Adjustable bed support leg broken!

Well why is it things always break whilst on holiday. On a great campsite at Vesanaz close to Geneva and on my Nuevo II with the brown square section bed supports on one the black plastic end piece has come out complete with the nut thread and round foot. 
It appears that the nut is moulded into the plastic insert and I do not think glueing it back would be successful.
Has this happened to anyone else and is it likely that A/S will still stock a complete leg which is easy to replace as it is just screwed in at the top to the frame.

Hi Moggy

I would be surprised if A/S don't have a spare leg. I'm not sure when they went back to all metal bed frames, but it's only quite recently.

Can you post a photo of the bits which fell out? If it's like I think it is, you could probably fix the insert in place (temporarily at least) by glueing it back with plastic metal or similar, then drill the side of the square leg and pin it with a self tapper.

Assuming you can borrow a drill of course, and a self tapper. The plastic metal (or similar) shouldn't be a problem.

Might sort it out until you get home.

Dave

Hi Dave
Just got back from Geneva walking our feet out!
Have taken 2 pics the first one as it fell out and tge 2nd showing the broken bit which holds the captive nut. The rest of the plastic is still inside about 1/2" up. I may try to glue when I get back with araldite rapid but in the meantime I have stood the foot on some folded up cardboard. Grant

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

First pic-Photobucket playing up!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Do you need to be able to adjust it Grant?

If that's not a priority I would try to find a piece of thick walled rubber or plastic tubing that will fit snugly into the hollow leg, and is also a tight(ish) fit internally for the screw thread of the foot. Take the nut off the foot, shove the tubing into the leg and then ram in the screw thread of the foot, winding it in if necessary. You only need enough friction to hold it in place until you get home, and if necessary a spot of Araldite will secure it.

Good luck.

Dave

Not sure of the tube size but these inserts may solve the problem, they do 30mm as well.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Well done Peter. That's an even better idea. It could provide Moggie with a permanent fix, just in case A/S don't have a spare leg for him.

Dave

We've had two of these go, so be prepared for it to happen again.  We got replacements from A/S - thye now sell them as a set of 5 for not much money - not much more than the postage IIRC, so we now have 3 spares

hblewett wrote:We've had two of these go, so be prepared for it to happen again.  We got replacements from A/S - thye now sell them as a set of 5 for not much money - not much more than the postage IIRC, so we now have 3 spares

How long ago did you get them from A/S? I will not be back home for another 2 weeks so hope they still have some left.

We got a set of these inserts from Alan at Auto-Sleeper parts recently when one of ours broke, he had a shed load of them! Make sure the nut is tight to the base of the leg as that reduces the likely hood of damage.

CC wrote:We got a set of these inserts from Alan at Auto-Sleeper parts recently when one of ours broke, he had a shed load of them! Make sure the nut is tight to the base of the leg as that reduces the likely hood of damage.

Thanks for that info CC-did not realise you could just get the insert. The actual scew in foot is fine.
The only trouble is part of the plastic insert is still inside. Did you find this and if so was it easy to poke out?

Did on online quote last night with A/S as I thought I would have to buy the complete leg. Quoted me £19.80- must be gold plated!
CC how much did you pay for the inserts? I take it you just get the insert without the screw in foot?

We got ours about 9 months ago.  

I didn't remove the broken bit inside the leg - I didn't think it would be practical to do it, so I just pushed it further up the leg out of the way.

Moggie

Without wishing to be unkind, you are getting all hot and bothered over something that isn't a problem.

All you need for a perfect solution is a flat bit attached to the bottom of your leg to spread the load on the carpet. (In your case, and that of the bed base, it's called a foot! )

If you can't get sorted I will make you something when you get home.

Stop fretting dear boy, and enjoy your holiday.

Dave


(P.S. Apologies for the awful joke. Can't help it sometimes!)

Not sure what they cost to be honest Moggs as we got several bits n pieces and Alan just rounded it all up. We got the inserts, complete with the foot and nut. Got the broken insert out by inserting a screwdriver and just prising it out. The new ones are not as well made as the older ones, which were moulded fully around the threaded bolt base, the newer ones are barely sunk into the foot base. 

The inserts seem to break when the nut is not tightened fully after adjusting leg length. 

