Gauge Bezels falling off?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Northern CA
Gauge Bezels falling off?
Anyone else having trouble with this? I have had mine on for about 14 months, and in the past 3 weeks two of the bezels have fallen off 
requiring me to disasemble the cluster again. This time I am hoping to resecure all of them so I do not have to touch it again. Any suggestions? I used the gel type superglue that came with them, and placed drops about 1/8" apart all the way around. Looks like the glue seperates from the black "powder" coating on the cluster surface.
Thanks
requiring me to disasemble the cluster again. This time I am hoping to resecure all of them so I do not have to touch it again. Any suggestions? I used the gel type superglue that came with them, and placed drops about 1/8" apart all the way around. Looks like the glue seperates from the black "powder" coating on the cluster surface.Thanks
Last edited by eitspc5; Sep 10, 2004 at 12:41 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
I did a set on my 99 back in 02 and now a set on my 03 along with 5 other set's over the past year. In all my time on the forum I can only recall a few incidents like this.
I'd suggest you contact the vendor they were purchased from to inform them of this rare but annoying problem. They may have some info or suggestions. But in all honesty I have not heard of this as a recurring problem, and I'm guessing thousands of gage bezel sets have been installed - mostly by forum members I'm sure.
Good luck with your repair.
Tom
I'd suggest you contact the vendor they were purchased from to inform them of this rare but annoying problem. They may have some info or suggestions. But in all honesty I have not heard of this as a recurring problem, and I'm guessing thousands of gage bezel sets have been installed - mostly by forum members I'm sure.
Good luck with your repair.
Tom
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
one important step is to trial fit the pieces first, before gluing. Especially the rings that have "gaps". Although they are initially machined to the right arc - once the notch is cut, the rings can either expand or contract and no longer fit perfectly. I found I had to adjust mine (in and out) a little so that they made perfect contact to the plastic.
The glue works best if it doesn't have to "jump any gaps". If the rings fit against the dash protrusions properly, then the glue dots should flow together; forming a continous bead around the inside of the ring bezel surface.
Super Glue is magical stuff, but it's long term abilities rely mostly on the application technique.
The glue works best if it doesn't have to "jump any gaps". If the rings fit against the dash protrusions properly, then the glue dots should flow together; forming a continous bead around the inside of the ring bezel surface.
Super Glue is magical stuff, but it's long term abilities rely mostly on the application technique.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
comes with the bezels IS superglue, but it's a gel
and gel CA doesn't set instantly as the thin variant. This is why it's so important to make sure the bezels lay down and conform to the plastic outlines perfectly. Either they fit without any pressure, or you will have to hold imperfectly sized bezels in place for 10 minutes or longer... to allow the gel to set enough - to hold the bezels to their forced circumference.
if you work at getting the rings sized peoperly before gluing, then the hold down pressure/time after application of glue isn't as critical.
and gel CA doesn't set instantly as the thin variant. This is why it's so important to make sure the bezels lay down and conform to the plastic outlines perfectly. Either they fit without any pressure, or you will have to hold imperfectly sized bezels in place for 10 minutes or longer... to allow the gel to set enough - to hold the bezels to their forced circumference.
if you work at getting the rings sized peoperly before gluing, then the hold down pressure/time after application of glue isn't as critical.
Last edited by Mike Mercury; Sep 11, 2004 at 07:39 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 0
From: Windsor, Ontario
CI 3, 4, 5, 6 & 10 Veteran
Originally Posted by RPOZ4Z
the glue that comes with the bezels IS superglue, but it's a gel. 
eitspc5,
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. In my experience, although not with the gel, it's better to put a bead instead of drops with the glue. Best of luck!
Mike
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,018
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From: The Usual Suspects Yorba Linda Chapter
eitspc5
I'm with you. Exact same thing happened to me today. I pulled the car out of the garage to wash it and was unpleasantly surprised to see one ring had come off. Very disturbing.
-Bob
I'm with you. Exact same thing happened to me today. I pulled the car out of the garage to wash it and was unpleasantly surprised to see one ring had come off. Very disturbing.
-Bob
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Northern CA
Thanks for all the replies on this. I will be pulling the dash apart again tonight, cleaning old clue off ALL the bezels and reattaching them. I will also make sure the rings are not "bent out of shape" much like I was when this happen the second time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,427
Likes: 2
From: Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Make sure the dash surface is properly cleaned and dried. I'm not 100% sure, but I have seen postings that others have wiped down the surface with a rubbing alcohol.
Can anyone add to this?
Can anyone add to this?
