Community Forums

The Incorrigible Dirigible · 12-13-2009, 12:00 PM

I posted this in the National forum, but got no replies. Our rig isn't quite 20 yet, but it's close and I was hoping someone might have some insight. The upper mounting screws attaching the driver's side mirror of our '95 Dolphin have come loose from the body; they seem to be rusted out. The lower screws remain attached, but it's not attached well enough that I trust it to stay attached at freeway speeds.

New screws do not seem to be working; they won't go into the material. Has anyone dealt with a situation like this before? What's the best way to reattach it? Are self-tapping screws required, and if so, how do I avoid putting holes through to the interior and causing leaks?

Any thoughts?

TXiceman · 12-13-2009, 01:54 PM

The best way to fix this kind of problem is to get to the back side of the area and install a backing plate and install ne through bolts. Be sure and use stainless steel bolts and nuts.

Ken

The Incorrigible Dirigible · 12-13-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

The best way to fix this kind of problem is to get to the back side of the area and install a backing plate and install ne through bolts. Be sure and use stainless steel bolts and nuts.

Ken

Ken,

Because of the mounting (a single post above the driver's window) the back side of the area would be the interior of the RV, near as I can tell.

RedneckExpress · 12-13-2009, 07:21 PM

Are you walls made of wood or steel? If your walls are made of wood, you could have dry rot, which is why new screws won't hold worth a damn. Now, if its steel or aluminum, you may not have enough material left for the threads to bite in.

While a couple of carriage bolts through to the inside wall and a healthy application of marine sealant would be the most permanent solution, another option is to get some self-thread cutting screws a couple sizes bigger than the existing screws (If space allows) and drive them into the existing holes, provided its steel or aluminum, this won't work for wood. Wood, you need to get dowels and drill out the existing holes and glue pieces of dowel in, then drill out a slightly smaller hole than the screw size and drive the new screws in with some Polyurethane glue.

Theberrys · 12-13-2009, 07:40 PM

If your dealing with sheet metal you can use this
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
these are threaded rivets that install from the outside and take machine screws.
$14.00 for the kit, tool and rivets.

Dick

TheDubs · 12-13-2009, 09:48 PM

What about a tap and bigger screws.

The Incorrigible Dirigible · 12-14-2009, 07:45 AM

The material seems to be somewhere in between--the walls are a fiberglass/foam/wood sandwich at the window frame, and there may be metal body framing behind the mirror, though there don't seem to be any holes for the mirror to be mounted into that. It's a power mirror, so the electrics run into the wall as well. Is it possible that National just screwed the mirrors directly into the fiberglass?

GOLDWINGER2 · 12-14-2009, 04:19 PM

Take off the good mirror and see how it,s attached and then try to rebuild the bad side.
J

The Incorrigible Dirigible · 12-18-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLDWINGER2

Take off the good mirror and see how it,s attached and then try to rebuild the bad side.
J

That's where I started. It's pretty simple; four screws into the side of the body. Two of the screws were no longer holding in their holes. I bought two new, matching and slightly longer screws, but they won't go into the material deeply enough to hold, for some reason.

mikedes · 12-18-2009, 05:46 PM

I had the same problem on a 2000 Monoco and the mirror was attached to a plywood bulkhead and you could not get behind it. Tony's RV in SC filled the holes with epoxy and reattached the mirror about 3 yrs ago and has held well and shows no sign of coming loose
Mike

TXiceman · 12-19-2009, 06:52 AM

You might try packing as much J-B Weld (epoxy) as you can get into the holes. Then drill and tap the holes to fit. J-B makes a putty type epoxy.

J-B Weld

Ken

The Incorrigible Dirigible · 12-20-2009, 06:25 AM

Filling with epoxy sounds like a good place to start. Thanks, all!

Edw · 12-20-2009, 08:06 AM

I have 99 Seabreeze, mirrors needed refinishing, screws were so rusted the threads were gone and would not hold when reinstalling. I steppe up the screw diameter 1 size and used stainless steel. went in pretty hard but large phillips head helped.

Also: had tree fall on camper this fall and broke a mirror stem. Have good fix for that if anyone needs it.
Ed