The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk battery/seat problems

well, after a couple weeks work,i finally got my truck running. long story shot, too much excitement leads to exploding batteries. ive set out to replace it, but i cant seem to move the seat back, just forward. any tips? thanks

Trevor

what year model is it?

its a 1949 Thriftmaster 1/2 ton

Trevor, I am NOT the one that knows much about that seat as my panel had buckets. However, I'm guessing yours has a cable that runs from one side of the seat to the other. I would think when you push the lever it is not fully releasing the "catch". Since the most wear would probably be on it going forward the catch must fully release to go back? Making any sense here?
If yours does have the cable then you may be able to reach under the seat and pull it enough to release it.
Get a good light and take a look. Maybe something is under it or in the catches. Should not be hard to figure out.

I may be way off base but someone will chime in that does know before long. Its the weekend and everyone is taking the ladies out to dinner.

Seat adjusters.

It's not a cable, it's a steel rod.

Just pop the bottom cushion off the seat and take a look. I don't recall when they changed from the rod to the cable system, but my 52 had the cable system. Be aware that if it is the cable setup it will look like the cable is twisted. It has to have a single twist in the cable to work. I fought that cable for a week last year when I did the seat in my truck. Good luck.

My '49 has the cable. If you remove the seat cushion you should be able to see why it's not working properly. Usually just dirty and gummed up linkage.

The seat changed in 1950. Maybe the mechanism changed from cable to rod at that time?

Tim, That sounds about right. The 50 51 time period was a transitional period due to the Korean war.

alright, i've got the seat off, and it is the cable system. however, i don't see a twist of any kind. nor can i see the hand release releasing anything, for that matter.
?

sorry if these are painfully obvious questions, but my haven is under the hood. the interior scares me

The main problem is no doubt that it hasn't moved in the last 35 years and is probably rusted solid. I'd probably just start spraying everything down good with the penetrant of your choice, and start slowly working things back and forth till something starts moving. The key word here is patience. Getting in too big of a hurry is what makes things start to break!

How is the seat in the way of the battery box? I've never had that problem,
Scott

actually, my father had worked the interior some 7-8 years ago, top to bottom. in essence, i'm re-restoring the interior.

oh, and i had slid the seat far enough forward that i cant grip the left side of the battery (no handle)

Ok, I just checked my truck and the information I have. If the cable dosen't have a twist in it that will not allow the cable to operate the release mechanism. Without the twist the cable moves the pullies in the same direction, the pullies must move in OPPOSITE directions to operate the release. If there is no twist when the release is operated it releases one side and tightens the other side. The twist sits in a channel under the seat about in the center of the seat. Even if the pullies are frozen the cable should move over the groove in the pulley. That being said reach under the seat, grab one strand of the cable and gently pull. Put backward pressure on the seat and it should move to rear of the cab. Please note that there is not a lot of movement or play in the seat adjuster. I am with Scot on this how do you get the seat to move so far forward to interfear with the battery box? You said it won't move back far enough. Is there something blocking rearward movement? Is the seat frame aganist the rear of the cab? A couple of pictures would be helpfull. Also, do you have the shop manual, and the assembly manual? both are invaluable as reference sources. Let us know how thing go. I am off to do some sanding on an inner cowl panel.