The lever on my ironing board fell off last week and I thought it was "broken". But after reading this blog post http://craftyredhead.blogspot.com/2010/01/me-vs-ironing-board.html today, I decided to fix it myself. All it takes is about 30secs, a screwdriver and a pair of pliers (and a torch if required).
Here is the quick summary:
1. Set the ironing board vertically such that the cone (sharper side) is facing the top. I started with the board being locked open and unable to close because of the rod.
2. Use a torchlight to briefly study the lever mechanism. This does not need a degree in mechanical engineering. Actually I found the way the pad arrests vertical movement of the rod a bit lame!
3. Test the metal pad (above the spring) that holds the rod in place. To do this, use a screwdriver and push the pad from the top. This releases the rod and it can be ironing board will now be able to close.
This (above) is how the metal pad arrests the vertical movement of the rod. The pad (with the rod running through it) is fixed on one side to the ironing board and a spring pushes it vertically from the bottom to create friction against the rod, thus stopping its movement.
4. Pry open the metal curves with a screwdriver to put the lever in place.
5. Put the lever in.
6. With the pliers bend the metal curves so the lever doesn't fall out again.
And thats it!
Hopefully, this is useful to someone.
Excellent tip!
ReplyDeleteExcellent tip!
ReplyDeletethanks! that was uber helpful!! was able to fix the board and not buy a new one :)
ReplyDeletethanks you're a life saver...
ReplyDeleteYou rule - saved me a trip to Target!
ReplyDeletethank you thank you thank you!
ReplyDeletethank you thank you thank you!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! You saved one more ironing board from the dump.
ReplyDeleteawesome! I just fixed mine! Thanks
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know what IDIOT invented this mechanism in the first place - there's GOTTA be a better way!!!
ReplyDeletei still can't figure this thing out~~HELP
ReplyDeleteI still can't figure this thing out~~HELP
ReplyDeletethanks, my father in law and I were so stumped for hours, we couldn't figure out where the lever went in.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThank You, guess these levers are prone to come off. Used a little WD40 to lubricate, it's as good as new
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot! The pictures and step by step description helped a lot.
ReplyDeleteVery helpful and instructive. Thank you! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteVery good instructions and it works now.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Great post. This and the crafty redhead blog have a great solution to a silly, silly problem!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Our spring had popped out when the whole mechanism fell apart and we didn't know where to put it back. Your explanation and pictures were wonderful and we were able to make the fix.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, solution worked like a charm
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, your solution worked like a charm
ReplyDeleteWhy couldn't you just say pull the goddamn lever
ReplyDeleteGreat got the ironing board closed, now I need someone to iron!! Someone should engineer a better design without a spring hopefully.
ReplyDeleteThank you, really needed it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, this helped me! I had looked over a few other blog posts and videos on the subject, including the one you linked to, but yours was the first to really help me understand the mechanism and how to fix it. The lever on our ironing board had not fallen out, but it had gotten out of position and so wasn't doing its job.
ReplyDeleteThanks, this helped me! I had looked over a few other blog posts and videos on the subject, including the one you linked to, but yours was the first to really help me understand the mechanism and how to fix it. The lever on our ironing board had not fallen out, but it had gotten out of position and so wasn't doing its job.
ReplyDelete