Date:         Mon, 4 Mar 2013 15:19:39 -0500
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Air and heat knobs on levers
Comments: To: WILLIAM WITZ <pbwitz@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <1362427025.20277.YahooMailRC@web185001.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 02:57 PM 3/4/2013, WILLIAM WITZ wrote:
>Hi all I have an 84 westy. I was wondering if you can pull the
>plastic knobs on
>the air/ heat levers in order to remove the plate. I have some new leds for my
>burnt out lights. Thanks in advance.

Use pliers on the shanks, don't pull on the knobs directly.

Warm the back ends of them first with a hair dryer, especially if
it's cold out.

Limit the pull so that when the plastic lever suddenly unlatches from
the metal one it doesn't jerk toward you and break the narrow
crossbar on the faceplate.

Once they're off, slit them up to the hole (you'll see) to make
things easier next time.

The faceplate is held on by two plastic tits that insert into
spring-steel clips in the panel, bottom left and top right IIRC.  Pry
gently, very close to the pin -- you want absolute minimum bending
force on the pin.  If rust has formed on the clips they may be
frozen.  I would be wary of spraying any liquid but water on them
because of the danger of opening incipient stress cracks in the
plastic.  If one breaks off, I have successfully repaired them by
careful drilling a clearance hole in the broken part and a smaller
hole in the base and inserting a plastic (meant for, not made of)
screw from some long-vanished piece of gear.  Can't remember whether
I also cemented the break.  I would not trust cement without the screw.

Yours,
David