WD -40

[RichardH]

Flexible upstairs light advice please. I replaced the original light-on-a-stalk years ago, with the LED version. No problems till recently but the grip on the base of the stalk has become slack. Unless it is in the vertical position, gravity now has its way with the lamp. Yesterday it did so with a sharp rap onto my wife’s head. She wasn’t very pleased. What I need is the opposite of WD40, to increase the friction of the grip. Does it exist? Any suggestions other than replacing the whole unit again?

 

[Perfectos]

electrical insulation tape wrapped around anove The contacts

 

[RichardH]

electrical insulation tape wrapped around anove The contacts

Good thinking! Thank you. But I'd probably need to replace the tape very frequently. The joint needs to swivel by up to 90 degrees each overnight stop, then hold its position part way down, then fold flat again when the roof is lowered (we always sleep upstairs). We do at least 30 individual stops each year in our van (and it is now in its 11th year). Ideally I want something that will act as the reverse of a lubricant.

 

[WelshGas]

Good thinking! Thank you. But I'd probably need to replace the tape very frequently. The joint needs to swivel by up to 90 degrees each overnight stop, then hold its position part way down, then fold flat again when the roof is lowered (we always sleep upstairs). We do at least 30 individual stops each year in our van (and it is now in its 11th year). Ideally I want something that will act as the reverse of a lubricant.

I'm afraid it's just wear of the friction joint. The only permanent repair will be replacement I'm afraid.

 

[RichardH]

I'm afraid it's just wear of the friction joint. The only permanent repair will be replacement I'm afraid.

Thanks very much for your responses. I have a nasty feeling that you are right. I think the current fitting is probably about 8 years old. If so, it's disappointing that it should fail after only about 250 deployments. Meanwhile I'll just have to get my wife a hard hat!

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks very much for your responses. I have a nasty feeling that you are right. I think the current fitting is probably about 8 years old. If so, it's disappointing that it should fail after only about 250 deployments. Meanwhile I'll just have to get my wife a hard hat!

I suppose you could try some superglue on the rotational joint. Place the light in the position for storage and put some superglue on the first section. Once dry you then bend it up using the bendy part that’s not superglued. Could work But would need a runny rather than thick glue.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Flexible upstairs light advice please. I replaced the original light-on-a-stalk years ago, with the LED version. No problems till recently but the grip on the base of the stalk has become slack. Unless it is in the vertical position, gravity now has its way with the lamp. Yesterday it did so with a sharp rap onto my wife’s head. She wasn’t very pleased. What I need is the opposite of WD40, to increase the friction of the grip. Does it exist? Any suggestions other than replacing the whole unit again?

You could try glue, or try Loctite Thread Lock which gives grip but not permanently glued up. Try the Loctite Blue 243 type / normal strength. Amazon, tool shops, even Dunelm. It’s great for stopping nuts and bolts coming undone in the van, like those gear tray bolts at the back of the seat. With a bit of force you can break the ‘stiction’ .

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MRD4MJ9/?tag=eliteelect-21

 

[sidepod]

Depending on how slack the joint is, you could try a Sharpie. Just cover the joint in ink and replace.
Works on slightly slack bearings.

 

[kurienp]

Thanks very much for your responses. I have a nasty feeling that you are right. I think the current fitting is probably about 8 years old. If so, it's disappointing that it should fail after only about 250 deployments. Meanwhile I'll just have to get my wife a hard hat!

Liquid electrical tape? Should work better with less replacement needed.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[RichardH]

Thanks folks! I’ve got some Locktite Blue with me (for the chair bolts) so I’ll try that first. If that’s no good you have given me lots of good alternative ideas for when we get home. This forum is so helpful!

Just coming towards the last week of this Spring’s 6w tour around Europe, moving on every 1, 2 or 3 days. Back to France again in August. Things like the flexible light stalk sometimes go wrong but overall I’m so pleased with our Cali. 10 and a bit years old, 102k miles since new and it’s still great to drive and to live in. The original leisure batteries are still enough to power the fridge for 3+ days in warm weather after a drive. As well as its reliability, one of the many excellent things about travelling in a Cali is the flexibility it gives. We were camped in northern Portugal last Friday, heading for Galicia and Asturias, but it became really cold and rainy and the forecast ahead was poor for the next five days. So a fast day’s drive later we were back in the sunshine of Estramadura where the skies are blue and the temperature is respectable. Who needs reservations!

 

[sidepod]

You could try glue, or try Loctite Thread Lock which gives grip but not permanently glued up. Try the Loctite Blue 243 type / normal strength. Amazon, tool shops, even Dunelm. It’s great for stopping nuts and bolts coming undone in the van, like those gear tray bolts at the back of the seat. With a bit of force you can break the ‘stiction’ .

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MRD4MJ9/?tag=eliteelect-21

Blue Loctite? Seriously????

 

[Hawthorn37]

Blue Loctite? Seriously????

Yes. It’s good stuff. Originally I bought it to re-assemble a baby cot stand after repainting, and recognising the machine screws had been fixed in place with Loctite. Since used it on a couple of bolts in the van, and my greenhouse!

” blue is designed to easily be replaceable with common tools, whereas red is a more permanent fix“

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Just buy a new light, £26 for an osram one.

Amazon.co.uk

 

[sidepod]

Yes. It’s good stuff. Originally I bought it to re-assemble a baby cot stand after repainting, and recognising the machine screws had been fixed in place with Loctite. Since used it on a couple of bolts in the van, and my greenhouse!

” blue is designed to easily be replaceable with common tools, whereas red is a more permanent fix“

I know what it is, I was questioning its use in the OPs situation.

 

[Silverace_Junior]

You could also try ‘carbon paste’, which is used in the higher end cycling industry. It is a type of grease mixed with micro pearls of ground plastic that increase the friction so carbon components can be installed with less clamping force. Go to your local mountain-bike specialist, he/she should have it.

 

[Hawthorn37]

I know what it is, I was questioning its use in the OPs situation.

Worth a punt, especially if you already have some.

 

[RichardH]

Thanks folks! I’ve got some Locktite Blue with me (for the chair bolts) so I’ll try that first. If that’s no good you have given me lots of good alternative ideas for when we get home. This forum is so helpful!

Just coming towards the last week of this Spring’s 6w tour around Europe, moving on every 1, 2 or 3 days. Back to France again in August. Things like the flexible light stalk sometimes go wrong but overall I’m so pleased with our Cali. 10 and a bit years old, 102k miles since new and it’s still great to drive and to live in. The original leisure batteries are still enough to power the fridge for 3+ days in warm weather after a drive. As well as its reliability, one of the many excellent things about travelling in a Cali is the flexibility it gives. We were camped in northern Portugal last Friday, heading for Galicia and Asturias, but it became really cold and rainy and the forecast ahead was poor for the next five days. So a fast day’s drive later we were back in the sunshine of Estramadura where the skies are blue and the temperature is respectable. Who needs reservations!

I wasn't really expecting the Locktite Blue to be effective for more than a day but, as I had some with me, I gave it a try. I'm sure it won't last forever but it has been good enough for a temporary fix until I got home. Thanks Hawthorne37 (and to all who made suggestions)! Six deployments later it is still behaving as it should do! When it eventually fails I am going to replace it with the Osram version. Thanks Ch1pbutty. I'm sure my earlier, genuine VW, replacement part cost much more than £25.91, eight years ago!