In detail: sofa mechanism, DIY repair book from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
A sudden breakdown of the sofa transformation mechanisms can cause a lot of trouble for the owner. Squeaks, distortions, the inability to unfold and fold the sofa, sleep disturbances constantly remind us of the urgency of urgent repairs. You can, of course, contact the master and call a professional to fix everything, but often these breakdowns of the transformation of sofas can be corrected with your own hands. We will consider the main types of breakdowns and options for their solution in this article.
Today, furniture production has a large number of types and types of mechanisms. The photo below shows only some of them (the most common):
The click-gag mechanism has three positions, one reclining and two for sitting. It is usually installed on modern lamella-type models.
Meralax is one of the reliable French clamshell layout mechanisms. Has an orthopedic effect in two versions - lamellar and metal weaving.
The dolphin mechanism is exactly the option that combines compactness and convenience. A seat is attached to the side parts of the frame, pulling the mechanism out of the niche "towards itself" to the upper horizontal position for the transverse bar and we get a full-fledged berth.
This is the simplest of all existing mechanisms. In high-quality performance, it is stable and durable, but, as a rule, the metal from which it is made leaves much to be desired.
Mechanism "accordion" - one of the most popular mechanisms for transforming sofas, has three positions of the layout.One part is motionless, the other two have movable parts fixed with locks.
Now it is installed mainly on modern models of upholstered furniture.
Video (click to play). |
You can also familiarize yourself with other types of sofa transformation mechanisms in the article Overview of sofa transformation mechanisms.
The models shown in the photo have their own individual characteristics. Here, not only the angle of inclination plays a role, affecting the lowering and lifting of the weight, but also the material from which they are made.
Many manufacturers use thin-walled metal and very low quality rivets for these mechanisms, because of this, furniture becomes unusable in a very short time.
If it is not possible to replace the broken mechanisms with new ones, you can make repairs at home. Of course, it is not always possible to do everything as it should, but it is quite possible to extend and give a "second" life to furniture.
So, what in these mechanisms can be repaired at home:
- Replace battens, nets and lamellas.
- Replace springs, rivets.
- Strengthen the frame by welding.
- Replace rollers.
Before proceeding with the repair, you need to determine the extent and cause of the breakdown. As a rule, it is mainly the rivets of the guide bar that are bolted to the frame of the sofa that break here. They fly out completely or a depletion appears, leading to an increase in the gaps.
For work we need tools:
- Drill or screwdriver
- Rivets
- Hammer
- Anvil or any other massive stand
It is necessary to rigidly fix the mechanism on the surface of the table, for example, with the help of clamps.We drill a broken rivet with a drill, starting with a small drill and gradually moving to the desired size.
To select the required drill diameter, measure the riveting size and thickness with a vernier caliper. We insert into the hole, with the hat down, and the part that will be riveted should look up.
If it is not possible to repair the mechanism with rivets, the bar can be fixed with a bolt and nut.
Here it is very important to choose the right length so that the bolt does not rest on the frame from the inside, because it will not be very convenient to cut it after installation!
This design has a number of small details that affect the correct layout of the sofa. Naturally, the repair will have its own difficulties, but with the right approach, this issue can also be resolved.
The figure shows the main elements of the "accordion" (its most vulnerable parts), since they are the ones that carry the main load.
After the expiration of the operating time, some of them require, at best, repair, and at worst - replacement.
The rollers must be replaced... At home, you can change the polyurethane base of the wheel by choosing the desired size (height). Having drilled out the mounting axle, it can be replaced with a regular bolt with two nuts for better wheel fixation.
Due to their rigidity and strength, beech lamellas are almost impossible to break, although there are exceptions to the rule. Basically, the fasteners that "hold" the lamella break.
The photo shows that the lamella insert is attached to the metal frame with rivets.
In specialized stores, almost all furniture fittings are sold, including the "pockets" we need.
To replace them, we need a drill, with which we need to drill out the rivets. We check their width and thickness so that there are no unnecessary gaps.
Riveting can be done with smaller and larger hammers or with a riveting tool.
But the best option for installing the lamella holder is a regular bolt and nut.
Today the mechanisms "Click Klyak" in terms of the quality of operation leave much to be desired. Manufacturers do not pay much attention to strength, relying on a large area of the frame (the larger the area, the more stable the product).
The body bends in places of localization of weight, since it is made of sheet iron, from this the transformation lock itself breaks.
Making repairs at home can be very problematic; only a complete replacement is possible.
In order for the mechanism to serve for a long time, it is necessary to lubricate the rubbing joints in time.
They are shown with arrows in the figure below.
A common cause of breakdown and rapid failure of the mechanism is the fastening bolts tightened at the wrong time between the wooden frame and the mechanism.
During operation, large gaps appear, which lead to distortions and depletion.
