This was in fact as easy as they portray on the video. Start to finish 40 minutes, including gathering my tools for the project (restringing 2 chairs) and cleaning up my tools after the project. Here are some tips: 1) I used vice grips vs. pliers. Reason being is I could use my legs as leverage to get the old sling out easier. 2) Sliding in new sling was easy, the Petroleum jelly is a big key, both sides slid right into place. Have some rags for wiping off any excess. 3) I used a large screwdriver placed into the top end of the rail (the closed) channel on top to stretch the material to get the spreader bar back into place easier. 4) I did this task alone, no help. Great video. Thanks.
They make it look so easy. It took me, a fairly skilled and inventive DIY guy, about two hours per chair. I have pretty heavy gauge slings, so everything was not a flexible as they show and took ages to slide on the new sling. Disassembling is pretty much they way they describe. Then, the hard part: If you have just one slotted side bar that is removable, start reinstalling the new sling on the *other* one. That way, you'll have a fixed place to hold that side when it comes to sliding the second side of the sling onto its bar. And, you won't need a buddy to hold it for you and listen to your language. Use *plenty* of lubricant. Their little dab of petroleum jelly is hardly enough. Lubricate that slot from top to bottom and still expect have trouble sliding each side on. I used vice-grips for best leverage and wrapped their jaws with duct tape to avoid marring the sling fabric. Glad I did, because I had to re-grip that fabric countless times. You have to pull from one end, then push from the other, and vice-versa, as well as tugging on the fabric flanges that make up the edges of the sling. Near the end of installing each side in the slotted bar, there was lots of 1/4" progress at a time. Very frustrating.
Thanks for those who added comments. Here's a couple of things that helped us install replacement Tropitone slings. Before attempting to remove the old sling, use a small screwdriver on the back side of the rail, holding it at a 90 degree angle to the rail against the fabric, pushing the plastic tube holding the sling back into the channel. Do this all along the length of the sling. This releases the pressure that has pushed the plastic tub tight against the rail bed. Often the area that binds the most is where there are sharp angles. Once you have done this (takes about 15 minutes) you can fairly easily pull the sling out with your hands. We didn't need to use pliers. Secondly, when installing new sling, do as someone else commented and thoroughly coat the rail with petroleum jelly throughout its entire length. Then using 2 people, have one person at one end of the sling "pulling" it through the rail while the second person holds the other end of the sling so it is going straight into the rail - and this second person "pushes" the sling. By doing this, we again didn't need pliers - just used our hands and it took about 10 - 15 minutes total per rail. Finally, when you get the sling attached to both rails, don't panic if the fabric is "bunching" where the 90 degree angle is. Once the rails are firmly attached by the bolts, much of the "bunching" disappears. If there is some bunching left, we used a rubber mallet to gently pound the fabric once the chair was fully installed. Good luck!
We found it to be impossible to re-insert the spreader after the sling has already been installed on the sling tracks. We consider this step in the instructions basically bogus. Instead, what worked for us was to insert the spreader bar *before* you install the sling. At least pull it off 3/4 of the way on the sling tracks, insert the spreader (still tricky), then pull the sling into place on the tracks (with the spreader already installed).
Correction: I used channel-locks with the jaws wrapped in duct tape. The jaws are at a slight angle from the handles, providing better leverage than a straight-line pull.
I would think teflon lubricant is better for this job. Its what is used to replace wool weather striping on windows. It has a very similar track system.
Can you show a step-by-step to repair the slings in a glider that seats two? I have to replace both seats and a footrest. (And probably the rest of the set's slings very soon.)
What about the chairs without the removable spreader? This is nearly impossible. Tried with dish soap, vise grips and two people. Got one halfway on after about 40 minutes. Thee more chairs to go after this one...
Join the club my friend. Took me 4 hours to do one chair. I tried dish soap, bar soap. I was real close to using WD40, but knew that would be a bad idea.
This was in fact as easy as they portray on the video. Start to finish 40 minutes, including gathering my tools for the project (restringing 2 chairs) and cleaning up my tools after the project. Here are some tips:
1) I used vice grips vs. pliers. Reason being is I could use my legs as leverage to get the old sling out easier.