I suppose a fiver a corner is probably not to bad a price?

CC

Its just happened to me for the first time.  The insert was reluctant to come out so I removed the leg and put it in a jug of boiling water then after a couple on minutes, pulled it out using an allen key as a hook.

I have some excellent cyanoacrylate adhesive. I first glued the nut into the insert portion and then glued the cap back on.  From discovery to replacement took about 15 mins.

I don't expect they will be expensive so will get a couple to keep in the van.

Obviously depending on the size of the threaded bar, the feet look exactly the same as those on a new bath I fitted last week, If so will cost you pennies from a plumbers merchant.

Norman

Hmmmmmmm. I feel a modification coming on!

I have already put a nut on the threaded part of each insert, and used it as a locknut to fix the length of each leg. They all needed adjusting, and the locknut will be taking much of the strain against the bottom of the plastic insert in the leg.

The nut is a bit too small to be fully effective however. It would be better with a strong washer, wide enough to bear on the whole lower surface of the insert.

Then if the locknut is done up fairly tight it will tend to expand the insert into the leg, making it even stronger. In theory at least, it should then be pretty much bomb proof?

Dave

When I removed the insert I found a relatively large piece of metal swarf that had been pushed off the bottom of the leg during assembly, there were also rough/sharp edges to the bottom of the leg so I guess the insert was weakened when fitted and I had adjusted the foot to take the weight of the bench seat causing the pressure of the internal nut to tear the insert in two.  I've now readjusted all feet so that the frame is taking the weight and the legs will only be stressed if the bed is made up.

I am always surprised how these problems occur to so many members - isn't that the definition of a design fault?
I have had two fail in this manner. My solution was to remove the plastic plug altogether and make up a hardwood plug to fit just inside the leg. This was drilled and tapped using the screw thread on the leg. Initially I used araldite to fix it in place, but subsequent use proved this to be insufficient and I ended up putting a small bolt crosswise through the leg to positively prevent any movement. Granted this is a fair bit of work for such a minor item and if they are relatively cheap then maybe replacement is the better option, but there again we all like a bit of a challenge!
Graham

AS Parts have a new on line system. I made the enquiry yesterday and this morning got e-mail to login for quotation.

The feet are £1 each but they have a min order of £5. Delivery is £4 so with VAT total is £10.80, therefore cost = £2.16 each.

The trouble is we don't use that bed so don't actually need the feet so should I buy some?

I'd say "Don't bother" Peter.

I think my solution (above) is going to work. With a locknut and a sturdy washer taking the weight I can't think the insert is likely to break or come loose. The locknut and the nut at the top of the insert are working together to compress the insert inside the tube, so both strengthening and securing it.

If it did come loose a little self tapper through the side of the leg would be enough to hold it in place - assuming the cyanoacrylate wasn't up to the job.

Dave

I like your idea of washer Dave to help spread the weight think I'll do that too! 

We've only had the one break on ours but got a complete spare set anyway, from what I can see they only break when the nut becomes loose as it loses support then maybe the legs are slightly splayed out when weight is applied (behave) then because it's slightly at an angle the round foot moulded to the bolt gets put under pressure then comes away.

Just fitted the washers CC. I think your assessment is spot on!

I think the crucial point is as follows - difficult to explain in a few words, but here goes.

If the round foot is screwed tightly up against the bottom of the leg, there is unlikely to be a problem as the foot itself is taking all the weight.

If it needs adjusting downwards however (or becomes unscrewed during use) all the pressure is being exerted upwards via the screw threaded bit onto the inner nut, which is only moulded into a bit of plastic. It is just not strong enough, and eventually the plastic will break. (See Moggie's photo's earlier in this thread.)

Ours need a slight adjustment to lengthen the legs, or they dangle above the floor when the bed bases are pulled out to make the double bed. This puts some strain on the bed frame, so obviously not a good idea.

I have therefore extended the leg length (as mentioned before) by adding a 13mm nut onto the screwed portion of the foot. Then with a washer on top of that I have screwed the feet up tight against the bottom of the leg - thus making sure the washer/nut/foot is taking the weight, none of which can now push upwards onto the inner nut, and break it free of the plastic.

Phew!!!! Hope that makes sense.

Dave