Taking a Stannah stairlift apart - how on earth?
Discussion
My mum passed away not so long ago and we are in the process of selling the old family home. There is a Stannah stairlift and we want to pass it on to someone else in need of one.
Me and another person spent around 6 hours today working out how to disassemble the stair lift. There is a distinct lack of instructions on the internet, as I guess that companies like Stannah don't like people sorting themselves out, when they can charge you thousands for the privilege.
So....we worked out that to remove the rails/tracks, the chair part needs to come off the top of the rail first. There are two plastic stops under the rail that we removed, and also a metal one that sits on top of the rack, so the pinion wheel can be manually cranked up and off the rail. By our working out, we should just be able to pull the chair off the rack - but it won't come off. There is resistance, possibly from rollers on the track. After 2 hours and endless googling, we gave up. There must be something we are missing - a trick if you like.
This is what it looks like. Can anyone please advise how to remove the chair? Pic below of the chair at the top end of the track. With many thanks if you can help.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ggACF5oi.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/MJ2eu8kk" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/MJ2eu8kk.jpg)
Me and another person spent around 6 hours today working out how to disassemble the stair lift. There is a distinct lack of instructions on the internet, as I guess that companies like Stannah don't like people sorting themselves out, when they can charge you thousands for the privilege.
So....we worked out that to remove the rails/tracks, the chair part needs to come off the top of the rail first. There are two plastic stops under the rail that we removed, and also a metal one that sits on top of the rack, so the pinion wheel can be manually cranked up and off the rail. By our working out, we should just be able to pull the chair off the rack - but it won't come off. There is resistance, possibly from rollers on the track. After 2 hours and endless googling, we gave up. There must be something we are missing - a trick if you like.
This is what it looks like. Can anyone please advise how to remove the chair? Pic below of the chair at the top end of the track. With many thanks if you can help.
Edited by TUS373 on Saturday 14th November 21:55
Edited by TUS373 on Saturday 14th November 21:56
Quite possible that there’s a fail-safe brake because you’ve disconnected the power or it’s exceeded the end position or lost contact with the measurement system. See that metal tape? That’s probably part of the encoder circuit so if the seat loses its position, there will be a brake to stop poor Doris from hurtling to the bottom and out of the front door.
Edited by 57Ford on Sunday 15th November 00:50
I like this guy's diy renovation videos, and came across this one recently, iirc a few pointers to stairlift removal
https://youtu.be/XkqWM5fyUDA
https://youtu.be/XkqWM5fyUDA
I would wonder in this case, since you sound like you are giving it away, if charities in the field have people on-board that are able to come and take it for for you?
https://stairliftrecycling.co.uk/
https://stairliftrecycling.co.uk/
I needed the motor for a bead roller, I got offered it for free if I removed it.
Iirc
You see the big Allen key head on the side of the black rollers. That removes the rollers from the bottom of the rails and the seat should lift off.
It was a few years ago but I’ve got that bit in my toolbox because the rollers are quite nice.
Iirc
You see the big Allen key head on the side of the black rollers. That removes the rollers from the bottom of the rails and the seat should lift off.
It was a few years ago but I’ve got that bit in my toolbox because the rollers are quite nice.
I’m not sure where you live, but if you’ve got a Mobility shop nearby, give them a call before you do anything else. The majority of them will usually pay you for a used stairlift and then remove it and sell it as a used model. If you need any pointers as to which ones, by all means drop me a message as I’ve worked in the industry (not stairlift side though) for 20 odd years.
Ah. Thank you. Yes, I thought the Allen key socket was relevant. I got a key in there but it really did not want to budge and I could not work out how it would loosen or undo the rollers. It is absolutely solid and with an an Allen key there was just no leverage. It made us wonder if it was factory set or installed by Hercules.
If that is the last step, I will have to see how I can undo it it. It is in a tricky place!
If that is the last step, I will have to see how I can undo it it. It is in a tricky place!
I think it’s got locktite on the thread. Have you tried putting the Allen key shaft through the ring spanner end to extend the length of the key, or get a socket.
I think it’s tight so the chair won’t leave the rail with the person on it.
I’ll have a look at the bit I’ve still got. I think it might have a bolt in each end.
I think it’s tight so the chair won’t leave the rail with the person on it.
I’ll have a look at the bit I’ve still got. I think it might have a bolt in each end.
Thank you so much.
Using a spanner on the Allen key is a good idea. I do have some socket set Torx bits too (but not with me yesterday) though not being a hex, something might get rounded off or twisted. The socket is near the plastic casing, so is a bit tricky.
There seems to be a metal block that sits between the rollers on the bottom right, into which the hex nut goes. I cannot even see the other side of the block if there is also a hex on there.
If is threadlocked , is it just a case of 'cracking that threadlock with force? I tapped the Allen key with a rubber mallet but it just bounced off!
Your help is really appreciated.
