USA Murphy Beds Plain Panel User manual

1
Assembly Instructions
for
Plain Panel
Framed Flat Panel
Traditional Raised Panel
USA Murphy Beds
4625 North Manhattan Ave
Tampa, Florida 33614
813-872-7239 Fax [phone]
[email protected]
http://www.usamurphybeds.com
Supplements may be added at the end of this
document for cabinets, desk beds or folding
table beds.

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USA Murphy bed Assembly
Instructions
Before you begin ········································································ 3
Tools you will need····································································· 3
Parts enclosed check list ······························································· 4
Assemble the frame································································5 & 6
Assemble the bed ······································································· 7
USA Murphy Bed Mechanism ····················································· 11
Attach the Bed and Frame ··························································· 13
Add the Mattress Panels and hardware ············································ 14
Finishing touches······································································ 15
Supplemental accessories instructions ·················································

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Before Starting:
1) Check the packaging crate to locate all Parts and Hardware as listed on page 4. We take pride in mak-
ing sure you have the parts necessary to assemble the bed, however in the rare event you are missing a
piece please notify USA Murphy Beds within 7 business days after receipt of the product. Part requests
after this period of time may be subject to a shipping charge.
2) Decide exactly where the bed will be placed–Using measurements below
Disclaimer: Make sure you have measured correctly for the bed you have purchased. USA Murphy
beds are not responsible for the bed fitting in your room and laying flat if you have non level floors or
walls, or fitting around baseboards, or if you have not measured and planned for windows, air vents,
heating ducts, or other accessories etc when deciding where to place the product.
SIDE
PANEL
Baseboard outline shown
BASEBOARD –Before Starting decide wither the cabinet and bed is to be installed in
front of the baseboard or you will cut the side panels to fit over the baseboard so that
the panels rest as flush with the wall as possible?
You will need the following Tools (Not included):
 Large Blanket or flat cardboard to lay panels on and prevent scuffing or scratching
of wood finish
 #2 Square screw driver (Power screw driver not recommended for dowels or cams installa-
tion)
 #2 Phillips screw driver (Power screw driver not recommended for dowels or cams installa-
tion)
 1/2“ Wrench (2 required)
 3/4” Wrench
 7/16” Wrench
 Jig Saw if needed for Baseboard allowance on side panel

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Wood Parts
ARRight side panel
ALLeft side panel
B Bridge
C Headboard
D Rear toe kick
ELLeft face panel
ECCenter face panel
ERRight face panel
FLLeft side rail
FRRight side rail
G Head rail
H Foot rail
I Cross rails (2 units)
JLLeft mattress panel
JCCenter mattress panel
JRRight mattress panel
K Front toe kick
Steel Parts
LRRight leg with nut &
washer
LLLeft leg with nut & washer
MLLeft cover plate
MRRight cover plate
N Springs
Hardware
Mechanism Bag
10 countersink bolts
1 Allen wrench
Bag #1 (cabinet assembly)
12 screw dowels
12 half turn cams
3 2 ¼” washer head screws
Bag #2 (face panel assembly)
6 flat connection brackets
24 5/8 ” washer head screws
Bag #3 (bed frame assembly)
20 screw dowels
20 half turn cams
8 1 ½” countersink screws
Bag #4 (cross support assembly)
12 ‘L’ brackets
48 ¾” washer head screws
Bag #5 (bed loading hardware)
2 handles and screws
4 mechanism fixture bolts
4 mechanism fixture nuts
2 1 ¼” washer head screws
2 leg stop spacers
Bag #6 (mattress platform)
26 1 ½” countersink screws
Note: Hardware may differ in the case of horizon-
tal or King size beds a supplement bag will be in-
cluded in those cased.

