Modern Buddy

So, for the 3rd time I've got a wobbly mirror. With only 600 miles, I think this is a bit over the top. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? Are there any other mirrors that will fit the buddy?? Thanks

ScootStevie wrote:Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

Tighten it. It is a scooter, things vibrate.

To properly tighten the mirror:

First, an anatomy lesson, you have a mirror which is attached to the bent mirror stalk which has a nut which somewhat covers threads which screw into the scooter. There is a right side and a left side-you can NOT reverse them.

1. Loosen the nut until it is as high on the threads as possible but not stuck
2. Attach the mirror stalk and turn it until it is as far as it will go
3. Assess the mirror position, it probably is not quite right
4. Loosen the mirror stalk until it is a bit too far (I put mine until the top bend of the stalk is almost pointing forward) by rotating back
5. Now tighten the nut at the bottom of the mirror stalk until it is snug-do not try to tighten it all the way down, just get it snug
6. Now is the secret trick-turn the mirror stalk into position(remember you left it pointing out too far in step 4).

You have better leverege (sp?) on the mirror stalk than you do with a wrench and by gently pulling on the mirror stalk to tighten the mirror you get things tighter and it just works better.

Be gentle, don't bend anything, just work with the assembly.

If all else fails a bit of BLUE (temporary) Loctite might help the situation. Do NOT use the red Loctite-only use Blue.

I installed my windscreen last autumn and have not had the mirrors loosen on me (even through loading and unloadings) since then-about 7k miles.

Cheers,
-v

Vic wrote:
If all else fails a bit of BLUE (temporary) Loctite might help the situation. Do NOT use the red Loctite-only use Blue.

Cheers,
-v

I use blue loctite before I ever reach "If all else fails". If you make it a practice to use it before several attempts NOT using it you'll save yourself a lot of trouble. Naturally, this might mean that you did not follow the exact tightening procedure for some accessory but do you really care so long as it doesn't come loose? Some do and that's ok. I'm in the category of just not wanting to deal with another loose thingy.

LOCTITE - FIRST, LAST, ALWAYS.

If the wobble is at the mirror itself, and not where the stalk attaches to the scooter, follow the thread linked below. I disassembled my mirror in this fashion both to tighten it up and to hammer out some damage that was done to it by the previous owner. The other option is, if you're still under warranty, take it to the dealer. Several people mentioned getting new mirrors under warranty for exactly this issue.

Fixing WMS
viewtopic.php?t=7470

DennisD wrote:

Vic wrote:
If all else fails a bit of BLUE (temporary) Loctite might help the situation. Do NOT use the red Loctite-only use Blue.

Cheers,
-v

I use blue loctite before I ever reach "If all else fails". If you make it a practice to use it before several attempts NOT using it you'll save yourself a lot of trouble. Naturally, this might mean that you did not follow the exact tightening procedure for some accessory but do you really care so long as it doesn't come loose? Some do and that's ok. I'm in the category of just not wanting to deal with another loose thingy.

LOCTITE - FIRST, LAST, ALWAYS.

I think I'll try the loctite, that's a great idea. I figure 3 times in 600 miles is a bit over the top. Thanks for the idea

My mechanic freaked when he found out I used blue Loctite on my mirrors on my first scooter. He said something about incompatible metals and getting things stuck forever... I don't entirely know the whole deal, I went ahead and used it on that scooter anyway-I didn't know the method above, at that point, so I went with it. Just be careful there MAY be a problem with it.

-v

Vic wrote:My mechanic freaked when he found out I used blue Loctite on my mirrors on my first scooter. He said something about incompatible metals and getting things stuck forever... I don't entirely know the whole deal, I went ahead and used it on that scooter anyway-I didn't know the method above, at that point, so I went with it. Just be careful there MAY be a problem with it.

Okay, I give. What metal does your "mechanic" think is incompatible with blue loctite? It is sometimes amazing the excuses that an inexperienced mechanic comes up with to explain why he doesn't know something or why he missed something. (to say it a different way - a good small engine mechanic is to be treasured, they aren't all that common)

"Dissimilar metal corrosion" (a reaction caused by steel threaded into aluminum or vice versa)

Is going to happen whether you use loctite or not.
Loctite is not going to make it happen faster.

In all probability the loctite will be a barrier inhibiting dissimilar metal corrosion IMHO.

In most cases I like to use an anti-seize compound.
Like threading a pedal on to an aluminum crank on my bike

The mirror would not be one of them... loctite is your best bet.

I had the same problem this weekend. Unfortunately while removing the mirror from the holder it broke. Well we tightened up the swivel and put the broken bits back in. Within 10 miles the the swivel was loose again!

I thought someone had posted about better mirrors available, somewhere, for the Buddy. I did a search but came up empty.

Does anyone know of a better mirror?

Some people use beeswax to help keep things from coming loose, organic loctite if you will. (which is really a lie because most beeswax is full of all sorts of chemicals from treating bees for mites and what nut, plus any pesticides they picked up in the field but that's not really important here)

There's a big difference between a real knows his stuff mechanic and a parts changer. Unfortunately, if a parts changer knows a little bit more than you, he is looked at as a knowledgable mechanic. THANK GOODNESS FOR MODERN BUDDY.

NOTICE: I am a parts changer. I have learned much by doing things incorrectly and breaking things. Often.

dakotamouse wrote:I had the same problem this weekend. Unfortunately while removing the mirror from the holder it broke. Well we tightened up the swivel and put the broken bits back in. Within 10 miles the the swivel was loose again!

I thought someone had posted about better mirrors available, somewhere, for the Buddy. I did a search but came up empty.

Does anyone know of a better mirror?

Do an e-bay search. "Scooter mirrors" but gives you a lot if extraneous stuff. Look at "zoomer mirrors" The mirros for the ruckus fit the buddys. I got my mirrors from http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/epoch_shop/

Howard

Howardr wrote:

dakotamouse wrote:I had the same problem this weekend. Unfortunately while removing the mirror from the holder it broke. Well we tightened up the swivel and put the broken bits back in. Within 10 miles the the swivel was loose again!

I thought someone had posted about better mirrors available, somewhere, for the Buddy. I did a search but came up empty.

Does anyone know of a better mirror?

Do an e-bay search. "Scooter mirrors" but gives you a lot if extraneous stuff. Look at "zoomer mirrors" The mirros for the ruckus fit the buddys. I got my mirrors from http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/epoch_shop/

Howard

Do these also take into account the reverse thread issue? I like how they look.