Jim_R
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
- Messages
- 1,836
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Display name:
Jim
I've got an SL30 in my panel, and the rectangular plastic cover ("lens"?) over the display is coming loose / delaminating. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for how to fix it. I don't want to mess up the display or otherwise make the problem worse.
It started a few years ago with the lower left corner popping out, and when I noticed it I would just push it back down and it would stay there for days or weeks before popping back out again. Over time, it's gotten significantly worse, and this year as the weather's been warming up it seems to be accelerating. It's gotten to the point that I'm pretty sure it won't be long before I open the cockpit and find the whole piece of plastic on the floor.
I have not studied it closely, but there are at least two layers involved. The stiffer outer cover, then a thinner and softer layer that may be something like a double-sided clear adhesive tape (though it's got some stiffness and thickness to it, so it's not like Scotch tape). The layers have peeled back enough by now that when I find them loose, the second layer is slightly curled and it takes some finessing to push it all back down where everything is smooth and re-adhered. (And it doesn't take long before it starts to pop loose again...I usually have to push it back down several times per flight these days.)
I'm not sure if I should carefully peel everything off, clean stuff up, and then re-assemble with new adhesive, or if I should try to only re-glue the part that's currently loose, or what.
Does anyone know the proper way to repair this? Is this something I could/should contact Garmin about?
It started a few years ago with the lower left corner popping out, and when I noticed it I would just push it back down and it would stay there for days or weeks before popping back out again. Over time, it's gotten significantly worse, and this year as the weather's been warming up it seems to be accelerating. It's gotten to the point that I'm pretty sure it won't be long before I open the cockpit and find the whole piece of plastic on the floor.
I have not studied it closely, but there are at least two layers involved. The stiffer outer cover, then a thinner and softer layer that may be something like a double-sided clear adhesive tape (though it's got some stiffness and thickness to it, so it's not like Scotch tape). The layers have peeled back enough by now that when I find them loose, the second layer is slightly curled and it takes some finessing to push it all back down where everything is smooth and re-adhered. (And it doesn't take long before it starts to pop loose again...I usually have to push it back down several times per flight these days.)
I'm not sure if I should carefully peel everything off, clean stuff up, and then re-assemble with new adhesive, or if I should try to only re-glue the part that's currently loose, or what.
Does anyone know the proper way to repair this? Is this something I could/should contact Garmin about?