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1. It is recommended to cut out the bottom of
the side panels (AR & AL) to accommodate for
the base board so that it rests flush with the wall.
You may however, decide to install the bed in
front of baseboard. (Not recommended) if you
choose not to cut then you will have to shim out
the Bridge an equal distance at the top.
NOTE: CAUTION: To avoid scratching the
finished surfaces, place the pieces on a blanket or
piece of cardboard
2. Place the side panels lying down with the pre-
drilled holes (insides) facing upward. Place the
screw dowels into the pre-drilled holes located
next to red tags at the top, middle and bottom of
each panel.
Note: Tags Have been discontinued..
3. Locate the Bridge (B). (1) Attach the
bridge to the top of the side panel by slid-
ing the dowels into the bridge holes located
on each end. (2) Place cams into the holes
on the bridge that the dowels are now visi-
ble through and (3) turn cams clockwise to
lock them. Make sure bridge is facing the
correct way as shown in # (1).
4. Locate the headboard ( C ). (1) Attach the
headboard to the side panel by doing the
same process with the 2 dowels located ap-
proximately in the middle of the side panel.
Make sure it is facing the correct direction
and finished edge is facing the bridge (the
back of the headboard will be unfinished).
(2) Place in Cams and (3) secure them .
1) 2)
3)
1) 2)
3)

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5. Locate Rear Toe Kick (D). It will be completely unfinished on both
sides. Place it on the dowel that is located at the bottom of the side
panel next to the notch that was cut out for the baseboard. Lock it in
with a cam.
Note: Rear toe kick is no longer used on vertical beds. Angle brack-
ets are used in place of the rear toe kick.
6. Locate the Front Toe Kick (K). The back ill be unfinished and the
front will be finished. Place it on the remaining dowel located at the
bottom of the side panel closest to the finished edge. Make sure the fin-
ished face is facing outward and the finished edge is facing up towards
the bridge. Lock in place with a cam.
7. (1&2)Lift the opposite side panel on
top of the side with the attached parts to
make the bed cabinet. (3-6) Secure with
cams and place structure on its face on
the floor on a soft clean surface. (7&8)
Then lift it against the wall so it sits flush
with the wall.
1) 2)
3) 4)
5) 6)
7) 8)

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8. Locate the studs in the wall above the
bridge. (1) Make sure the bed cabinet is level
and the sides are vertical. (2&3) Then attach
the bridge to the studs in the wall by placing a
minimum of 2 screws (3 are recommended)
that are 2 1/4” into the top of the bridge where
the studs are located. Do not drill any into the
rear toe kick as of yet, this will need to be able
to shift so we can make sure there gap between
the face panels and the side panels are even in
later steps.
Note: If you did not notch out for the base-
board you have to shim the bridge out an
equal distance.
9. Locate the Face Panels; they are labeled EL, EC and ER
(left, center and right). Lay them face down on a soft clean
surface. Make sure they are all going in the same direction
and none are upside down. Make sure the panel labeled ER is
at your left, EC is at the center and EL is at your right. (Note:
they are reversed because they are face down.
If you ordered just the bed, the top of your face panels will be
the small squares. If you ordered side cabinets with it
(example: C1-C5) then the large rectangle will be the top of
your face panels. Note : Left and right is as you are facing the
bed.
10. Make sure the face panels are flush at
the top and bottom and place 6 flat connec-
tion brackets where the edges of each face
panel meets each other (brackets shown in
(1) locations for brackets shown in diagram
1. Do not put the brackets on the very edge
of the top or bottom. Start no less than 2 1/2
inches from the top or bottom edge. Evenly
space them and use 5/8” washer head
screws to attach the brackets to the panels.
(2) Place one screw into one of the bracket
holes on one panel and then (3) when you
put the screw into the hole for the other
panel make sure you put it at an angle to
tighten the face panels together (4).
Note: King or Horizontal bed will have a
supplement bag with extra flat brackets still
only using 3 per seam.
1) 2)
3)
1) 2)
3) 4)

