I have a rocker/recliner that when I want to use the footrest option but NOT recline fully (I'm very short at 4'11" and feet don't reach the floor when sitting upright so need to use the footrest for balance), the footrest either slowly or quickly will keep rising no matter what. How can I stop it so I can keep it at the position I want? I used to have a recliner that had a footrest that would just stay where I put it, but I haven't been able to find one that even comes close to that anymore. Is there some bolt/screw or adjustment that can be done to either the footrest itself or even the side handle that can make it harder for the 'automatic' rising to kick in? I know how to use tools....I just need to know if this can be done to 'lock' the footrest where I want it temporarily until I either close it or recline fully....or at the very least, make it harder to move on its own without added pressure by me manually.
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Handyman/repairman help needed
Discussion is locked
Sit in your recliner, set the footrest where you want it....(on MY recliner) there is a gap between the footrest section and the seat of the the recliner....measure the distance between the footrest section and the seat of the the recliner and jam a piece of wood in there...this would prevent the footrest section from moving either way UNTIL you removed the piece of wood....Sit in your chair, get comfy...jam a piece of wood in between the opening of the footrest and the seat......Want to get up?...remove the piece of wood....push the lever.......Bob's your uncle
Another suggestion is ...flip the chair over and spray some lubrication on the spring mechanism, you MAY see some adjustment under there...
For those from across the pond...Arkwright (Open All Hours) had a similar problem with his cash register....almost lost a few fingers because the till would close without warning....
for loose or disconnected parts? I've found troubleshooting to be done more with the eyes than with the tools. You may just have a loose or broken spring. I don't want to suggest that you might just have a screw loose, however. Good luck. 
the footrest doesn't have any openings as it's all covered in material so anything that might have to be done will have to happen from the underside. However, I did use a small block of 2x4 to 'jam' the hand lever and prevent it from moving after positioning the footrest where I need it. For right now, that'll have to do until I flip the chair upsidedown. I covered it with a towel to prevent it from rubbing on the material and wearing it down or ripping it.
Thanks, guys. It's a no-name brand that I just bought last week for about a third of the cost of a name brand and it's the only one I could find, even with name brand types, that has a back rest that pretty much stays upright and straight, the lumbar 'pillow' fits my back where it should, and the head/shoulder area doesn't bulge out to where my head is constantly tilted forward. Seems like everything out there is built for men over 6'. I was afraid I would have to buy one made for little kids, but even those seem to be made in 'camo' material and put me too close to the floor. LOL
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