La-z-boy Drive Toggle Clevis Install Setup

[@TheInternetwatcher]

You're not kidding when you say this is a level 4 difficulty repair. I was able to fix my Mom's chair with my Dad's help. I watched your video and someone else's video and it still took us about two hours to complete. Was fun and interesting repair though.

[@johnclouston4334]

Thanks for your this video. (I referred to another of your recliner repair video's as well). I found them invaluable. I added the extra plastic bearings as you recommended. I also picked up an 18 inch piece of 3/8" square rod at a local metal supply store, which made the job easier. I agree that the level of difficulty is "a solid 4" out of 5.

[@davidcollins4079]

Great video. Thanks. As another poster said, there is another toggle drive that does not require removal of the shaft. Much easier. My issue was parts had broken and disconnected, and I was not sure how they all mated together. Once I saw your video, problem solved.

[@felinehermetica]

Oh wow I can't thank you enough for this video..it's so thorough and easy to understand.. It's 4am..my grandmother is away for the weekend and I'm going to have to have these parts at least ordered before she gets back so I don't feel awful about my son breaking her chair...funny that this is now a metal part...it took half a second for him to shatter these pieces...I can't believe they're plastic. 🙄

[@mlawdawg6630]

Nice videos and calm, relaxed demeanor. The drive rod removal was a bugger for me until I got my son the tap it while I held the plastic part and levered against one of the brackets that kept moving and preventing the rod from sliding through. Hard to explain, but the drive rod on my chair required some pretty vigorous tapping of a long screwdriver with my hammer. I still have to go back and figure out the position of the springs and the metal piece the spring attaches to, as it fell off when I removed the springs for access and pushed the rods through. I saw one iy who had an extra drive rod so he could push the old far enough out while keeping all parts lined up. But most consumers like me won't have that, nor did I have something long enough to push the rod far enough while also retaining the parts in place. Plus on my chair you have to remove all the staples along the bottom so the leather can be rolled down and the drive rod accessed to tap through. What a joke. I'd never buy one of these POS again. I did see Amazon selling two metal replacement parts, probably like something someone describes below. But La-z-boy shop sent me the one piece just like in the video.

[@joshuahorton3927]

Much appreciated. This got me where I needed on my repair.

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@Joshua Horton - You're welcome -- good job!

[@chuckford5084]

I replaced the clevis on my electric Lazy Boy recliner this weekend. Thanks to your video all went well but for one issue which I believe was present before the clevis replacement. The foot rest when retracted does not draw tight to the rest pocket in the frame, it has a 2'' gap. I can push it closed with one finger (no resistance), remove my finger and the rest drifts forward. Other than this, the chair works flawlessly. the rest when activated, rises to the full extended position with no jerks ,bumps or noises.

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@Chuck Ford - It's possible that your footrest actuator was damaged when the old plastic mechanism parts failed, preventing it from retracting fully. Or, if it does have its full-range of motion, you may be correct. There may be something else wrong that's unrelated to the Clevis install.

[@chuckford5084]

@@reclinerrepairguy4155 Based upon your experience, would you dare a guess as to what it could be? The scissor mechanism dose not appear to be damaged or bent. It almost acts like it needs additional spring assistance to pull it the last little bit. I double checked your video to make sure that I installed the 2 vertical springs correctly and I did. PS: Thank you for your earlier response.

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@@chuckford5084 - Nothing comes to mind, other than what I already mentioned. I'd have to inspect the chair to make a determination.

[@RichardThompson-gc1cf]

What type or stock number lazy boy electric. Chair would recommend?

[@jeffweaver8927]

Does this part also work on a rocker recliner.

[@chriscordeiro8173]

I believe i need part 8 on the assembly. What is that called?

[@GeeseFX]

Hey Recliner Repair Guy. Question. I have a recliner I just got (hand me down) and I notice in the lower back (the bottom cushion area) it's feeling pressure and uncomfortable. I looked back there and there's a board holding the chair together I assume going cross ways right where my lower back is, and instead of it being flat (the wide part of the board) against where my back would be, it's actually the edge of the board instead which make no sense to me as far as comfort would go. So it's digging into my back. Not comfortable. I tried putting a throw pillow in between but that just makes the bottom stick out more. Is there a fix for this? It almost seems like a poor construction. Why on God's green earth would someone install a couch back with a skinny edge of a board as the only support on the lower back cushion of a recliner? Is there something missing? Maybe some cushion or something fell out? I don't see evidence of a cushion ever being back there. Anyway just wondering if this is something that can be fixed because otherwise I don't think I'm going to be keeping this recliner.

[@billfifield8794]

Would of been nice to see how the drive shaft is removed

[@gailwheelock9423]

cannot get screws broke loose any ideas?

[@nealrobinson1507]

I am having trouble with a rod that is fastened on each side of chair with a screw and a little piece that the screw goes through the outside my foot piece has dropped down on one side

[@felinehermetica]

I'll be using this video today, thank you sir. If I didn't have this, either my grandmother would be spending 160 bucks an hour for a service call or I would be attempting to reverse engineer a lazyboy. Why in the world did they make that part plastic?????? I'm completely baffled as to why that was the best they could come up with.

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@notthesun - Name brand furniture -- La-z-boy & other name brands -- is not high quality furniture. They are not trying to make the best furniture possible.

