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Thu Jul 04, 2013 11:21 am

I have a 1967 Beetle convertible and I want to install the right hand long arm mirror. I cannot find anyone in my area (Brampton, Ontario) with a hinge press that I can borrow, rent or have them remove it.

I have read a number of discussions where people remove the pins with an air hammer. I do have an air hammer, but the issue is that the car has a show quality paint job that I don't want to damage. I know that I can protect the surrounding areas from the hammer and understand that I will inevitably lose some paint on the hinge itself, but my concern is stressing and damaging the door sheet metal or the surrounding body sheet metal and paint with the air chisel.

Any thoughts and/or experience at doing this?

Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:14 pm

If using an air hammer, spray some lubricant (PB Blaster or oil) to thoroughly saturate the hinge pin. Do this for a couple days. Open the door & inspect the hinge area, you'll find a slot in the hinge for this specific purpose.

Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:24 pm

An air hammer can deliver ~300 blows per minute in a small concentrated area. If the car is solid and sound with no excessive rust or rot, this shouldn't damage any surrounding sheet metal, but if you start hammering and nothing moves, step back and soak it again overnight. By holding a heavy but padded object (such as the tip of a dead blow hammer handle) on top of the hinge while you hammer will help counter-act the blows and make them more effective.

You want to use a long, slim bit that tapers down to ~1/4" on the end. Make certain the tip is no larger than the pin/hole in the door so it doesn't get stuck inside. If you can, bend the last 3-4" into a gentle curve, for the top hinge this will keep the air hammer away from the door.

Tape up the door and hinge all around the area you're working with blue painter's tape to protect the paint. Two or three layers right around and under the hinge wouldn't hurt.

Supplement the tape by holding a sheet of heavy cardboard or Masonite between the door and hammer for further protection.

If in the worst case the paint is chipped on the hinge, that can be easily touched up and even spot resprayed without being too obvious (as long as you have left over paint that matches 100%).

Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:20 pm

Thanks for the responses. I have been soaking the pin for a few days now with PB Blaster and just wanted some affirmation that the air chisel would be a stress free way to drive the hinge pin out.

The only source of knowledge is experience - thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:35 pm

I've driven out hinge pins using an air hammer on multiple Beetles. No problems on atleast 8 cars so far

Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:37 pm

Problem with the air chisel is, if the pin is really stuck, then you risk mushrooming the end. Then getting it out is way worse.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1293794
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1455746
it's not really worth trying it any other way if you have a nice paint job

Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:26 pm

It might be helpful to have an extra set of hands and eyes when you go to do this job. Having your helper hold the "tip of a dead blow hammer handle" on top of the hinge as suggested by 61SNRF would allow you to fully concentrate on the operation of the air hammer.

Obviously be ultra careful. You certainly do not want to mushroom the end. The variable here is how badly rusted or stuck is that pin? This can certainly vary. Pre soak it liberally and keep an eye on the end as you apply the air hammer. Look for any evidence of mushrooming or any other damage and hopefully of pin moving upwards.

I was spoiled when I did the pin on my 1960 as I was able to use the special removal tool press. It was so easy. No damage whatsoever. I decided I wanted/needed the right hand mirror just after I had done a complete black paint job on the car. I have really come to like and appreciate that mirror from a safety standpoint.

The other thing you have to then decide is whether your replacement pin will need to be oversized or not. However, job #1 is to get the old one out and I wish you success on that. :)

Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:57 pm

I used the air hammer to get men out recently,worked fine. But putting the new one in was a chore. It still didn't get down all the way. I backed up the bottom side with a 2 by 4 and a mallet on top,it just wouldn't go anymore.
Probably gonna have to clean up the bottom side with a wire brush. We'll see.

Sat Jul 06, 2013 4:50 am

Man - I dunno - if the car is painted and you have not done this before with an air hammer, I would try to find the tool. I tried the air hammer...once - never again.

Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:02 am

danny gabbard wrote:

New hinge pin removal tool I'm Make'n. This is the prototype and first 10 units will be done in a few days

I ran across this in the bodywork/paint forums-
Looks like this us what you need-

Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:35 am

Its available for rent in the classifieds. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1293794

There may be additional ads, but I just copied the first one I saw.

I rented it to do mirror mount pins on my wifes car and while I had it, I put a new set of pins in my VW woodie. Way easy and no damage.

Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:15 am

57heinz wrote: I used the air hammer to get men out recently,worked fine. But putting the new one in was a chore. It still didn't get down all the way. I backed up the bottom side with a 2 by 4 and a mallet on top,it just wouldn't go anymore.
Probably gonna have to clean up the bottom side with a wire brush. We'll see.

Mine tapped in without a problem . It was a standard size pin from Wolfsburg West. Some lubrication helped. I wonder if yours is hanging up at the top where the little splined area is?

Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:37 am

I think so,because it just stopped.

Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:37 pm

PM sent

Wed Nov 20, 2013 7:28 pm

The Gab-Fab Hinge Pin removal tool is killer!! I just got mine today and it worked like a charm. I was really surprised too given how rusty everything has been on my 65 bug. I was worried that if I used an air hammer it would mushroom the end of the pin and then I would be in big trouble. No issues with the Gab-Fab tool. It is just a steady build up of pressure, one pop as the pin gets free and then an easy press getting it out. Well worth the money if you are planning on working on more VW's over the years.

Fri Nov 22, 2013 7:12 pm

Are the pins tapered? Does it make a difference if you remove pressing up or down?
Marvin

Fri Nov 22, 2013 8:36 pm

The pins press out from from the bottom through the top and install from the top.

[img][/img]

Fri Nov 22, 2013 8:54 pm

This a hinge pin I removed from my '60. You can see it could only be removed one way - pressure on the bottom and it will push out out from the top. The special tool really makes it easy.

[img][/img]

Sat Nov 23, 2013 7:05 am

andk5591 wrote: Man - I dunno - if the car is painted and you have not done this before with an air hammer, I would try to find the tool. I tried the air hammer...once - never again.

It's been hit and mis for me... :P
I've had them pop out with an air hammer, and I also destroyed a 67 door trying to get one out.

If you're reconditioning a car that will be repainted... Always think ahead and at least install the mirror pin whether you use it or not. Heat, lube and patience works wonders.

If the car was finished, and painted... without a press...I'd do without a passenger mirror. not worth it IMO.

Wed May 18, 2022 12:49 pm

I am planning to add the right passenger outside mirror to my wife's 66 bug.
I watched a few yt videos and some seem to show that there is a small plastic plug inserted on top of the pin to keep moisture out. When I looked at the hinge on my wife's bug, I can't tell if the cap is there or not. The top of the pin is oval or am I seeing the top of a cap? Tried to push the tip of a small pocket knife blade into the edge to see if I could pry out the cap but don't want to go nuts a destroy any more paint than necessary.

Also, does anyone know if someone in the Greater Vancouver BC area rents out one of those pin removal tools?

Also, CIP1 sells a couple of different versions of the mirror. One is about double the cost of the other one. I can't tell if the arm length is longer on one version compared to the other. The telephone sales rep wasn't any help when I asked the question. ?????