How to fix a seized drivers seat

A very common problem in the 2CV is a driver's seat that can't be moved in the seat runners. As long as always the same person drives the car it is no problem. However, if another driver wants to adjust the seat for a convenient driving position it will appear that the seat successfully withstands any attempt to be moved.

Usually this problem is very easy to solve when you know how the seat works. Depending on the country where Citroen initially sold this 2CV, the driver's seat could be reclined.
The backrest of the seat is mainly a U-shaped steel frame turned upside down. The bottom ends of the frame are welded onto a big gear disc. The axle of the driving gear is attached to the bottom part of the seat. By turning both driving gears simultaneously the backrest moves back and forth. In order to turn the driving gear, the outside gear is connected to the black handle disc. To move the other gear parallel to the outside gear, a flexible steel wire cable connects them.

Picture 1 Driving gear

The cable has square ends that sit in the center of each driving gear. Now the problem: If you sit on the seat and push firmly into the corner between the backrest and the horizontal seat, the cable slips out of the gear. Mostly the cable disconnects from the inside gear. Nothing bad happened so far. The seat can still be moved in the seat runners. But sooner or later, tragedy strikes: Someone turns the handle to lean back or get the backrest upright again. It appears that for some strange reason the handle can only be turned a little bit and the backrest will not move a lot. Now you got the problem. By turning only one of the gears, the frame of the backrest is twisted and under tension. This tension is transferred onto the bottom frame of the seat. The result is that the rail for the seat runner will twist up on one side; the rail on the other side will twist down. Both seat runners however are mounted to the floor and remain stubborn in their horizontal position. This makes the rails seize in the runners; the seat can't be moved. Now you need to stay calm and don't try the golden rule of "fine" mechanics: "If something doesn't work - don't force it! Try a bigger hammer. ;-)

Picture 2 Inside gear

To fix the problem, just reach out under the seat and find out which square end of the cable slid out, mostly it's the inner side. Now turn the handle until the mechanism blocks. Then turn the handle in the opposite direction as far as it goes. The correct position is exactly in the middle between these two positions. Watch the bottom part of the seat frame when you turn the handle - you will see the frame twisting. Find the relaxed position in the middle and the seat can be moved again. Finally put the square end of the cable back into the gear where it belongs. Eventually it will slip out again - but now you know how to fix it.

Picture 3 Proper connected cable

It's so simple. You need no tools and the whole repair is done in a minute.

If you know other 2CV owners, tell them about it - they will be happy.