The pull-out mechanism of the sofa is one of the most durable and reliable structures, but, as it turned out, it can become unusable in a very short time.
The reason for this fragility is in poor-quality layout elements, in particular, in the rollers. For reliable disassembly and assembly of the mechanism, the rollers must rotate easily and slide freely over the surface.
Watch a video of how a home craftsman changes the guide roller of a sofa with Dolphin mechanism:
In this article, only the main reasons and options for breakdowns of the transformation mechanisms of sofas were described, which, without special preparation, can be performed by almost any owner.
You should always remember what to produce overhaul only a trained specialist with the necessary set of tools will be able to lay out the sofa. He will always be able to accurately determine and eliminate the cause of the breakdown at a quality level.
Without proper experience, such a repair can lead to even greater malfunctions, therefore, if a problem is found, carefully study the cause of the breakdown of your favorite sofa, evaluate the complexity of the structure and your strength, as well as if you still decide to repair the mechanisms of the sofa with your own hands , be very responsible about the process itself.
The sofa has become a completely ordinary element of the room, and this is quite natural, because you can sit on it, sleep, spend evenings with friends, and so on. But what if you broke down? What to do if you need to repair the mechanism of the "book" sofa with your own hands? Do not worry, there is a solution, since the repair is quite simple.
Before proceeding with the repair, let's look at the details of the sofa, as well as their purpose. The sofa consists of the following elements:
- The armrest can be made of wood, MDF, chipboard, metal, it can be soft.
- Upholstery leather or fabric - there is a wide variety of upholstery materials, both natural and synthetic.
- A layer of batting or padding polyester.
- Foam rubber in sufficiently high-quality sofas is used for furniture, with a density of at least 35 mm.
- Polyurethane foam pads are not used in all models. It serves for additional cushioning, as well as distribution of weight, thanks to such inserts, the surface of the sofa shows orthopedic properties.
- Spring block, which is the main shock-absorbing element of the structure.
- Felt or burlap prevents unpleasant sounds from rubbing plywood against metal.
- Fiberboard serves as the basis for the sofa mattress.
- The frame of the sofa may well be made of wood, chipboard or metal.
- The roller rail can be located on the bottom of the bed box and be either metal or wood.
- Niche or box for bedding.
Important! Features and designs may vary slightly, but these elements will be in place. Therefore, when you take apart your sofa, you will know the purpose of one or another of its parts.
If the transformation mechanism is defective and needs to be replaced, get the type that you originally had. Other types of mechanisms are not interchangeable because they simply will not work.
To repair the mechanism of the "book" sofa with your own hands, you need to disassemble the furniture:
- Dismantling the sofa begins directly with the armrests. In certain models, they are combined with the legs, while in others, they are separate from the legs. In the first case, place a wooden bar under the base of the sofa so that it hangs from one end. This way you do not have to tighten the bolts of the other side elements. The sides are attached with two bolts. To get to them, you need to raise the sofa seat or pull out the retractable part - it depends on the design of the sofa.
- As soon as you dealt with the armrests, remove the transformation mechanism. To do this, use a screwdriver or screwdriver, drill. It is attached with one part to the frame itself, and the other directly to the seat and back. In an ordinary sofa-book it will not be difficult - you just need to turn the seat, as well as the backrest with the soft part directly to the floor. The access to the mechanism is completely freed.
Important! In the course of work, we take pictures or write down which mechanism, in which place it was.
To repair the transformation mechanism, you will need:
- Flat and Phillips screwdrivers;
- Pliers;
- Set of open-end wrenches, sizes 8/10 and 12/14;
- Set of staples and stapler 10 and 16 mm;
- PVA or carpentry glue;
- Scissors;
- Hammer, electrician's knife;
- Self-tapping screws 35 - 45 mm;
- If you have a drill or screwdriver, put it in sight.
In order to repair the mechanism of the sofa, remove it and determine further the level of damage:
- If the fittings are intact, it is likely that it will be enough to lubricate the units with machine oil and develop them.
- You can replace the spring if it is damaged. If it is overstretched, try shortening it a little.
- The transformation mechanism is deformed or burst directly - get an identical one and install it.
back to content ↑
With the repair of the frame, everything will be much more complicated, but everyone can do it. If there are broken or cracked frame elements, they must be replaced:
- To do this, measure their exact parameters, sketch their appearance and, taking the money, go to the nearest construction hypermarket or carpentry shop. There is a department that will cut the frame element you need. Replace element, screw and glue other attachment points. When doing this, pay special attention to the plywood that is under the spring block.
- If some part of the frame “walks”, fix it with self-tapping screws instead of nails and glue it with PVA glue.
- If there is an unpleasant creak when you sit on the sofa disappears, collect and use for your own pleasure.
back to content ↑