How to make the captains chairs swivel?

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nanook
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Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2021 7:11 am
B190 Year: 1996

How to make the captains chairs swivel?

Post by nanook »

From reading posts here, it sounds like both the driver and passenger seats in my 1996 B190 should swivel, but neither do. There is a suspicious looking lever on the drivers seat base that is loose and doesn’t seem to do anything, but I don’t see a similar lever on the passenger seat. However there is a random broken cable underneath the passenger seat. Would this be the swivel cable? If so, where can I get a replacement?
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skater
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Posts: 2569
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:00 am
B190 Year: 1991
WBCCI: 13270
Location: Annapolis, MD

Re: How to make the captains chairs swivel?

Post by skater »

Very likely. On mine, lifting one of the handles on the arms (left, I think), will allow the chair to rotate. But the cable is routed into a piece of plastic in that lever, which can break. I think it's less likely the cable itself is broken.

I would see if I can pull the cable to get the mechanism to release and try to rotate the chair. You might need help to do all of this at the same time.

Note the driver's side won't rotate past 90 degrees due to the steering wheel. The passenger side can rotate all the way around though.
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
kstills
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Posts: 126
Joined: Thu May 26, 2022 1:02 pm
B190 Year: 1996

Re: How to make the captains chairs swivel?

Post by kstills »

I have the same issue with mine, same year. The plan is to pull the passenger side seat and figure out what needs to be replaced. I think it's just 4 bolts holding it to the swivel, so it shouldn't be a major job getting it out. Seems to be a lot of room to work under there, there's a sham that makes the seat look bigger than it actually is.
nanook
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Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2021 7:11 am
B190 Year: 1996

Re: How to make the captains chairs swivel?

Post by nanook »

The cable is only about 4” long and just hanging solo from the passenger seat support with no other cable in sight. And no left arm rest, much less a plastic lever to pull. I’m somewhat at a loss. I only have a 4-5 month season to use the van up here in Alaska, so I don’t want a project that will take her out of commission for an extended period of time. Sigh.
kstills
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Posts: 126
Joined: Thu May 26, 2022 1:02 pm
B190 Year: 1996

Re: How to make the captains chairs swivel?

Post by kstills »

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Last edited by kstills on Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
kstills
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 126
Joined: Thu May 26, 2022 1:02 pm
B190 Year: 1996

Re: How to make the captains chairs swivel?

Post by kstills »

I'll take a pic today and post it to show you mine. I can't imagine pulling the seat would be a week's long process. Once it's out, it should be fairly easy to see whether or not you have a swivel base or if it's fixed.
kstills
Seasoned Traveler
Posts: 126
Joined: Thu May 26, 2022 1:02 pm
B190 Year: 1996

Re: How to make the captains chairs swivel?

Post by kstills »

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skater
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Posts: 2569
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:00 am
B190 Year: 1991
WBCCI: 13270
Location: Annapolis, MD

Re: How to make the captains chairs swivel?

Post by skater »

nanook wrote:
Wed Jun 22, 2022 12:44 am
The cable is only about 4” long and just hanging solo from the passenger seat support with no other cable in sight. And no left arm rest, much less a plastic lever to pull. I’m somewhat at a loss. I only have a 4-5 month season to use the van up here in Alaska, so I don’t want a project that will take her out of commission for an extended period of time. Sigh.
Can you post some pictures? Is it possible your seats were replaced?
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
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