OK GS mechanical wizards, I need your advice.  I'm not sure many can help, as I think this is a GS500F specific problem....

The mirrors fold back for easy storage, and I need to fold them back to get my bike into its part of the garage.  Up until the 600 mile service, there were no problems.  Last week (10 minutes BEFORE) the bike fell over, I noticed that when I "unfolded" the left mirror, it completely lost friction and just flopped forward.  No biggie, grabbed an allen wrench and tightened it back up.  But it won't stay tight moving from folded to unfolded.  It is fine once tightened up and in riding position, but as soon as I pivot the hinge out, the bolt loosens up and it flops.  So it's not *really* a huge deal, as the only time the mirrors are moved from folded to unfolded is when I'm leaving the house - where I have ready access to the allen wrench.  It's just kind of a pain to tighten it up each time, and I'm worried that if I ever needed to adjust the mirror away from home that I might push too hard and it'll flop forward.  Yeah, yeah, keep the right allen wrench in the toolkit....

So I took the whole assembly apart tonight after replacing the bent clutch lever from the drop to try to figure out what was wrong.  It's a sandwich of bolts and washers.  Washer on top, then mirror stalk, washer on bottom, then bolt.  A bunch of metal filings came out that match the color of the washers when I pulled the bolt out - so that seems to be part of the problem.   I could just take it to the dealer and complain, as the bike's still under warranty - but if it's a couple of $.05 washers that I need I'd rather take care of it myself.  

So, what should I do here?  Would replacing them with rubber washers help maybe?  What would you mechanical wizards suggest?

When you reassemble the mirror, add a bit of blue locktite to the bolt thread to prevent it from working loose.

I thought about that.  I've never used locktite before but I've certainly heard of it.  Would it be too much though?  I mean, I don't want to glue the mirror in a certain position.

Quote from: PACI thought about that.  I've never used locktite before but I've certainly heard of it.  Would it be too much though?  I mean, I don't want to glue the mirror in a certain position.

Go buy a theread locking compound from your local autoparts store locktite is one of the more well known brands.  You want to be careful as some types are intended to make a permenent bond and others are just intended to make a temporary easily broken bond for bolts that have to be removed and replaced occassionally.  Make sure you get one of the ones designed for a temporary bond and you do not have to worry about being able to remove the bolt if needed.  In the case of locktite - that is the purple (low strenght) or blue (medium strength) kind.  DO NOT use red- it is pretty much permanent.

Hey, thanks a bunch for the advice.  I'll run down to the local AutoZone and pick up some of the "mild" or "medium" lock-tite, but will steer clear of the "hot".    Thanks!

little bit of crazy glue works ok too

JB Weld?

Just kidding.   :nana:

ha, JB Weld...

I bought some Lock-Tite blue this weekend and took the mirror housing apart and put it back together using the locktite on the bolt.  It held it better than without, but the bolt still broke loose when I moved the mirror the next morning..  I took it apart again last night and used even more locktite on the bolt and washers this time.  Haven't checked the mirrors yet...

On my 2001 model, I had to "REALLY" tighten them down to keep them from flopping loose when I adjusted them.  I know the mirrors are different on the '04 model, but baybe it will help.  I am a big guy and it took everything I had to get them tight enough to stay tight after moving/adjusting them.

Sorry to resurrect an old post, but this floppy mirror problem just started happening on my '04 GS.  Anyone else have this problem?  Before I take the mirror off and use the locktite solution, can anyone attest to that solving the problem?

Thanks,

Chris

My '05 started doing this also, anyone know if loctite will do the trick?
Thanks!

This thread reminds me I need to Loctite my mirror bolts. I bought some a while ago just for this purpose and still have been too lazy to do it, though my mirrors haven't gotten loose (again).

My right-side mirror was getting very loose and I ignored it too long. As I was on a ride, a gust of wind hit (combined with a little bit of speeding ) and the mirror flopped all the way back. I had to keep pushing it forward to put in place while I was riding. Shortly thereafter though, the mirror flew right off while I was doing 70 on the highway. Luckily, it didn't hit anybody.

It did cost me about $20 to order an Emgo replica mirror for a GSX-R which fit into the original mount.