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11. Place dowels in the predrilled holes along
the perimeter of the face panels located next to
the orange tags.
Note: Tags have been discontinued.
12. Dowels must be completely vertical, if they
are sitting at an angle take the handle of your
screwdriver and tap it so that it is straight up.
14. Locate the Head Rail (G) and place it on the dowels located at the bot-
tom of the bed. They are the 2 holes that are 3/8” from the edge. Make sure
the wooden strip is facing inward and the cam holes are facing out. Do not
secure the cams yet.
13. Locate the side rails (FL & FR). Stand at the bottom of the face panels.
Place FR on top of the dowels of face panel ER so that the slot in the side
rail is facing in and the edge is flush where you are standing. The big hole
on the side rail will be down by the top. Do the same thing for FL, place
over dowels on face panel EL. Do not secure with cams yet.
15. Locate the Foot Rail (H) and place it over the 2 dowels at the top of the
face panels. These are 1 7/8” away from the edge. Make sure that the strip is
facing inward and so are the cam holes. Do not secure cams yet.
1) 2)
3)

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16. At the top and bottom of each side rail you
will see 4 predrilled holes, 2 at the top and 2 at
the bottom. Use the 1 1/2” countersink screws to
secure the top and bottom of the side rails to the
head and foot rails, except for the predrilled hole
located closest to the big hole in the side rails.
Make sure that toe tops and sides where the side
rails meet the head and foot rails are flush when
you screw in the 1 1/2” countersink screw.
17. (1) There are 3 predrilled holes, in the
side rails the hole in the middle of the 3
holes gets the white foot stopper. (2&3) Use
the 3 1/4” washer head screw and thread it
through the white foot stopper. (4&5) Then
drill it into the final pre drilled hole on each
side rail. Now secure all of the cams in the
side, head and foot rails.
Note:
Failure to place the screws as shown could
cause failures of the side rails.
18. Locate the 3 “I” cross rails. These will be
your support beams and will go perpendicular to
the side rails so the notch in the I rail fits over the
support strip. There should be 3 on each side rail
and the first ( the thicker of the three ( diagram
1)) approximately 10 ” from the foot or head rail.
19. Using the L Brackets and the 5/8 washer
head screws from bag #4, attach the I rails to the
side rail, placing the bracket over the support
strip.
1) 2)
3) 4)
5)

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20. After attaching the 2 ends of the I rails to
the side rails using the L brackets. Place 2
more L brackets from bag 4# on each I rail at
the seams of the face panels (4). With one
bracket on one side and one on the other,
secure the I rail to the back of the face pan-
els. Noweach I rail has 4 brackets on it and it
is secured to the side rails and the face panels
for maximum support.
21. Locate the Steel Legs (LL & LR) in your
mechanism box. Stand at the top of the face
panels. The leg labeled LL goes into the big
hole on the Side Rail on your left (FL). Take
off all of the washers. (1) Place on only the
plastic washer with the big opening. (2) Put the
leg into the hole from the outside in. (3) Place
metal washer with small hole onto the leg
screw that is on the inside of the side rail and
put the nut on. You will need a 1/2” wrench to
do so.
22. Locate the Steel Legs Connection Rod. On
each leg down by the rubber foot there is a hole.
Remove the bolt from each end on the Connection
rod and attach it to the legs by putting the bolt
through the holes in the legs and tightening it with
a 7/16” wrench.
Note:
There are no leg connecting rods for Horizontal or
King Beds
1) 2)
3)
1) 2)
3)
4)

