Table Leg Repair

[lewisnoble]

We have just returned from 2 weeks in Shetland - great place - met another California with gas regulator issues - hope you got sorted out if you are reading this.

Our table leg also fell apart, may be useful to recount how I fixed it.

Around 3 years ago, the sliding part of the leg fell out, the plastic gizmo locating the slider in the fixed part sprung out, springs disappeared . . . . We were wildcamping somewhere, so I repaired myself. Replaced the two missing springs with springs from retractable ball-point pens, stuck into their holes with a sticky dot from stationers.

This worked fine until our Shetland trip - I had not realised how crucial the grub screw in the side of the fixed part was, it prevents the sliding part slipping out altogether. So the grub screw is just as important as the springs.

It is a tiny grub screw, very small Hx key needed. No idea if available on its own from VW - I doubt it!! Nothing in my cycle spares that would fit, but I discovered that the brass terminal screw from a 13 amp plug fits OK - slightly too large, but beds in well, and can be removed with electrical screwdriver if need be, no need for a tiny Hx key. Works fine now ! though we still check the security of the leg very carefully before putting food down . . . .

Lewis - Sheffield

 

[DavidofHook]

We have just returned from 2 weeks in Shetland - great place - met another California with gas regulator issues - hope you got sorted out if you are reading this.

Our table leg also fell apart, may be useful to recount how I fixed it.

Around 3 years ago, the sliding part of the leg fell out, the plastic gizmo locating the slider in the fixed part sprung out, springs disappeared . . . . We were wildcamping somewhere, so I repaired myself. Replaced the two missing springs with springs from retractable ball-point pens, stuck into their holes with a sticky dot from stationers.

This worked fine until our Shetland trip - I had not realised how crucial the grub screw in the side of the fixed part was, it prevents the sliding part slipping out altogether. So the grub screw is just as important as the springs.

It is a tiny grub screw, very small Hx key needed. No idea if available on its own from VW - I doubt it!! Nothing in my cycle spares that would fit, but I discovered that the brass terminal screw from a 13 amp plug fits OK - slightly too large, but beds in well, and can be removed with electrical screwdriver if need be, no need for a tiny Hx key. Works fine now ! though we still check the security of the leg very carefully before putting food down . . . .

Lewis - Sheffield

Thanks for the info about the tiny screw. We had it fall out in France a couple of years back. I was able to screw in back with my finger and a knife but not very securely so I put some duct tape round it and so far it had held up fine. But I'm impressed with your ability to put it all back together again! And I'll now go and look for a spare 13 amp plug..... sounds a better bet than my lashup.

 

[Calijen]

Thanks for the info about the tiny screw. We had it fall out in France a couple of years back. I was able to screw in back with my finger and a knife but not very securely so I put some duct tape round it and so far it had held up fine. But I'm impressed with your ability to put it all back together again! And I'll now go and look for a spare 13 amp plug..... sounds a better bet than my lashup.

Hi Lewis, we have recently bought a T5.1 Cali and the grub screw has been missing from day 1, I’m off to the shed to find a suitable 13 amp plug. This club site and it’s members are fantastic ! THANK YOU ALL

 

[ejmoore]

We have just returned from 2 weeks in Shetland - great place - met another California with gas regulator issues - hope you got sorted out if you are reading this.

Our table leg also fell apart, may be useful to recount how I fixed it.

Around 3 years ago, the sliding part of the leg fell out, the plastic gizmo locating the slider in the fixed part sprung out, springs disappeared . . . . We were wildcamping somewhere, so I repaired myself. Replaced the two missing springs with springs from retractable ball-point pens, stuck into their holes with a sticky dot from stationers.

This worked fine until our Shetland trip - I had not realised how crucial the grub screw in the side of the fixed part was, it prevents the sliding part slipping out altogether. So the grub screw is just as important as the springs.

It is a tiny grub screw, very small Hx key needed. No idea if available on its own from VW - I doubt it!! Nothing in my cycle spares that would fit, but I discovered that the brass terminal screw from a 13 amp plug fits OK - slightly too large, but beds in well, and can be removed with electrical screwdriver if need be, no need for a tiny Hx key. Works fine now ! though we still check the security of the leg very carefully before putting food down . . . .

Lewis - Sheffield

Hi, if you are still on the forum, could you explain how the springs fit? Our table leg has fallen apart in the same way, also in Shetland as it happens. We found one of the springs but not the grub-screw. Can't work out how the springs go into place, or stay there. Thanks. EM

 

[lewisnoble]

Sorry, no longer have a California, sold it 3 yes ago. Cannot recall spring fitting, but I know I used springs from ball point pens!!

 

[ejmoore]

Sorry, no longer have a California, sold it 3 yes ago. Cannot recall spring fitting, but I know I used springs from ball point pens!!

Thought that might be the case! Thanks for replying anyway.

 

[Meoncoast]

Hi, if you are still on the forum, could you explain how the springs fit? Our table leg has fallen apart in the same way, also in Shetland as it happens. We found one of the springs but not the grub-screw. Can't work out how the springs go into place, or stay there. Thanks. EM

If you mean the little springs that are at the bottom of the table leg when this happed on our T5 the hack I used was to get the springs fom a ball point pen.

 

[ejmoore]

If you mean the little springs that are at the bottom of the table leg when this happed on our T5 the hack I used was to get the springs fom a ball point pen.

Thanks Andy - I saw the thing about ballpoint pen springs, but I can't work out where the springs fit, as the whole thing has fallen apart. Can't really work out what they do. Any suggestions?

 

[Meoncoast]

Thanks Andy - I saw the thing about ballpoint pen springs, but I can't work out where the springs fit, as the whole thing has fallen apart. Can't really work out what they do. Any suggestions?

It is hard to explain I have not had a Van with table for a year. I sat on the rotated passenger seat got someone to hold table up as vertical as it goes. Put the black foot bit into the metal leg the springs you have to squeeze flat and pop in as slide the black foot in it may help if someone with a SE or Ocean could post a picture. It is fiddly but simple.

 

[ejmoore]

Thanks Andy