving the seat.
One of the rear ones goes through the floor so would be good to wire brush and lubricate.
Jim
Posted: 01 Nov 2014 21:39
by jclay (RIP 2018)
Headlights:
Turn on the headlights to get them in the raised position. Disconnect the battery without turning off the head lights. This will leave the light units up. Danger! Danger! Will Robertson! Do not hook the battery up again until you are totally finished working on the light pods or you could loose a finger or two!
http://www.jclay.me/jclay/Head_Light_Surround.html
You do have to be able to move the seat back and forward to get to the bolts holding the seat rails to the floor. I suggest using PB Blaster and freeze off to loosen the bolts up. You can use PB Blaster Penetrating spray on the rail assemblies to try and break them loose.
Clay
[url="http://www.jclay.me/"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://www.triumphtechnical.me"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B8MWEvqOpX3udEF4SmFQUW9RS09hbU5uNW5Wd0xrUQ/edit"]My Public Folder[/url],
Posted: 02 Nov 2014 06:02
by gregory
hi thanks for the help ,especially the light trck.Mat
mat
Posted: 02 Nov 2014 12:17
by FI Spyder
If you don't have an OEM manual, you can down load it in pdf from jclay's web site.
As mentioned you will have to move the seats back and forth to get at the bolts so will have to use penetrating oil to free it first. Then take the seats out to flush the rust etc. out and lube them. My seat runners/bolts were like new except for one that was rusted in (it's the law)[:p]. It took me a week of penetrating oil, soaking, moving that bolt in and out (initially had no movement) before I got it out but there was no way I was going to break the bolt off in the nut.
- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

Posted: 02 Nov 2014 12:51
by tr8
I had the same problem on one of my cars. I used a slide dent puller to pull each side free. You have to rig up some way to attach it to the top part of the seat/runner area one side at a time. Penetrating oil on the slides and make REALLY SURE that the lever to disengage the slides is pulling free of the slides (look under the seat to verify). A second set of hands will help here. To remove the bolts get a socket attachment with the right head or risk stripping the heads of the bolts.
Paul
Posted: 02 Nov 2014 13:48
by saabfast
When you put them you back make sure you use Copperease grease on the bolts so it is easier next time!
Alan
Saab 9-5 2.3t Vector Auto Estate
'81 TR7 DHC

Posted: 02 Nov 2014 14:24
by darrellw
Make sure you are getting enough travel to release the lock mechanism on the seat slides. The bar that goes across underneath the seat is a tube, and the ends that go over the actual release latches can stretch and make it hard to get enough travel to release the mechanism.
Darrell Walker
66 TR4A IRS-SC CTC67956L
81 TR8 SATPZ458XBA406206
Vancouver, WA, USA
Posted: 02 Nov 2014 14:42
by gregory
Hi been working on the seat ,,my problem is ,the wiring for the seatbelt warning light is trapped in the runner.it was disconnected.I will get a torx socket set ,seems to be the cause.thanks again
mat