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23. Locate the Mattress Panels (JL, JC,
JR). Stand at the top of the face panels
(where the legs and rod are) and place the
panel labeled JL on the left with the elastic
towards you. (1&2) Mark where the Cross
rails are underneath it so you know where
to screw into the mattress panel to attach it
to the cross rail. Place the center mattress
panel in the center and mark on the panel
where the cross rails are underneath it. Do
the same with the right mattress panel,
making sure that the elastic is towards you
and not up by the head rail. (3) Place eight
1 1/2” countersink screws into the center
panel to attach it to the bed. 2 where the
strip is of the head rail, 2 in each cross rail
and 2 in the foot rail strip that it is sitting
on. (4) Remove the left and right mattress
panels.
24. Locate the 4 mechanism fixture bolts
and nuts. While standing at the bottom of the
face panels (head rail side), on the side rails
there are 2 holes on each near your end. (1)
Place a bolt in the upper most of the holes on
each side (2) going from the outside in and put
the nut on the bolt from the inside. Do not
tighten, you want the bolt to be sticking outside
of the side rail.
Note: The large washers must be on the inside
of the bed
25. Depending on what type of bed you have will depend on how many springs to put onto the mecha-
nism. The following is an estimated amount of how many springs we usually use for each type of bed.
Each mattress is different in weight so yours might need one extra spring or one less spring.
VERTICAL BEDS:
King: 9 Springs
Queen: 7 Springs
Full: 6 Springs
Twin: 5 Springs
Queen with table: 8 Springs
Full with table: 7 Springs
Twin with table: 6 Springs
Queen with desk: 7 Springs
HORIZONTAL BEDS:
Queen: 4 Springs
Full: 3 Springs
Twin: 2 Springs
Again, these are our estimated amounts based on what we usually use for these types of beds, we do not know
what kind of mattress you will be putting on your bed. Try putting this amount on and follow the instructions. It
will instruct you how to tell if it is the incorrect amount as well as how to fix it in later steps.
1) 2)
3) 4)
5)
1) 2)
3)

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26. Locate both mechanisms and lay flat
down on the floor. There is a top portion
to add springs and a bottom. Skip the inner
most top and bottom holes. (1&2) The
springs should be attached so that the hook
on the springs goes from inside to out and
(3&4) bend the spring back to get it into
the corresponding hole on the middle
piece.
Alternating putting springs on the top and
bottom part will make it easier. Meaning,
(5) place one on top, (6) then bottom , (7)
then top, then bottom, until you have all
the springs you need. Also, if you have an
odd number of springs, (8) the larger num-
ber will be on top. Example: Our queen
usually needs 7 springs. The top part will
have 4 and the bottom will have 3. Re-
member to skip the one inner most hole on
the top and bottom.
27. (1) Place mechanism into the 5 holes in
the side panel. Make sure that the fork part
that sticks out of the mechanism is facing
out. (2) While holding the mechanism in
place use the countersink bolts located in
the hardware bag labeled “Mech” and
screw them into the mechanism from the
outside. (3) Use the allen wrench that we
provided you, also located in that hardware
bag. (4) Screw all 5 bolts in until they are
flush with the outside of the side panel.
1) 2)
3) 4)
5) 6)
7) 8)
1) 2)
3) 4)
5)

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28. With 2 people, lift up the face panels and
with the head rail side down, slide the face panels
down so that the bolt sticking out of the side rails
goes into the fork sticking out of the mechanism.
29. (2) Take the remaining 2 mechanism
fixture bolts and from the inside of the side
rail slide the bolt through (3&4) so that it
goes through the hole in the mechanism arm
as well. Do this on both side rails and (5)
tighten the bolts with a 1/2” wrench.
30. With a 3/4” wrench tighten the mechanism springs by turning the nut
in the middle of the mechanism so that you only see about an inch left of
thread in front of it. The mech on the right side panel you will push down
on the wrench to tighten and the mech on the left side panel you will pull
up on the wrench to tighten it.
31. Make sure that the bed closes tightly at the top
and the gap on the left and right side are the same.
Then while someone holds the face panels down
secure the rear toe kick into the wall with a mini-
mum of 2 of the 2 1/4” washer head screws.
- If face panels do not close tight at top: Tighten
the mechanism some more. If it still does not close than
an extra spring will need to be installed. To do so you
must remove the face panels and loosen the springs on
the mechanism so that it is possible to get another spring onto the mechanism.
- If the legs or bed face is hitting the side panel and preventing it from closing OR the gap on the
left and right is not the same: You must shift the bottom of the bed to the left or right, depending on which
side it is hitting until the gap on the left and the gap on the right are the same. Then secure the rear toe kick to the
bottom of the wall with a minimum of 2 of the 2 1/4” washer head screws.
- Once the gaps on each side of the face panels are the same and the bed face closes tight at the top you can move
onto the next step.
1) 2)
3) 4)
5)

