swivel seats

[dametrans]

Ah, just realised that the 'puter has an SD card reader so - here goes

Thank you so much for making the effort and putting up the pictures, really appreciated and now will start planning to my hand brake there,

[kartaphilos]

Hi,

Looking to do a similar thing. Has anyone moved the handbrake to the right side of the seat?

Alternatively, I saw a post in another thread mentioning a handbrake lowering kit......I've searched google but can't find anything for a transit. Anyone have any details?

Cheers,
Matt

[dumper]

hi all i did to mine was redrill the holes lower and use spacers and longer bolts it works fine like that i did look at fiting to the out side but had a LT35 works van like that and did not like it

[ake]

Some camper manufacturers trim the plastic trim to allow clearance for the seat to turn.
the handbrake repositioning kit can be bought from Ford, there are details in the BEMM manual on www.etis.ford.com

[widu13]

Just fitted a FASP swivel to my van. The handbrake is already on the RH side in the foot well. This isn't really a how to as it's quite simple- more of a loose guide (so no photos).

I purchased it from http://www.jennings-seats.co.uk/shop/19/index.htm for £115 delivered- which I thought was good?

It raises the seat only 1.25" and is a useful addition to most motorhomes or day vans.

FASP are one of the few manufacturers who TUV/crash test and they are CE approved. They also raise the seat the least. Strangely, FASP do not supply fixings or instructions. They also raise the seat the least.

The swivel is for a 2000> Transit and needs a few (minor) adjustments.

You will need the following:

2 M8x16 HIGH TENSILE (10.9 min) self colour button bolts with ideally a T40 head but Hex will do.
2 M8x16 HIGH TENSILE self colour COUNTERSUNK bolts
M8 HIGH TENSILE nuts
M8 self colour standard (A) washers
Self colour internal lock washers
13mm HSS drill bit
A sharp! fine tooth wood saw or jigsaw
T40/T50 driver
Hex (Allen key) to fit the above (5mm IIRC)
Socket to fasten the M8 nuts (easier)

N.B Self coloured is black, zinc passivated is also black. It's really important to have the bolts black, the rest I can live with in normal bright zinc.

GUIDE

1. Remove the two screws securing the grey plastic trim. The seat adjustment levers are removed by removing the spring clips underneath them. Get something narrow and pointed in there and pull/lever them downwards. Cover them with you hand or they will ping off into the distance! Pull off the grey levers towards you.

2. Remove the seatbelt seat mounting (not essential but much easier) using a T50.

3. Remove the 5 x T40 socket screws securing the seat to the frame

4. Remove the push fixings (Xmas tree type) securing the plastic battery cover (check your battery at this point you will be semi permanently entombing it) as they will prevent the swivel fitting flat.

5. Remove the seat- it weights about 20kg.

6. Drill 4 x 13mm holes IMMEDIATELY next to all 4 INNERMOST existing holes, these should join at the hole edges and they will accommodate the lugs that are permanently fixed to the seat rail.

7. Slightly turn the swivel (the handle goes front left) and offer up the swivel (10kg) and use the new bolts to secure it. Note, I used some spare holes and used 8 bolts on this instead..

8. Put seat on frame (30kg now!) and secure with the 5 Ford bolts.

9. Re-secure the seatbelt mounting.

10. Temp fit the grey trim. Using the top indentation line of the trim as a level guide, with a straight edge draw a pencil line level with the TOP part of the swivel surface. Remove and cut. I chamfered it at the front to match the original trim, then re-fit properly.

11. Enjoy your uber safe swivelling seat!

Total time fitting for me was about an hour. After figuring the fit out for you, I guestimate a normal fitting time of about 30mins.

[kartaphilos]

hi all i did to mine was redrill the holes lower and use spacers and longer bolts it works fine like that i did look at fiting to the out side but had a LT35 works van like that and did not like it

Dumper - Do you have a pic of what you've done to your's? Lowering sounds like the easiest/cheapest way.

Ta,
Matt

[kartaphilos]

Just fitted a FASP swivel to my van. The handbrake is already on the RH side in the foot well. This isn't really a how to as it's quite simple- more of a loose guide (so no photos).
Total time fitting for me was about an hour. After figuring the fit out for you, I guestimate a normal fitting time of about 30mins.

Thanks for the guide!

[andy 63]

dont know whether you can buy a lowering kit but its not hard to lower the handbrake. ill post photos of 2 different ways. one mine one a friends. i mounted mine on floor and angled it by about 10deg so the swivel seat clears it when the hb is on. my swivels are mapa.




hope it helps ta andy

[RickJ]

Just thought I'd revive this thread, as I've been wanting to lower my handbrake but didn't want to hack around with a welder (not having one, among other reasons!).

Eventually I discovered a ready-made bracket for re-positioning the HB, made by French company Scopema. Checked for UK agents, the first one I came across was Coast 2 Coast Campers near Birmingham. He ordered one for me - took a while to come in on a regular shipment, but saved extra postage. Cost me £20 and does the job perfectly.

Here's a couple of pics: the bracket as supplied, and the fitted result.

Neat and dead simple.

I've considered modifying the original part of the bracket so as to lift the front up a bit, so the HB lever is horizontal when off. It would still clear the seats, and be just that bit easier to reach. Might do it at some point, but for now it means I can at last rotate the driver's seat - yipee!

Hope this helps anyone else wanting to do the same thing.

Rick