Sliding Table Hinge, Is yours cracked?

[Kenb17]

If someone can give me the dimensions of the hinge I will see if I can make one from aluminium. Seems ridiculous to buy a new table for the sake of a hinge.

Hi Johnboy,
I have taken some pictures with a ruler in place, not sure it is engineering standard though, maybe someone with a micrometer could measure the diameter of that pin through the middle?
Thanks Ken

 

[Johnboy]

Kenb17.

Thanks for the pics, I have sent you a msg.

John

 

[Johnboy]

OK I have had a look at these pictures (thanks Ken). The only way Ii can think of making a fix for this problem is to make the top part of the bracket in Aluminium, i.e. just replace the broken bit.

This would mean drilling out the top two rivets and carefully sawing through the plastic bracket just above the second pair of rivets. The new aluminium bracket will then have to be fixed in place - either by drilling new holes and re-rivetting, or by glueing to the table underside (if I make the bracket wide enough to provide enough strength).

The question is ... is this too much faff, are Cali owners just going to go for a new table, or does the cost of a new table favour the repair route? I don't know the price of a new table - it looks like an expensive item ??

 

[Johnboy]

Does anyone know the construction of the table-top? I am considering re-rivetting the bracket to the underside.

 

[Johnboy]

I am working on a repair fix for this problem. Does anyone have an old table that I can use to try it out. I suggest one that has failed and been replaced, as I will have to saw off part of the bracket and replace with an alternative.

Thanks

John

 

[OConnors]

We’re you the guy that called me? I found an old table.

 

[Johnboy]

thats me..... i'll call you tomorrow

Thanks

 

[KGCali]

thats me..... i'll call you tomorrow

Thanks

Any update on this?

 

[Johnboy]

Any update on this?

Hi, I have made a few prototypes and am working on a repair procedure. I was hoping to get my hands on a table to try it out, but no luck yet.....

I mocked up the repair on some laminated plywood but the glue failed and was not good enough. I will be trying a new glue shortly.

Basically the repair involves sawing off the top of the table bracket and then bonding (with the help of some rivets) a new piece made from aluminium. The new bracket will be much stronger than the original, so the next weakest link is likely to be the glue.

Still got a bit of work to do on this (Christmas etc slowed down my progress) but hopefully will get it sorted by end Jan. See pic of bracket.

John

 

[WelshGas]

Hi, I have made a few prototypes and am working on a repair procedure. I was hoping to get my hands on a table to try it out, but no luck yet.....

I mocked up the repair on some laminated plywood but the glue failed and was not good enough. I will be trying a new glue shortly.

Basically the repair involves sawing off the top of the table bracket and then bonding (with the help of some rivets) a new piece made from aluminium. The new bracket will be much stronger than the original, so the next weakest link is likely to be the glue.

Still got a bit of work to do on this (Christmas etc slowed down my progress) but hopefully will get it sorted by end Jan. See pic of bracket.

John

View attachment 87842

Did the new glue hold?

 

[Johnboy]

Yes, I tried different glues on an aluminium base (i.e. not the weak link).

In the end I picked a glue from Eurobond which performed really well, (but is expensive and really stinks). I have worked a repair procedure, but the cost of the glue etc will make this difficult for a single repair.
I have repaired one table and so far it is holding up ok.

I have one more bracket and some glue left, but have been a bit busy with my roofrack to take this any further at the moment.

I am sure this is stronger than the original

John

 

[Kenb17]

Hi,
I recognise that table, as the guinea pig in John’s table hinge solution I can vouch for the new hinge and the glue is looking strong. Overall a lot more robust than the original hinge. It occurs to me that the original hinge seems almost to be designed as a weak ‘sacrificial’ part to save further damage but given that the only solution offered by VW is the whole new table this cant be the case.

Meanwhile, I a grateful for John’s endeavours and glad to have the table back in normal use.

Thanks Johnboy..
Ken

 

[mattpartridge]

Yes, I tried different glues on an aluminium base (i.e. not the weak link).

In the end I picked a glue from Eurobond which performed really well, (but is expensive and really stinks). I have worked a repair procedure, but the cost of the glue etc will make this difficult for a single repair.
I have repaired one table and so far it is holding up ok.