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32. Next locate the knobs inside hardware
bag labeled #5. The knobs go on the left and
right face panels near the center panel. These
will go on the framed part of the Framed Flat
Panel and Traditional Raised Panel beds. (1)
Measure down 18” from the top of the face
panel and put a mark. (2) Then find the cen-
ter of that framed part and put another mark
making an X or cross, where you will put the
screw hole. Drill a hole over the X but make
sure that it is not bigger than the screw head.
(3) Place the screw from the inside of the bed
out so that the knob can be attached from the
outside. (4) Tighten the knob.
- For Plain Panel beds as long as it is 18”
down from the top of the face panel it does
not matter how far over from the center panel
it is. Standard is 18” down and 1 1/2” over
onto the left and right face panels from the
center panel.
33. While someone holds the face panels down, put
the left and right mattress panels back on the bed
and attach them with the 1 1/2” counter sink screws
that were used for the center one and place 8
screws in each just as you did with the center panel.
2 in the head rail strip, 2 in each cross rail and 2 in
the foot rail strip. Make sure that the legs are down
and someone is applying weight so that it does not
close up.
1) 2)
3) 4)
34. Lay the mattress onto the mattress panels and fold the straps over the mattress. The bed should stay
down on the floor. If it comes up about an inch, that is normal and don't worry this is completely safe. It
will not rise up more than that and when any weight is applied it will go to the floor. This will happen on
occasion because the springs are not broken in yet, when they get a few uses it will touch the floor com-
pletely. When closing make sure to flip the legs up over so the rod is on top of the mattress. The bed
should close smoothly with little effort and stay closed tight at the top.

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35. If the bed does not stay down at all: The springs may be too tight, loosen the mechanism bolt in
the middle a couple rotations and try again. If now the bed stays down but does not close all the way
then a spring will need to be removed. To do this you must remove the mattress and the face panels by
taking it off of the mechanism arm. After those are removed then loosen the mechanism springs and take
one off of each mechanism. If it is the same number of springs on the top and bottom of the mech then
take the very bottom one off. If it is an odd number of springs and the top has one more springs then the
bottom, then take the top one off. Put the panels back on, Secure them and tighten the springs again.
Place the mattress back on the bed and it should be fixed. Making the springs al ittle tighter or looser
may be required to get it perfect.
If the bed does not close tight at the top against the bridge: Tighten the springs a couple rotations on
the mechanism and see if that makes it tight at the top and still stays down against the floor when bed is
down. If doing this makes it tight at the top but rises the bed up more than an inch then a spring must be
added. Remove the mattress and face panels from the mechanism arm. Loosen the springs on the mecha-
nism and add one spring to each mechanism. If there are the same springs on top as are on the bottom of
the mechanism then add it to the top. If there are an odd number of springs and the top has one more
than the bottom, add the spring to the bottom. Place the face panels back onto the mechanism arm and
tighten bolts and mechanism springs. Place the mattress back onto the bed and try it again, this should
fix it. Making the springs a little tighter or looser may be required to get it perfect.
36. If crown molding was purchased, it just rests on top of the bed so that
the lip comes to the front of the side panels and goes back to the wall. No
Screws or nails are needed to secure it, it has a lip around the edge to hold
it in place and this way if cleaning or dusting above the bed is needed it
can easily be removed. If you wish to attach it using screws you can do so.
Thank you for your business with USA Murphy Beds & Cabinetry. To visit us you can go to
www.usamurphybeds.com or give us a call at 813-872-7239. If you have any questions or comments please feel
free to give us a call or email at [e-mail].