[@my2cents.4677]

Thank you for your extremely useful and clear tutorials. I recently broke the plastic motor clevis mount and the plastic drive toggle on my La-z-boy reclining chair. I did order on-line an aluminum drive toggle that clamps on the square drive rod (not requiring a removal of the square drive rod), and an aluminum clevis mount. Had it not been for a very shoddy finishing of the drilled holes through these 2 parts (I had to re-drill them with a slightly larger drill bit to allow the pins through), the replacement could have been done in 15 minutes. I do not know if I got a random subpar kit or if such unconscionable marketing is common, but had I not been equipped to finish-up the holes, these new parts would have been totally useless. Once the pins could go through, the repair was quite simple and my foot-rest is working again. I wonder why La-z-boy did not replace their cheap plastic parts with this clamping mechanism that is so much easier to install. Thank you again.

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@daniell.4677 - Another related question is: Why did La-z-boy use plastic parts on their mechanisms in the first place? I suppose it comes down to who is in charge of product design & development at the time.

[@my2cents.4677]

@reclinerrepairguy4155 - "who is in charge" or, rather "what" is in charge... "what" being the bottom line or planned obsolescence. Another explanation could be that the design and development boss was a genuine "lazy boy"... Cheers.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

$ BTW, I have BOTH TAGS off the bottom of our love seat, is there a WAY to get a parts illustration that will identify the part name and part number where I can order the correct part?? @@reclinerrepairguy4155

[@freeguy101]

I need the part that the toggle rod goes into that is what has broken on my chair and I can not find out what it is called or a diagram. Please help.

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@cindyslayyy - Email me a photo of the part you need & I'll try to help -- [e-mail]

[@tommertes3055]

Any idea why I can't find the video you mentioned "Plastic Drive Toggle Replacement?"

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@Tom Mertes - There are a few more videos related to this repair that are on the ReclinerRepairGuy.com website.

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

Important update! The design for this metal part has been changed/updated since this video was posted. The newest version of this part is installed in a similar manner, with the "legs" of the part pointing to the rear of the chair. However, if you install it upside down, the footrest will not open all the way. The key is there's a flat spot on the edge of the legs. The flat spot needs to be on top (facing up) -- I believe. This will put the part in its proper orientation, allowing it to work properly.

[@JolineRichard]

Your video did not show how to get the clevis on the shaft. I saw another video where I have to remove the upholstery to get to the shaft. I just want to make sure this is the proper way .

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@@JolineRichard - Correct, this video does not show how to install the part on the Drive Rod. The outside arm upholstery will have to be taken loose on one side & the Drive Rod will have to be partially removed to install the Clevis & Bearings.

[@tmuskrat57]

I am having an issue with the drive rod coming out. I have everything disconnected and the upholstery loose on one side. What is the problem or best way to get the drive rod out?

[@richardbarkley9909]

We are needing this part replaced. Our local La Z Boy repair guy who we have used before says the parts will be $20 and a service call will be $180, and labor to do the job will be another $200-Does this sound right??

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@Richard Barkley - Rates can vary widely. I don't know how far the tech is traveling to reach you, or how much overhead his business may have, etc. For example, if the tech is working for a service center or dealer, they set the rates. As an independent tech with little overhead, I charge $95 (+ tax) for labor for this repair. And at the moment, La-z-boy is not charging me for the parts here in Ohio (for consumers with warranty part coverage), so no extra charge for parts. However, I don't do this repair in-home. So, the customer would have to pay for pickup & delivery or bring the chair to me for repair. So, if you're able to transport your recliner to the repair tech's work shop (& pick it up), you should be able to save $180.

[@campingtraveling5296]

Good video, I am having problems getting through to La-z-boy to buy the metal clevis kit and schematic. Where do you suggest I buy ? Thanks.

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@Camping Traveling - It can take some time for manufacturer reps to get back with you. They are swamped with part requests. I recommend contacting them via their contact form on their website. Say something like, "I need replacement parts for my La-z-boy recliner, can you help?" While you're waiting for a response, you can also try contacting local La-z-boy dealers in your area to find out if they stock the kit, or whether they can place a part order for you. And by the way, if you are the original owner of the chair, the parts should be covered by warranty.

[@swantogoodness8271]

Is it a lifetime warranty on parts? My chair is 4 years old.

[@tommyis13]

Have you seen the new design from Lazy-Boy, no more pulling staples or pulling the drive rod out, it's a split design that clamps over the drive rod with split bushings too, 10 minute fix.

[@reclinerrepairguy4155]

@Mick Broomhall - I had a customer bring in a kit similar to what you describe. The metal parts that replace the plastic Drive Toggle looked like they could work. But the split bushings broke into 2 pieces when I tried to expand them to place them around the Drive Rod. The bushing (bearing) design is not good, and I recommended not using them. But the design of the replacement Drive Toggle looked ok. This kit, if it's the same one you describe, is not from La-z-boy. It was made by someone else.

[@tommyis13]

@Recliner Repair Guy I work for a big retail furniture store in Tulsa in their repair shop. I have installed these new designed replacements In a few customer chairs now, not had one issue with the split bushings breaking. These things save so much time!

[@chriscrawford1958]

@@tommyis13 I’m in OKC! I’m finding the one piece fix for about $15, but the two piece metal kit is around $100! Have you found them for a better price anywhere?

[@tommyis13]

@Chris Crawford Hey Chris. I haven't looked for the 2 piece, I just install the parts, the 1 piece drive toggle is quite an easy repair. If you were in Tulsa I could do it for you.

[@mlawdawg6630]

@@tommyis13 well perhaps for a seasoned pro, but I think the Recliner repair guy hit the nail on the head with a a 4/5 for the consumer.