Daves69
Well-Known Member
I've had this '74(?) remote side mirror for a long time. Not a gem by any means with some pitting in the chrome and pretty floppy (loose) but good glass. I thought I'd use it as a guinea pig and get into it a bit. Here's what I found that may or may not help someone..........
In another thread I think Redfish said at previously the glass is held in by "black stuff from hell(?)". I believe this is similar to the old aquarium glass sealer that was used before silicone. It is very tough stuff. It appears in the four recessed spots of the thin aluminum back that the remote cables attach to. Using a heat gun and X-acto type spatula knife I was able to pull the glass off the back. I got in a bit of a hurry and unfortunately managed to chip the edge. But I'd say if one finds an original glass in good condition one could possibly save it. Just take your time spreading the glass away from the back. Glasses and gloves alert! Note there is a small lip around the OD of the back so you'll need to pry down into with thin a sharp tool. Too much, too quick, and...chip. Start between two of the four spots and slice through the black stuff working your way around the mirror glass. The knife seemed to work best slicing slowly from the inside toward the outside. A 6" rule was used to keep the already separated areas apart.
Some pictures for your viewing pleasure......................
I haven't glued the lens back in as yet as the "flop" was still there. Looking at it (picture above) the point in center of the aluminum back is the pivot. The three cable ends surround it. Where they come through the back all three had clearance (like they are sticking out too far) allowing the mirror to flop around.
What I'm trying is a small nylon washer placed between the mirror back center point and the cast pivot (bottom picture, left). To gain clearance for the washer I compressed the remote spring behind the joy stick with a valve spring compressor and 7/16" socket (bottom picture, right). This washer has eliminated the flop without the glass in it. Don't know if the glass weight will affect the result.
I have no idea for how long this type of fix can last.
In another thread I think Redfish said at previously the glass is held in by "black stuff from hell(?)". I believe this is similar to the old aquarium glass sealer that was used before silicone. It is very tough stuff. It appears in the four recessed spots of the thin aluminum back that the remote cables attach to. Using a heat gun and X-acto type spatula knife I was able to pull the glass off the back. I got in a bit of a hurry and unfortunately managed to chip the edge. But I'd say if one finds an original glass in good condition one could possibly save it. Just take your time spreading the glass away from the back. Glasses and gloves alert! Note there is a small lip around the OD of the back so you'll need to pry down into with thin a sharp tool. Too much, too quick, and...chip. Start between two of the four spots and slice through the black stuff working your way around the mirror glass. The knife seemed to work best slicing slowly from the inside toward the outside. A 6" rule was used to keep the already separated areas apart.
Some pictures for your viewing pleasure......................
I haven't glued the lens back in as yet as the "flop" was still there. Looking at it (picture above) the point in center of the aluminum back is the pivot. The three cable ends surround it. Where they come through the back all three had clearance (like they are sticking out too far) allowing the mirror to flop around.
What I'm trying is a small nylon washer placed between the mirror back center point and the cast pivot (bottom picture, left). To gain clearance for the washer I compressed the remote spring behind the joy stick with a valve spring compressor and 7/16" socket (bottom picture, right). This washer has eliminated the flop without the glass in it. Don't know if the glass weight will affect the result.
I have no idea for how long this type of fix can last.
