Rocking Chair Tuneup
March 2, 2019 9:48 AM Subscribe
Help me either fix my rocking chair (by tightening nuts?) or find someone who can.
Some years ago, my wife acquired a rocking chair someone had left on the curb. We don't use it much, but with a baby on the way that's likely to change. The issue with the rocking chair is that there's a hitch in the movement, when it's sort of the further point of its range of motion. Not a big deal, but enough to be annoying.
I think the problem is that the nuts holding the moving parts together have loosened over time. I've been able to hand-tighten a few of them, and that helps, but the back ones are in places that I don't know how to get at without detaching the chair from the base. (See above link for detailed views.)
So, am I on the right track that tightening the nuts is the way to go here? And do they need to be finger-tight, or more than that? And how do I access the ones at the back? Are there tools that I need? I'm thinking needle-nosed pliers maybe, but I'm sure there's something more appropriate.
Finally, if this is out of the range of something than can be easily done, how would I even find someone in Boston who could help me with this?
Some years ago, my wife acquired a rocking chair someone had left on the curb. We don't use it much, but with a baby on the way that's likely to change. The issue with the rocking chair is that there's a hitch in the movement, when it's sort of the further point of its range of motion. Not a big deal, but enough to be annoying.
I think the problem is that the nuts holding the moving parts together have loosened over time. I've been able to hand-tighten a few of them, and that helps, but the back ones are in places that I don't know how to get at without detaching the chair from the base. (See above link for detailed views.)
So, am I on the right track that tightening the nuts is the way to go here? And do they need to be finger-tight, or more than that? And how do I access the ones at the back? Are there tools that I need? I'm thinking needle-nosed pliers maybe, but I'm sure there's something more appropriate.
Finally, if this is out of the range of something than can be easily done, how would I even find someone in Boston who could help me with this?
A socket set that includes screwdriver bits is an even better all-purpose tool. Look for one that has 1/4" sockets, hex bits, and a hex-to-1/4" adapter. You can pick a set up for way less than paying someone for an hour of their time. Pliers would be the sort of kludge that's more likely to do damage to you or the chair.
posted by pipeski at 10:40 AM on March 2, 2019
posted by pipeski at 10:40 AM on March 2, 2019
Came here to say socket set. That hole should be wide enough to get a socket in. It may also be a case of things being a bit out of square so you might have to line it up as you tighten it.
I'm in the Boston suburbs (metrowest) and have a decent collection of tools and would be happy to assist if you want to bring it by. Just MeMail me. At least one former MeFi mod can probably vouch that I'm not a weirdo.
posted by bondcliff at 10:47 AM on March 2, 2019 [4 favorites]
I'm in the Boston suburbs (metrowest) and have a decent collection of tools and would be happy to assist if you want to bring it by. Just MeMail me. At least one former MeFi mod can probably vouch that I'm not a weirdo.
posted by bondcliff at 10:47 AM on March 2, 2019 [4 favorites]
I think your best bet is to take it to bondcliff.
Because the nuts are on bolts which are the pivot points of the rocker, and overtightening them could cause a range of problems all the way up to cracking one of the boards with rounded ends.
In fact my wild guess is that injudicious overtightening could be the ultimate source of the problem. The pivoting bolts probably move in a little metal tube inserted into the wood (a bushing), and an overtightened nut could cause the bolt to bind against the bushing, and in that case the bushing would start rotating in the wood, which, over time, would wear an oval hole in the wood, which in turn could cause the bolt and bushing to suddenly shift in the now oval hole at the end of the range of motion, giving rise to the hitch that you feel. You might need a bigger bushing or maybe just some wood shims to stabilize the bushing, but that's a very nice rocker, and I think it would be worth the effort.
posted by jamjam at 11:21 AM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
Because the nuts are on bolts which are the pivot points of the rocker, and overtightening them could cause a range of problems all the way up to cracking one of the boards with rounded ends.
In fact my wild guess is that injudicious overtightening could be the ultimate source of the problem. The pivoting bolts probably move in a little metal tube inserted into the wood (a bushing), and an overtightened nut could cause the bolt to bind against the bushing, and in that case the bushing would start rotating in the wood, which, over time, would wear an oval hole in the wood, which in turn could cause the bolt and bushing to suddenly shift in the now oval hole at the end of the range of motion, giving rise to the hitch that you feel. You might need a bigger bushing or maybe just some wood shims to stabilize the bushing, but that's a very nice rocker, and I think it would be worth the effort.
posted by jamjam at 11:21 AM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks y'all. Upon further testing I think tightening one of the front bolts a bit may gotten it into acceptable shape. I'll check with my wife, though, and if we have further concerns will definitely get in touch with bondcliff.
posted by serathen at 11:54 AM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by serathen at 11:54 AM on March 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
As far as accessing the lower bolts, see if they become accessible with the chair rocked all the way back or forward. If so, tip the chair over and manipulate the rocker mechanism to the same position to allow access. Depending on the situation, you may need to tip the chair forwards, backwards, or sideways for easiest access, but I'd expect that it would be possible to get a socket set in there somehow.
posted by yuwtze at 1:07 PM on March 2, 2019
posted by yuwtze at 1:07 PM on March 2, 2019
If the hitch is a result of the nuts loosening, as opposed to wear of the joints, application of a thread-locking compound like Vibratite or Loctite would prevent future looseness. Some of the compounds require that the nut & bolt be disassembled; others will wick into the threads. Note that there are different grades of both brands; some are semi-permanent and require high heat to loosen. You don't want any of those.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:50 AM on March 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:50 AM on March 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by supercres at 10:28 AM on March 2, 2019