Modern Buddy

Okay, so my left-side replacement mirror arrived awhile back from Sportique, and I tried installing it this past weekend. Looks like I've done something wrong, because it's not staying on.

Should there be a threaded stub sticking up from the handlebar that the nut for the new mirror goes on, or is that simply the stub of the mirror that broke off? And if the latter, how do I get the stub off and the new mirror on? I tried taking off the plastic housing around the mirror area of the handlebar, but the screws underneath that hold the housing on don't seem to be lined up correctly with the holes in the housing (probably due to the crash that broke the mirror in the first place), and I'm having a hard time getting the screws loosened.

If I need to post pix to explain what I'm talking about, please let me know. And please, if you post any instructions, make them Understandable By Dummies, as I know basically nothing about mechanical stuff (I had one of those old-school Girly-Girl upbringings -- didn't even learn to use a hammer properly till I was in my mid-20s).

Sounds like you broke off the mirror stem if it looks like a stubby bolt sticking up. You may need a pair of vise grips to lock on and remove the old stem. Your new mirror should screw into the mount and the nut locks down the mirror in place to keep it from rotating.

vise grips look like these
http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jht ... Prod100325

They'll lock onto your stubby bolt tightly so you can turn them and get them out.

Thanks for the info, ThisDude -- it really helps. I think I've got one of those vise grips floating around the house somewhere. Plus our local scooter guru has promised he'll help me take a look at the mirror, and the speedometer/odometer, tonight.