Footrest Won't Stay Closed on Recliner, Spring Broke, How to Repair Fix

A spring broke and came flying out from under my Southern Motion Recliner one day, and after that the footrest wouldn't stay closed and kept popping open. Here is how I fixed it.
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[@Dysthymia9]

Thank you so so so much! I am 68 years and my sister is 66 and I was able to fix her chair by following your easy to understand instructions. Thanks for helping two old ladies out! Love and Peace!

[@pattyoconnell1950s]

❤️ your video I’m staying at a friends home Dog sitting The recliner couch won’t close So I thought just maybe a spring came off like you showed. I look under and a dog tennis ball was blocking the recliner. And several kid darts I removed the dog tennis ball and the recliner shut perfectly. It would be terrible to dog sit and owner comes home to a broken recliner. And here is what is more amazing My friends daughter said before they left she couldn’t find the dogs ball…. So I guess I’m a great dog sitter after all.👍🐾🐾

[@williammchugh3659]

Thankyou so much for your advice and you tube video. The spring for the foot rest handle broke about a week ago on a chair we have had for about 6 years. I got the spring from Amazon, but had no idea where it went or how to put it on. You my friend are a life saver. The recliner is actually my wife's, so you really saved me.

[@herbgrant2877]

Thanks you for your help. Your advice and additional advice from another gentleman on KZbin to use a cord to pull the spring when installing the new spring as opposed to trying to use pliers to install the spring, together made it an easy task. Thanks again

[@PirateStu]

Yeah, the string trick is a good one!

[@Tyler-wf1nh]

Just what I needed. Had no idea where the spring went until I found the worn areas. Easy fix with the help.

[@dianaleigh5519]

Mid 60s living alone and your video was spot on Thank you It looked just likey chair Did it myself

[@davidgagnon4758]

You Rock Sir. I have been trying to figure this out for a while now. Once I saw your video it was in plain site

[@melissabrant748]

Thank you! I just purchased a used recliner which is comfortable but the footrest won’t lock down. I’ll be trying this solution. Thank you again

[@kathleenno5014]

Thanks man! Was able to fix my chair easy after your video!

[@kenschweim6159]

Thank you! Exactly what I needed. Took about 10 minutes to replace once I saw your video. I used paracord with a wood dowel on the end for a handle to pull the spring..

[@PirateStu]

Nice tip. Thanks!

[@paradox2-cb8yd]

Thanks! You helped me fix my chair!

[@ChristineHenry-g2d]

Thanks! Your video was perfect! simple and to the point. Appreciate the link to Amazon, just ordered 👍

[@PirateStu]

Glad you found it helpful and thanks for the Super!

[@BeardedBucc]

You are a saint! Those pictures of the mechanism looked like my drawing from kindergarten… chicken scratch. You helped me out a ton!

[@leysmed]

Thanks for taking the time to make this extremely helpful video. God only knows how long it would have taken me to figure this out without your video.

[@shannonboughner3221]

Thank you soooooooo much! It worked! They don’t make lay flat recliners anymore, so I am trying my best to keep this Southern Motion Tango recliner in working condition. This worked!!!!!

[@leahjensen863]

this video was great and concise! On my chair, one of the "notches" was actually closer toward the footrest and wasn't anchored to the wood frame if that helps anyone. Also, make sure your footrest is UP (or extended) so that when you put the spring on it will have very little tension.

[@craighamachek1199]

I wasn't certain about where to attach one end of the spring. Much to my surprise my recliner was made by Southern Motion and the framing was the same. The video was perfect for what I needed.

[@daveherrin2701]

Genius!!! Saved my old favorite recliner. And most auto parts stores have a selection of springs. Ty

[@beach376]

Thank you so very much for this accurate and repair...As long as you know where the spring belongs!

[@stefanieb9762]

This was so helpful, thank you! I used a piece of looped twine to pull the spring. Took me about a minute start to finish after finding this video

[@escrow5354]

Thanks for this video. I was having trouble figuring out where to attach the spring.

[@qsltv1466]

Great video! My chair is fixed ! Just a FYI I used vice grips to stretch the spring to reach the top hole . Be careful there is tension on the spring thanks again for this great repair information!

[@chipburke9196]

Thanks! This information was exactly right to fix my recliner!! Well done video!

[@davidcatlette9697]

Thank you ! Shows me everything I needed to know ! Very informative video !

[@kimrenner2417]

Thank you so much for this video. This helped a lot.

[@coryfisher4888]

Thank You! just fixed my mother's chair, she too has a Southern Motion chair

[@pillerga13]

Thank you for the video. It was very helpful!!

[@artemismoon7655]

Thank you! Mine broke and fell off today and it isn’t even in good enough shape to measure it. Knowing where it should go allowed me to measure that space so hopefully I will get the right size.

[@averagejoette1570]

Thank you for this video!! I just can't find the notch😢

[@fix-itbrothers1477]

Thanks man!!

[@richardthomas484]

Thank you just had to refresh how to hook the spring

[@chrismurphy9847]

Thanks for the video!!

[@davidguerra9754]

Excellent!

[@kaybell1950]

Thank you so much, just saved me $$$

[@VegaSnipe]

Hell yeah. Mine isn't quite like this one in the video, but it was close enough to be helpful. Thanks a ton.

[@PirateStu]

Glad it helped!

[@MrsRoses-mm8tx]

Thanks!!!!!

[@swilsonsmyname]

Trying to Figure out how to stretch the spring to hook it on. Do you close recliner foot rest or leave it open to attach it and do you attach the long end of spring ir short end first

[@PirateStu]

I put the short end on first and then use a screw driver by putting the tip at the other spring connection point, and then putting the spring over the screwdriver shaft and lifting it until the spring is stretched past the connection point and slides down the screwdriver shaft and onto the connection point. A lot of people like to use a string to put on one end of the string and then pull the springs and snap it on. That can work really well, although you may need one person to guide the spring on while you pull on both ends of the string or wire.

[@bennguyen1313]

My Ashley Recliner (4661425) appears to use *AT LEAST* 2 springs to keep the footrest closed.. but maybe 4... is that possible? One spring went flying off and is 4 5/8" long (11/16 coil diameter, 1 3/4" 20-turn coil body).. but there's another that's broken but looks like the standard 3 1/2" long spring. Despite the mechanical frame looking totally symetric, the 3.5" broken spring is only on the left side! And since the other broken spring that flew out looks different, not sure if the recliner uses 2 sets of each.

[@PirateStu]

I can't help you, but good luck figuring it out.

[@elisemoore3836]

Do you have an image of the other spring. Ours broke and can’t seem to figure where it goes

[@PirateStu]

Sorry, mine has multiple springs, so I don't know which spring you're talking about. Let the length of the old spring and the gap between holes guide you to the solution. Use the Force Luke...

[@kennethr.martin5960]

Thanks for the information, now where do I get a new spring LOL

[@PirateStu]

The link to purchase one is in the description below the video.

[@AllanEason]

Duuuuuude! I was so happy to hear you say it was made by Southern Motion. I looked around and completely overlooked the notched part. Easy peasy.

[@eileendipasquale1298]

I bought the replacement spring for my recliner, spent two hours trying to get it on. Still can't attach it. Anyone have some good suggestions how to attach it?

[@PirateStu]

You can wrap a string or shoe lace around the one end and pull it past the attachment point and then have someone guide it into place.

[@drc1004]

My recliner pops open when i sit down. Why’s that? How can i fix it?

[@PirateStu]

I don't know, but maybe you're probably missing a spring.

[@vernonwolley8991]

Where did you get the spring?

[@PirateStu]

The link for the spring is in the description.