Interior Mirror a cry for help

[valimar]

Hi All,
My interior mirror, after 27 years got loose! Not difficult using super glue to fix the little metal plate to the windshield…problem is that after cleaning the parts thoroughly, I place the metal part upside-down! Terrible stupidity and now I cannot take it out! I tried with super glue remover and acetone but there is no room for it to penetrate enough to take it off! Now a cry for help: is there anyone of you that by accident as a damaged interior mirror that is useless but still with the metal plate on it? In this case I will glue it on the plate I have but the other way around. I would be very grateful for it and by your next visit to the Algarve I´ll be glad to compensate you! In case nobody can help perhaps someone knows if it is still possible to order it by some Lotus dealer!
Thanks in advance, Rodrigo

[John_W]

valimar,
I can’t help, I’m afraid, but you have my sympathy. We’ve all done something that we feel like kicking ourselves for. Hopefully somebody will be able to help.

John

[Rambo]

Valimar - keep trying the acetone. It is by far the best solvent for stuck on superglue but make sure it is 100% strength. If you can, leave it soaking in the solvent overnight, or even for a few days. Hopefully this might soften the glue enough to work at it

This product us also recommended, although you have mentioned you've tried proprietary removers

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loctite-High-Q ... th=1&psc=1

Good luck

[dapinky]

If you have a ball of cotton wool (or makup remover pad), try soaking it in acetone and then put it against the glued bit. Cover it with some duct tape and leave the solvent to soak into the glue.

It may take a while, but will dissolve the glue in time.

Be patient, and don't try to force the plate off or you may risk damage to the windscreen.

[Rambo]

the acetone may dissolve the adhesive on the duct/duck tape so bind the cotton wool ball on with some string or garden wire

[valimar]

Thank you Guys for your tips and sympathy! I will keep trying with cotton pads and acetone
till I find a better way to take it off

[simonbuk]

Can you not get a Stanley knife blade slowly in-between the glass and metal bit ?

[valimar]

Hello All,
I solved temporarily the problem! Found someone by eBay UK that has a lot of parts for our Lotus! I was lucky that she had that little metal part to glue on the windshield. I have been soaking for a week the metal piece with makeup cotton pads and pure acetone but even tried with a razor blade (thinner than a Stanley knife) but nothing.
Now, when I'll get the metal part I will glue it the right way to the one on the windshield and hope that some-day the mirror falls to fix it properly.

[wayne]

Pleased that someone managed to help you out. I checked all of my spare mirrors and none had the attaching plinth.

[valimar]

Thanks Wayne,
When my attaching plinth, as you call it, gets loose, I´ll have one extra and being a rare part, i will recuperate my ten Quid

[John_W]

Glad you’re sorted. On another positive note - that was some great super-glue you used! Care to share its name?

[valimar]

No problem John, as attachment a picture of the glue! In my opinion, having working for many years with composite and super glues, what is important is how you treat the materials before to glue. In this case I used first Loctite super glue remover on the windshield and on the metal plinth till both were perfect clean, then I used 800 grade water sandpaper on the metal plinth and finish by cleaning glass and metal thoroughly with alcohol. Using little glue and pressing hard for a few seconds that’s it! If there is no space at all between glass and metal, acetone cannot penetrate. If I would perform the job not so meticulously I would spare myself a monumental headache!!!

[Rambo]

You should've got "white van man" to do it Valimar. It would have fallen off by now of its own accord

[valimar]

Rambo, next time I will follow your advise and call a "jack of all trades" to perform the job