Reply from Neil Walkingshaw, General Manager at MEDesign:

Many thanks for your post on the subject of hingelocks and older Backfriends. Your comments are greatly appreciated but just to clarify the new hingelocks WILL fit all Backfriends (even very old ones).

On very old Backfriends such as yours there is a slight amendment to the standard fitting instructions. Take the two pronged part of the hingelock set. At the base where the prongs are connected, there is a small v shaped grove/snap line. Flex the prongs (or you can carefully cut along the grove with a pair of scissors) until they separate into two parts - remove any sharp edges created from the separated parts.

Insert prongs through the backrest and then fit as per instructional video on the website product page but using the upper groove on the locking component.

This information is also posted on the hingelock ordering page on the website.

Hope this advice helps.

Original post from Customer:

It all arrived safely & well with in the 5 working days. The only thing I wish to say is that the hinge locks do not fit my back friend as the holes are too wide for the lock to fit. I imagine they are only useful for a newer version of my seat which wasn't mentioned on the web site. Fortunately I only needed to replace the hinges & still have the metal screws.
I have nothing but praise for my back friend which I purchased back in the mid 1990's after suffering a slipped disc & do not go anywhere with out it. It is FANTASTIC Thankyou

I would like to say.....thank you so much for your telephone customer service.
I rang your office today regarding my well-loved and well-used Backfriend which requires a single replacement hinge after 5 years of constant use.
I received great guidance in how to remove the remaining part (!) and advice in how to order and fit the replacement.

Thank you for a wonderful, rapid and great value service for the replacement hinges for the Backfriend. I'm very impressed. Here's to many more years of service from my Backfriend!

I have an old backfriend, and needed replacement fittings. The advice from customer services was great - I initially thought the fittings would not work with my old model - they do, thanks to the very prompt and helpful guidance. Thank you

good delivery of a good-priced product!like the free p&p WELL DONE