2) Sliding in new sling was easy, the Petroleum jelly is a big key, both sides slid right into place. Have some rags for wiping off any excess.
3) I used a large screwdriver placed into the top end of the rail (the closed) channel on top to stretch the material to get the spreader bar back into place easier.
4) I did this task alone, no help.
Great video. Thanks.
They make it look so easy. It took me, a fairly skilled and inventive DIY guy, about two hours per chair. I have pretty heavy gauge slings, so everything was not a flexible as they show and took ages to slide on the new sling. Disassembling is pretty much they way they describe. Then, the hard part: If you have just one slotted side bar that is removable, start reinstalling the new sling on the *other* one. That way, you'll have a fixed place to hold that side when it comes to sliding the second side of the sling onto its bar. And, you won't need a buddy to hold it for you and listen to your language. Use *plenty* of lubricant. Their little dab of petroleum jelly is hardly enough. Lubricate that slot from top to bottom and still expect have trouble sliding each side on. I used vice-grips for best leverage and wrapped their jaws with duct tape to avoid marring the sling fabric. Glad I did, because I had to re-grip that fabric countless times. You have to pull from one end, then push from the other, and vice-versa, as well as tugging on the fabric flanges that make up the edges of the sling. Near the end of installing each side in the slotted bar, there was lots of 1/4" progress at a time. Very frustrating.
Agree! I laughed at the ease of their channel movements. How about demonstrating on something that has been outside in the elements for 6 years?
Thanks for those who added comments. Here's a couple of things that helped us install replacement Tropitone slings. Before attempting to remove the old sling, use a small screwdriver on the back side of the rail, holding it at a 90 degree angle to the rail against the fabric, pushing the plastic tube holding the sling back into the channel. Do this all along the length of the sling. This releases the pressure that has pushed the plastic tub tight against the rail bed. Often the area that binds the most is where there are sharp angles. Once you have done this (takes about 15 minutes) you can fairly easily pull the sling out with your hands. We didn't need to use pliers. Secondly, when installing new sling, do as someone else commented and thoroughly coat the rail with petroleum jelly throughout its entire length. Then using 2 people, have one person at one end of the sling "pulling" it through the rail while the second person holds the other end of the sling so it is going straight into the rail - and this second person "pushes" the sling. By doing this, we again didn't need pliers - just used our hands and it took about 10 - 15 minutes total per rail. Finally, when you get the sling attached to both rails, don't panic if the fabric is "bunching" where the 90 degree angle is. Once the rails are firmly attached by the bolts, much of the "bunching" disappears. If there is some bunching left, we used a rubber mallet to gently pound the fabric once the chair was fully installed. Good luck!
Excellent video. Made the install pretty easy. And yes, you do need two people.
We found it to be impossible to re-insert the spreader after the sling has already been installed on the sling tracks. We consider this step in the instructions basically bogus. Instead, what worked for us was to insert the spreader bar *before* you install the sling. At least pull it off 3/4 of the way on the sling tracks, insert the spreader (still tricky), then pull the sling into place on the tracks (with the spreader already installed).
My old slings in no way pull out with a pair of pliers. Got any other methods?
Correction: I used channel-locks with the jaws wrapped in duct tape. The jaws are at a slight angle from the handles, providing better leverage than a straight-line pull.
I would think teflon lubricant is better for this job. Its what is used to replace wool weather striping on windows. It has a very similar track system.
Can you show a step-by-step to repair the slings in a glider that seats two? I have to replace both seats and a footrest. (And probably the rest of the set's slings very soon.)
Also this video seems to completely miss the step of removing the other 1/2 of the sling on the other rail
I guarantee that fabric he pulled out of the rail effortlessly didnt have a spline in it...that the only way i could get my old ones out.
Where do I buy the replacement fabric?
An online search engine brings up results ... Sailrite is one source
What about the chairs without the removable spreader? This is nearly impossible. Tried with dish soap, vise grips and two people. Got one halfway on after about 40 minutes. Thee more chairs to go after this one...
Join the club my friend. Took me 4 hours to do one chair. I tried dish soap, bar soap. I was real close to using WD40, but knew that would be a bad idea.
This completely understates the complexity of getting the stretcher bars back in place. This video was not helpful.