Using a spanner on the Allen key is a good idea. I do have some socket set Torx bits too (but not with me yesterday) though not being a hex, something might get rounded off or twisted. The socket is near the plastic casing, so is a bit tricky.
There seems to be a metal block that sits between the rollers on the bottom right, into which the hex nut goes. I cannot even see the other side of the block if there is also a hex on there.
If is threadlocked , is it just a case of 'cracking that threadlock with force? I tapped the Allen key with a rubber mallet but it just bounced off!
Your help is really appreciated.
No success 
I undid the hex bolts that seemingly attach the rollers to the chair part, but no clear way that the chair lifts clear. It won't lift off or budge forwards.
I am stuck.
Really want to get this sorted out so we can transfer it.
How on earth do people get new carpets if they have one of these in their house?![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Cw4oyurX.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/Cw4oyurX" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Cw4oyurX.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/hNqKkY2Q" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/hNqKkY2Q.jpg)
I undid the hex bolts that seemingly attach the rollers to the chair part, but no clear way that the chair lifts clear. It won't lift off or budge forwards.
I am stuck.
Really want to get this sorted out so we can transfer it.
How on earth do people get new carpets if they have one of these in their house?
Edited by TUS373 on Sunday 15th November 15:18
We removed my parent's stairlift a few years ago.
Sold it on eBay .... buyer to remove.
My brother and I helped the guy to try to get the seat off.
In the end we split the rail and put it in the buyer's Transit with the seat still on the rail.
It was a pig of a job and heavy....very heavy!
Sold it on eBay .... buyer to remove.
My brother and I helped the guy to try to get the seat off.
In the end we split the rail and put it in the buyer's Transit with the seat still on the rail.
It was a pig of a job and heavy....very heavy!
Thanks again all.
What I have done so far was to:
1. send chair upstairs to top of the rail, under power, until it stops
2. remove plastic 'stoppers' from underneath the rail - looks like when seat bumps against these, it hits microswitches and stops
3. removed a metal stopper from on top of the rail - where the pinion wheel hits
4. hand cranked the seat up the rail, until it will go no further - essentially the pinion wheel is beyond the teeth on the rack on the rail
5. as per my latest post above, undone the bolts that secure the rollers on the right hand side (as you look at in the photos, looking down the stairs)
I agree, there does not appear to be the possibility to lift the chair up off of the rail, rather it should continue to slide up the rail, and off. Thing is, even with everything above released, it will not push, pull, wiggle or anything. I cannot see anything stopping it, other than the rollers will not roll. No visible sign of a brake on them. Just feels very stubborn that it does not want to move. I am therefore now out of ideas.
If we split the track, I expect it will be very unwieldly having a heavy weight on one end of a track, then trying to get that into a van or a car. Also, there is a continuous copper track in a groove that runs across the individual pieces of rail. The chair picks up the power from this. If we separate the rails from one another (along its length), we will break this copper. You cannot slide the copper into the track on the rail when the seat is on it.
Its a confounding thing this. What I thought would be relatively straightforward is steeped in mystery that despite hours of research on the 'net. remains unsolved!
What I have done so far was to:
1. send chair upstairs to top of the rail, under power, until it stops
2. remove plastic 'stoppers' from underneath the rail - looks like when seat bumps against these, it hits microswitches and stops
3. removed a metal stopper from on top of the rail - where the pinion wheel hits
4. hand cranked the seat up the rail, until it will go no further - essentially the pinion wheel is beyond the teeth on the rack on the rail
5. as per my latest post above, undone the bolts that secure the rollers on the right hand side (as you look at in the photos, looking down the stairs)
I agree, there does not appear to be the possibility to lift the chair up off of the rail, rather it should continue to slide up the rail, and off. Thing is, even with everything above released, it will not push, pull, wiggle or anything. I cannot see anything stopping it, other than the rollers will not roll. No visible sign of a brake on them. Just feels very stubborn that it does not want to move. I am therefore now out of ideas.
If we split the track, I expect it will be very unwieldly having a heavy weight on one end of a track, then trying to get that into a van or a car. Also, there is a continuous copper track in a groove that runs across the individual pieces of rail. The chair picks up the power from this. If we separate the rails from one another (along its length), we will break this copper. You cannot slide the copper into the track on the rail when the seat is on it.
Its a confounding thing this. What I thought would be relatively straightforward is steeped in mystery that despite hours of research on the 'net. remains unsolved!
I might try and give that a go as my last hurrah. From what I saw, accessing the roller bolts looks very tight indeed. Possibly not enough room for a socket. Frustrating thing is that there must be a 'right way'. Whatever it is though has beaten me totally so far.
It may come to using dynamite.
It may come to using dynamite.
TUS373 said:
I might try and give that a go as my last hurrah. From what I saw, accessing the roller bolts looks very tight indeed. Possibly not enough room for a socket. Frustrating thing is that there must be a 'right way'. Whatever it is though has beaten me totally so far.
It may come to using dynamite.
I was going to suggest giving a firm kick, but dynamite would work too.It may come to using dynamite.
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