Sludgepump
Member
My fasteners have broken on my top-down side covers.
The fastener consists of two parts: a paddle and a top screw. These click together and enable the cover to lock into place under the hood. The problem is that after almost 20 years of use the two parts don’t click together any more so the covers are not secure. To make matters worse, I recently lost one of my top screws so one cover cannot be used.
Replacements are no longer available so I had to do a bit of head-scratching in order to come up with a solution.
I retained the paddles and replaced the top screws with a pair of black nylon thumbscrews. I’ve come up with a way of locking the two parts together and with the use of a few nylon washers have arrived at a solution that seems to work. The result is obviously not OEM but still looks presentable. Instructions are on the photos and should be self explanatory. Cost me about £10!
Don't forget to align the paddle with the slot in the head of the thumbscrew so you always know where the paddle is. Also the thumbscrew needs to be reduced in diameter slightly (use sandpaper) so that it's a snug fit in the paddle.
Shopping list:
20mm long Black plastic M8 Thumbscrew 2 off
(M8 Black Plastic Nylon Slotted Knurled Thumb Screw | Bolt | 12-40mm | eBay)
M8 black nylon penny washer 2 off
(Black Nylon 66 / Plastic Penny Washers | eBay)
M8 Black nylon washer form A (16mm O/D) -half a dozen
(M2 M2.5 M3 M4 M5 M6 M8 M10 M12 BLACK NYLON FLAT FORM A WASHERS PLASTIC WASHER | eBay)
O ring seal 10mm I/D 2mm cross section -half a dozen
(2mm Cross Section O Rings NBR Nitrile Rubber 1mm-86mm ID Oil Resistant Seals | eBay)
The fastener consists of two parts: a paddle and a top screw. These click together and enable the cover to lock into place under the hood. The problem is that after almost 20 years of use the two parts don’t click together any more so the covers are not secure. To make matters worse, I recently lost one of my top screws so one cover cannot be used.
Replacements are no longer available so I had to do a bit of head-scratching in order to come up with a solution.
I retained the paddles and replaced the top screws with a pair of black nylon thumbscrews. I’ve come up with a way of locking the two parts together and with the use of a few nylon washers have arrived at a solution that seems to work. The result is obviously not OEM but still looks presentable. Instructions are on the photos and should be self explanatory. Cost me about £10!
Don't forget to align the paddle with the slot in the head of the thumbscrew so you always know where the paddle is. Also the thumbscrew needs to be reduced in diameter slightly (use sandpaper) so that it's a snug fit in the paddle.
Shopping list:
20mm long Black plastic M8 Thumbscrew 2 off
(M8 Black Plastic Nylon Slotted Knurled Thumb Screw | Bolt | 12-40mm | eBay)
M8 black nylon penny washer 2 off
(Black Nylon 66 / Plastic Penny Washers | eBay)
M8 Black nylon washer form A (16mm O/D) -half a dozen
(M2 M2.5 M3 M4 M5 M6 M8 M10 M12 BLACK NYLON FLAT FORM A WASHERS PLASTIC WASHER | eBay)
O ring seal 10mm I/D 2mm cross section -half a dozen
(2mm Cross Section O Rings NBR Nitrile Rubber 1mm-86mm ID Oil Resistant Seals | eBay)
