My mirrors are pitting and looking bad. I do not know if I should just remove and get them re chromed or if I should just buy new ones. That is if I can still find them.
What is the best way to go?
Mine are in bad shape also. I don't know if I can get the mirrors apart (arms and heads) due to corrosion. Rechrome would be much cheaper if time allows for it. New ones are pricey. Another option is powder coating.
My vote would be to have them re chromed if they aren't pitted too bad. The pitting will determine if the chrome will look good or like a golf ball. Any good hot rod shop will have the name of a chrome shop that they use in your area.
New ones are still made by Ramco just give them a call and tell them what you need as they have always been very helpful to us. ramco-eng.com (http://www.ramco-eng.com/home)
Pamela & Mike
Any idea if Ramco can rebuild? Is this a service they offer? Mine are not only peeling but the ball joint flops around on bumps and such, but as mentioned earlier the corrosion is such that I cant seem to move the setscrew. Id gladly remove the entire assembly if they can redo it, or just replace with black or powder coated fake chrome to save money.
I just replaced mine...stayed with the chrome as I live just north of Houston and go to the coast occasionally...Other choices were polished aluminum. Salt air and bare aluminum not so good of pair. Other choice was pained. Wirth 2 love bug seasons a year I did not believe that would be the best idea either. The original chrome ones lasted almost 20 years, so chrome it was. Thought about rechroming, thought about time and hassle (stripped set screws, how much would get broken on disassembly, etc, etc). So I just got new ones.
John
ramco-eng.com (http://www.ramco-eng.com/)
Ramco is in Elkhart Indiana and sells parts, probably have in stock. FT logo mirror bode are no longer available. Give them a call and ask them how much for the parts, they will sell and ship direct.
They are open until 4:30 Eastern
(574) 266-1455 (http://www.foreforums.com/)
Ours are fresh and VERY pretty. They are Ramcos. Seems to me, after dinking around removing them, taking them to the chrome shop, picking them up, putting them back together, you'd be even steven by going fresh. If you got Bs&Ws (bells and whistles) on them : Turn signals, inside adjusting, I'd not change brands if at all possible, since the way things go, the bolt holes will not line up, either. A lot of fellow travelers have commented, "those mirrors sure are shiny!" ^.^d
RvTrvlr,
Try using Corrosion X on the setscrew. Soaking some cotton wool and taping it in place for a few days.
If that won't work try heating the area with a small propane torch.
If still no luck buy a "left hand" drill. It's one that cuts in the opposite direction to a normal one. Get it at a machine shop supplier. The action of cutting produces a lot of torque and may unscrew it. If not drill oversize and tap in a new setscrew.
Keith
Wish I would have thought of this 3 days ago when I was short way from Elkhart in Middlebury.
Ramco has our mirror style and parts. When we painted 5 years ago, we decided to buy new paintable mirror and now we have taller mirrors with three motorized heated mirrors on each side. And the middle big mirror has LED turn arrow imbedded. Our new mirror housing is strong plastic, not metal, no more corrosion.
Contact Ramco directly
ramco-eng.com (http://www.ramco-eng.com/)
If they're pot metal it's something that not all chrome shops do. Your money spent will be determined by the amount of work
needed to get the parts ready for plating. That's why it's best not to let the mirrors get too bad before re-plating.
Here's a reputable pot metal plater;
S & H Chrome Plating & Powder Coating, Inc.
817 Madison Industrial Rd, Madison, TN 37115
(615) 865-0100