A recliner is a blessing until it opens correctly and operates as intended. But if you’re struggling to open your recliner because the handle is broken or missing, it can be frustrating to kick back and relax in your favorite chair. You can still follow some methods to recline your chair without the lever if you face problems with your recliner’s handle.
In the bustling world of technology, user manuals and owner’s guides stand as unsung heroes, silently guiding individuals through the intricacies of modern devices. These comprehensive documents serve as faithful companions, demystifying the complex functionalities of smartphones, home appliances, and a plethora of other gadgets.
Read this article, as I have described many ways to encounter the problem of opening the recliner without the handle. Whether you’ve lost the handle or it’s simply not working, these simple tips and tricks will have you reclining in no time. So, sit back and relax as we guide you through opening your recliner without a handle.
How to Open Recliner Without Handle – Key Takeaways
- A recliner’s handle is used to adjust the chair’s position, but excessive use can lead to difficulties in opening and closing the recliner or handle breakage.
- To open a recliner without a handle, you can try using a hairdryer, screwdriver, knife, or coat hanger by reading this guide or seeking assistance from a professional.
- If a recliner handle is broken, it can be fixed by changing the cable used in the handle or by seeking help from a professional.
What Exactly Is the Handle Issue With Recliners?
Almost all recliners come with a handle. It is an important part of a recliner that allows you to adjust the position of the chair. It’s typically located on the side of the recliner and is used to release the locking mechanism that holds the chair in place.
When you pull the handle, it triggers a set of internal mechanisms that allow the footrest to rise and the backrest to recline.
But there can be some bad consequences from using it excessively. When you overdo the use of the handle, it becomes a nightmare for you to open and close the recliner properly. Moreover, the handle may get broken in the process, and you might get injured as a result.
How to Open Your Recliner Without the Handle?
Opening your recliner without a handle is not a big challenge when following the right instructions. But remember the following: Removing the handle may revoke your recliner’s warranty and could potentially damage the recliner if not done right.
Therefore, if you’re unsure about your ability to remove the handle or open the recliner without it. In that case, it’s best to seek assistance from a professional or consult the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific recliner model.
But if you think you can make some changes to your recliner or its handle to open it, use these five ways with different tools to open a recliner without its handle.
Hairdryer
- Position your hairdryer near your handle, keeping a safe distance and avoiding overheating or damaging the recliner.
- Turn on the hairdryer and direct the hot air towards the handle, focusing on the area where the handle is attached to the recliner.
- Hold the hairdryer in place for a few minutes or until you feel the handle has become soft and pliable.
- Use a firm grip to apply pressure to the handle, gently twisting or pulling it away from the recliner. Be patient and persistent, but avoid using excessive force that could damage the recliner.
- Once the handle is removed, you can find the locking mechanism of the recliner attached to the handle.
- Pull it to open the recliner.
Screwdriver
- Locate the bolts or screws that attach the handle to the recliner. These are typically found on the side of the recliner where the handle is located.
- Use a screwdriver to unscrew the bolts or screws that secure the handle to the recliner. You may need to use a bit of force to break them loose.
- Once the handle is removed, carefully analyze the mechanism and determine which parts need to be moved to open the recliner. This will depend on the specific design of your recliner.
- Move the particular part of the mechanism that was attached to the handle. Pull it to open the recliner.
Knife
- Choose a sturdy, sharp knife with a strong handle that will not easily bend or break.
- Identify the location where the handle is attached to the recliner. This may be on the side of the recliner or underneath the armrest.
- Position the knife blade beneath the side of the handle, ensuring the sharp edge is facing away from your body.
- Apply gentle but firm pressure to the knife handle, leveraging the blade to pry the handle off its attachment point.
- Be patient and persistent, as it may take several attempts to successfully remove the handle. Avoid using excessive force, as this can cause injury to yourself or damage to the recliner.
Note: Using a knife to open a recliner without a handle can be dangerous since it may interfere with your hands. Therefore, be extremely cautious when using a knife to open the recliner without the handle.
Using a Coat Hanger
A coat hanger can be handy when using your recliner without a handle. If you have the option of a screwdriver or a knife, you can use a coat hanger to take out the handle of your recliner.
- Straighten the cost hanger and make a longer piece of metal by simply stretching out the coat hanger.
- Put the metal piece beneath the side of the handle and apply some force to it.
- Twist the hanger to fasten the process, but make sure to be careful to avoid any harm to yourself as well as to the recliner. Once you have successfully removed the handle, you can easily open your recliner without the handle.
Calling a Professional
If none of the above options work for you, then calling a professional for help is a wise choice. A professional can detach the handle from your recliner without doing any damage to your recliner. It is obviously the pricey option, but it does not matter much when you ultimately get the comfort.
How to Fix a Recliner Pull Handle?
If your recliner handle is broken or the handle is not working correctly, there are ways to fix the recliner pull handle. You can fix your handle by changing the cable used in the handle.
- Detach the handle from the recliner. Once you have successfully removed the handle, half of your work is done.
- Find the end of the cable by removing the recliner’s handle.
- Pull out the cable from your recliner.
- Replace the cable with the newly purchased one. Once you are ready to put the new cable in the recliner, you must assemble the handle.
If you cannot fix the handle independently, feel free to call a professional to avoid any damage to your recliner.
How to Replace the Recliner Handle?
If your recliner pull handle is not working properly, you can either fix your recliner’s handle or can replace the handle with a new one. You can do it at your home by yourself if you follow the right instructions and use some required tools. But you need to know the type of your recliner’s handle before proceeding with the process.
Follow these steps to replace the recliner handle.
- Detach your old handle – you can use any of the above-described methods to do so. But using a screwdriver to remove the handle is the most common.
- Attach the new handle – once you have successfully removed the old handle, join the new one with your recliner.
- Test the new handle – test the new handle to see if there is any problem that might occur when you use your recliner. Once satisfied with the new handle, you can enjoy resting and relaxing in your recliner.
If you are not able to replace the handle yourself, you should call a professional to do the job.
FAQs
What Type of Chair Reclines Without a Handle or Button?
Most recliners come with a handle or a button these days. But still, some recliners don’t provide the facility of either a handle or a button. Such types of recliner chairs are called push-back recliners. You simply need to push back your arms and shoulders, and that’s it; you are good to go.
How to Manually Open a Recliner?
If you have a manual recliner or don’t want to use the handle to open the recliner, you can still easily open your recliner and relax. To manually open your recliner, you must push back your arms and shoulders.
The back of the chair will recline, and the footrest will rise. To close the chair manually, lean forward and push back the footrest with your legs. The back of the chair will follow you, and the footrest closes.
How Do You Open a Recliner When the Handle Breaks?
Using recliners for comfort is a common practice these days. But if your recliner’s handle is broken, you may not be able to recline properly. You can use your recliner without the use of the handle.
You need to remove the handle from your recliner, and you are ready to use your recliner without any hurdles. You can use a screwdriver, knife, hairdryer, or even a coat hanger, for that matter, to remove the handle.
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