Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2019 18:33:31 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Parts availability
In-Reply-To: <1446784277.1775071.1563239370819@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Oh Richard, I have to say that discounting 3D printing en masse is a little unfair. I’ll wager you can print a version of the housing with the right polymer to make it robust.
But I do agree the original design of the tabs is lame.
My point is, for the injection moulded parts for our van that are NLA, 3D printing will be a viable alternative . Certainly much more viable than getting new injection moulds.
I don’t have a printer, nor do we have one at work. We probably won’t get one at work as there is another company nearby that is heavily going that way. That guy has deep pockets and is ambitious. I really can see us using his services.
But again, the biggest stumbling block for me right now is getting the parts digitized.
Alistair
> On Jul 15, 2019, at 6:09 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> The original VW-designed rear license tag light housing is....wimpy, wimpy, wimpy; just "look" at those slender tabs and they will bust. Mine failed, I guess about 20 years ago during a robust exterior wash with sponge. My solution: a couple stout sheet-metal screws through plastic housing and into body. Super-duper! I intended it as a temporary solution, and was able to procure used plastic parts on The Samba. But I think the sheet-metal screw approach is much stronger than those skinny tabs; so the used parts I bought have remained on my shelf for decades. Wow...new ones are sure pricey at $29 each. Yeah....3D printed part...I predict quick failure for that.
>
> Rich
> San Diego
>
> On Sunday, July 14, 2019, 5:40:10 PM PDT, KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> wrote:
>
> These folk seem to have a nice non-plastic version.
>
> https://www.tdi-umbau.com/edelstahlteile-t3/halter-kennzichenbeleuchtung-t3-251943139.html <https://www.tdi-umbau.com/edelstahlteile-t3/halter-kennzichenbeleuchtung-t3-251943139.html>
>
>
>> On Jul 14, 2019, at 8:38 PM, KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@mac.com> wrote:
>>
>> And before someone suggest it…the reinforcement bracket that GoWesty sells is completely worthless for the type of break I had. As that thing is designed, I’m not sure its useful to anyone.
>>
>>> On Jul 14, 2019, at 8:21 PM, KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@mac.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> On our ancient vehicles I rarely remember that sometimes parts become unavailable. Case i point the little plastic housings for the rear license tag lights. I found one of mine dangling (broken), and went to order from the usual places and “out of stock”. BusLab (in theory) has them, so I ordered a couple of replacements. Hopefully I won’t get a charge back due to them no longer having any….
>>>
>>> I went to one of my “out of service” Vanagons. Plastic housing (and clear lens and screws) looked like new. Must have been replaced at some point in their life. On the other housing on the Van I was fixing, the screws are stripped, so that will be a fun repair if or when I have to replace the bulb on that side (if it isn’t working right now, it will flunk Virginia safety inspection.)
>>>
>>
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