Vent Wing Latch Question

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:22 am Post subject: Vent Wing Latch Question

Okay, so I'm over my my folks' (driveway, garage Smile

) and I am ready to replace the vent wing latch on the passenger side. Do I have to drill out the rivet at the top of the frame in order to get the glass out?

-Taylor
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

mskeen · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Vent Wing Latch Question

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:38 am Post subject:

I thought the rubber was pretty dry. I'll go out and fiddle with it again, but I take it it's safe to assume that if it won't come out, I'll have to drill the top rivet.

-Taylor
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

Andrew · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:46 am Post subject:

23window · Samba Member Joined: November 25, 2001 Posts: 838

arthurnugen · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:36 pm Post subject:

I just did this to my bus. Had to drill out the top rivet and remove the vent wing assembly. Once that is done, I took the frame and bent it out slightly and the glass slipped out (use a penetrating oil on the seal to facilitate this process). I was hesitant to use pliers or vise grips or whatever on the glass as I did not want to break it or chip it. Once the glass is out and the new vent latch is in, I lightly coated the rubber seal with dish soap, bent the frame back to shape (I measured it against the other one) and slid the glass back in. Presto! Done. Good luck.
_________________

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys! I'll give it another go soon and let everyone know how it goes.

-Taylor
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

cyberdyne systems 101 · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:13 am Post subject:

I have recently done this, and had asked and searched for info on this job too.

As it turns out the glass came out with the frame still attached by pulling it hard (rubber pretty gone), then I removed the frame (drilled top rivet and undid lower bolt) drilled the two rivets and fitted new latch and rivets, new rubber seal (lots of lubrication) and it slipped back in, trimmed the excess rubber and its done.

I guess you could do it all without removing the frame at all. Anyway I found the job loads easier than other people's experience, I guess it depends on the rubber seal condition as to how easy the glass comes out!

Arnie
_________________
When I think of something to say - I'll be the first to know

56' Oval
71' Westy

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:36 am Post subject:

Well, as I seem to recall now, you can access that nut on the bottom of the frame's shaft without taking the whole window assembly out, correct? I think we're just going to do that next time I'm over and get it lookin all nice and purty!

-Taylor
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

cyberdyne systems 101 · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:48 am Post subject:

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:32 am Post subject:

Okay, I'm back and working on this darn thing. It appears that it's gotten so rusted over the years that it's pinched the glass in there. I'm ready to just give up on it and see if anyone here (at least Bay Area locally) has a passenger vent wing they want to part with.

Anyone?

-Taylor
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

arthurnugen · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:36 am Post subject:

Bummer. It would not come out at all, huh? I guess I was just lucky.
_________________

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:39 am Post subject:

Yeah, it's being a real bee-yotch. Am thinking of making a run to a place I know and see if they have a pass. side wing.

-Taylor
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

Mr Mike · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 1:51 pm Post subject:

I recently did this job on my bus. I didn't want to take the top
rivit out ecause I don't feel confident I can squeeze or "buck"
the replacement rivit. If you "hammer" that puppy up, it'll stick
out like a sore thumb. Every time you get in the bus, it will be there
like a big sign indicating you "screwed up".
(Does anyone know if they reproduce
the rivit squeezer tool that Volkswagen used to install that rivit?
or perhaps there's fool proof better way?)
Anyway, my original problem was a broken vent wing latch on the drivers side. I discovered that using a very, very, narrow, long, straight slot
screw driver, (the type an electronic repairman would use for
small straight slot screws) I could "spring" the upper portion of the vent wing frame just a tiny bit. I could then, using my hand, pull the glass
away from the frame. Once I had a small space between the "leading"
edge of the glass and the frame, using a small piece of wood, or perhaps
a small round phillips screw driver blade inserted into the space I'd
"lever" the glass straight out of the frame. That glass is tougher then you
might think. I've done this several times and never broken or chipped one. From there, veeerrry gently, ease out the old seal, and your
"good to go".
One thing I did different from, the established proceedure. Working by
myself with the frame still attached to the bus, I couldn't find a
way to "drive/buck" those little solid rivits that hold the vent wing latch
in place. I was afraid I'd bend or smash the frame trying hit them.
So instead of solid rivits I used 1/8 diameter steel pop rivits with a grip
range of 1/16-1/8. They worked fine. I sealed the bottom and top, of the rivits, Then painted the rivit heads on the bottom of the frame. I'll keep an eye out for corrosion, but I think they'll be all right.
I used a small clamp to press the glass back into the frame, after
re-installing the seal.
to get to that 13MM nut which holds the vent wing frame at the bottom,
I took the screws out of the inside door panel and simply rotated it
enough (around the door handle) to permit access to the recessed area under the vent wing.
Used a 13MM 3/8 drive deep socket to adjust the tightness of the nut.
I couldn't figure out how to get the flaps on that lock device to come down.
So I took another 13MM nut and ran up against the first one.
Should work I think to safety it.
This will work for me untill I can get a good foolproof way to set that
uper rivit on the vent wing. Then I think I'll go back and do a
"by the book", vent wing frame off, repair. Wink

arthurnugen · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:06 pm Post subject:

Hey Mr. Mike,

I drilled out the top rivet on the vent wing and, using a replacement from WW, used vice grips to crush it. I just went slow, tightening the vice grips a little each time, and it looks OG. Good luck.

Arthur
_________________

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 4:54 pm Post subject:

Believe me, I have tried the long thin screwdriver as leverage. For the record, I now need a new long thin screwdriver since mine's all bent outta shape now. Smile

Naw, the rust has that glass wedged in there good!

-Taylor
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

burnt clutch · Samba Member Joined: January 28, 2005 Posts: 193

I'm doing the same thing on my resto. I've completely removed the vent wing from the frame, and pulled the glass, and drilled out the old vent wing lock. Are there special rivets to fasten the new vent wing locks into the frame? Also, does anyone make the rubber seal for the vent wing glass going into the frame? I had to cut the original seal a bit to get it to give up the glass.

cyberdyne systems 101 · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:33 am Post subject:

I had the exact same thing with rust pinching the glass real tight! I removed that vent wing and sat scraping it for ages, I used a craft blade and small screwdriver until just enough was removed to ease the glass out the the rusted part chiped off leaving a good frame behind, I'd suggest you keep going, eventualy it will come free. And I used some grips to squash the new top rivet in and it works just fine.

Arnie
_________________
When I think of something to say - I'll be the first to know

56' Oval
71' Westy

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:12 am Post subject:

Clutch, there are new correct-style rivets. I got mine from type2parts.com.

Cyber, keep going? I suppose I will until I get a new wing or that one comes apart. I keep getting tempted to just crack the glass so I can get it out, then clean it up, and get new glass cut.

-Taylor
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

gerg · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:15 am Post subject:

I have the correct rivits coming from WW today for the latch and the latch plate. I am concerned that I will not be able to crush them as someone mentioned above, and since they were cheap and I am not doing a 'points resto' I may just pop rivit them into place.
_________________
Gerg

. . . I got 99 problems and my bus ain't one . . .

'65 Sunroof Beetle
'65 Vert
'60 Singlecab


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