I have one more bracket and some glue left, but have been a bit busy with my roofrack to take this any further at the moment.

I am sure this is stronger than the original

John
View attachment 91492

Hi,

Have you progressed any further? I have a 2014 Cali and my cracked table hinge is about to give up!

Matt

 

[Johnboy]

I think I have a workable solution. This involves sawing off the broken bit of the bracket but leave the rest intact as this controls the sliding link (and does not break). The repair is shown above in this thread where an aluminium replacement is glued on.

The strength of the repair is down to the quality of the glue and the preparation to get a good bond. As I said above, I tried different glues and preparations with considerable variations in the final strength.

best to message me at info@vixxos.com if you want to try this fix.

Regards

John

 

[CaliSwede]

Hi all,
Here is an alternative solution that worked well for me:
Thread 'Fixed the sliding table hinge'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/fixed-the-sliding-table-hinge.43395/

 

[Nejc]

As far as I can see, there are quite a few inventive solutions to repair this damage, which is the result of a design flaw and of which VW cannot be very proud at such high California prices.

The damage to the PVC hinge was not such that the table could no longer be used but, rather, there was always the fear that the thing would break off by the end. At best I tried to glue the crack with a two-component epoxy glue, but the thing lasted only a day or two. Then I turned to a friend who is a welding specialist and he solved the problem for me with an INOX adapter he had made himself. I found the solution interesting because it didn't require drilling or installing rivets directly into the undersurface of the table, but the adapter was riveted to an old PVC bracket. Only the damaged cylindrical part was removed.

It is quite clear to me that not everyone has the possibility of repairing this damage in this way, but I am nevertheless attaching photographs of this solution.

 

[sbmcd]

Neat solution

 

[KGCali]

As far as I can see, there are quite a few inventive solutions to repair this damage, which is the result of a design flaw and of which VW cannot be very proud at such high California prices.

The damage to the PVC hinge was not such that the table could no longer be used but, rather, there was always the fear that the thing would break off by the end. At best I tried to glue the crack with a two-component epoxy glue, but the thing lasted only a day or two. Then I turned to a friend who is a welding specialist and he solved the problem for me with an INOX adapter he had made himself. I found the solution interesting because it didn't require drilling or installing rivets directly into the undersurface of the table, but the adapter was riveted to an old PVC bracket. Only the damaged cylindrical part was removed.

It is quite clear to me that not everyone has the possibility of repairing this damage in this way, but I am nevertheless attaching photographs of this solution.

View attachment 103723View attachment 103724View attachment 103725

A nice fix, could more be made to sell to users with a broken hinge?

 

[Johnboy]

Just made another batch of these. Msg me if you want one.

Also on ebay but cheaper via the forum.

John

 

[FrancescoS]

As far as I can see, there are quite a few inventive solutions to repair this damage, which is the result of a design flaw and of which VW cannot be very proud at such high California prices.

The damage to the PVC hinge was not such that the table could no longer be used but, rather, there was always the fear that the thing would break off by the end. At best I tried to glue the crack with a two-component epoxy glue, but the thing lasted only a day or two. Then I turned to a friend who is a welding specialist and he solved the problem for me with an INOX adapter he had made himself. I found the solution interesting because it didn't require drilling or installing rivets directly into the undersurface of the table, but the adapter was riveted to an old PVC bracket. Only the damaged cylindrical part was removed.

It is quite clear to me that not everyone has the possibility of repairing this damage in this way, but I am nevertheless attaching photographs of this solution.

View attachment 103723View attachment 103724View attachment 103725

Congratulations, neat fix. Would you sell a piece of this? Thank you

 

[Johnboy]

Congratulations, neat fix. Would you sell a piece of this? Thank you

Hi,
I have listed this on ebay but can also sell direct for UK members. For overseas it is probably easier to buy from ebay (176023294724).

I have them ready as a kit with instructions. You will need some tools to remove the broken hinge, cleaning alcohol and abrasive paper to get a clean joint and some good epoxy glue.

John

 

[Nejc]

Congratulations, neat fix. Would you sell a piece of this? Thank you

Unfortunately, I can't, because it's not my product and it requires a special tool that most of us don't have.