Need help with 'floppy' motorbike mirror

[Houses4Rent]

My scooter mirror is dropping all the time at the ball type hinge to adjust it in any directtion. Its basically worn out I guess as its friction based. There is nothing to tighten. I am thinking of silly ideas like insulating tape, trying prestik or glue to keep it in a (even fixed if need be) position. Or a more elegant solution like a spray with some grain in it which increases friction. Is there something like that? Does anybody have a better idea? The mirror is perfectly fine otherwise and not ready to be scrapped.

[pmbguy]

Insert a thin piece of rubber in the socket cavity so it grips but you can still adjust it. I did this to a shower head and it worked like a charm

[Houses4Rent]

Sound slike a good idea, but I cannot get it apart. If I force it I fear something is going to snap. Its die cast alu I think. It will have to be ultra thin rubber to fit in there anyway, but I am sure I would find something suitable IF I get it apart that is.

[HR Solutions]

What about squeezing some Locktite into the socket ? Just make sure you get the mirror in the right place and it will never move again.

[Houses4Rent]

I mentioned glue myself, but as I said I am looking for a more elegant solution (less permanent) if that is possible at all.

[pmbguy]

I think you should pull it out. If it does not break then you can insert the rubber (or a small blob of silicone in the back of the socket hole, producing enough forward pressure to make it stiff - yet adjustable). If it does break when you trying to pull it out then you glue it in a set position, but don't glue it in a set position without trying to pull it out first.


There is another way if you really don't want to pull it out - glue it with something like Alcolin Clear Adhesive (Or similar) in a set position. Then if you need to adjust it later you can pull the glue off with relative ease and re-glue it in a new set position

[pmbguy]

Its difficult without a photo to look at, but you could drill a small whole in the socket through which you can drive a screw that puts pressure on the ball. You can tighten the screw to set and release it to adjust it.

[Houses4Rent]

All good ideas mbguy, thanks.
Here is a picture too

[pmbguy]

Drill 4 holes in the socket while attached, the wholes must go right through into the ball. Force silicone into the wholes. The shavings created from the drilling in the narrow space between the socket and the ball, with the silicone, should create enough friction to make it stiff-adjustable

[AndyD]

Try to carefully pull the glass of the mirror out and you'll probably find there's a nut or retaining screw inside behind the glass. Important things to remember; 1. If you lever the glass use something plastic, not a screwdriver. 2. No matter how hard you rub shit doesn't shine. If the mirror is cheap and nasty and poorly designed it"s doubtful it will ever work properly whatever you do to it.

[Houses4Rent]

Thanks all. I doubt the glass comes out. I try the other ideas first. Its a Motomia, better than most, but still cheap from China

[wynn]

Before you get too carried away try turning the whole mirror completely in a clockwise direction and see if there is a hidden thread that will tighten up and stiffen the action of the ball and socket?

[Houses4Rent]

Thanks, Wynn. Np thread there I am afraid.

[desA]

Some types of 'Loctite' will fill the gap between ball & socket, providing some friction, but not gluing the thing completely.

The trick is to inject some of this onto the ball-socket interface & wiggle the mirror a bit. Wipe away excess. Repeat as few times. Leave to dry - periodically rotating mirror a tad to prevent lock between boll & socket.

You may want to chat to a good sealer distributor, to the motor trade.

I used a similar trick some years ago with good success.

[Houses4Rent]

Spoke to someone knowledgable at Motomia. Its a nut with a spring ring which keeps it in place. I pulled it while turning to increasing friction to tighten it. Did not work. Trying to remove the mirror glass will break it so I won't try. He also suggested Loctite which is reversible. Even super glue. Even trying to get some fine sand in there might do the trick. I will all try that when back from my leave.
Thanks all.