Removing a stuck OEM mirror - help

[jamanta]

hi guys,

so i'm replacing my OEM mirrors with the bar-end ones for better visibility. went home for lunch today, ate pretty quick and started changing my mirrors.

i suspected that i would have a hard time removing the oem mirrors so i sprayed a little wd-40 right on top of each nut and let it sit for 15 mins to absorb a bit. started with the left mirror and there was a little bit of resistance when turning the bolt but it came out fine. moved to the right and that's when my problems started. i could not turn the nut for nothing! it's pretty stuck there almost like it was welded. i put a lot more wd-40 and let sit for a while. tried again and nothing. didn't move a bit. i put more and more wd-40 and nothing! 

do you guys have any other suggestions on how to remove the freaking thing? i'm pulling this as hard as i can and using all my weight behind it (240 lbs). the nut is starting to strip and seriously i almost snapped my arm trying to get this thing out.

thanks for the help!

[topanga duc]

left-hand thread.

[Ducatiloo]

I would use PB buster not wd40 it works better.  Also what year is your bike and which way are you turning the top nut?  Some Ducatis have reverse threads. 

[jamanta]

2005 s2r 800. please don't tell me that's a left-hand thread

the nut on the left mirror wasn't...

[chisel]

PB Blaster is the best penetrant for unsticking stuck fasteners.

Try using an impact driver. They can be had at most auto parts stores.
Here is a picture of one: http://www.toolnet.co.za/detail.php?product=27

You put a bit in it, seat it in the head of the fastener, push into the fastener with it, and put a little torque on it in the direction you want the fastener to turn. Then, strike the driver with a hammer. Works almost every time.

Lastly, heat can sometimes help, especially if some thread locker was used. However, most of the time it's not an option because of paint, plastic, or other finishes.

[topanga duc]

one be right

one be left

they did it that way just to mess with us      ;-)

[jamanta]

one be right

one be left

they did it that way just to mess with us      ;-)

i'm going to try again when i get home. i had an old land rover that had some weird engineering like that. i should have known better 

thanks!

[numbskull]

2005 s2r 800. please don't tell me that's a left-hand thread

the nut on the left mirror wasn't...

Correct. It's a left-hand thread.

[Howie]

If the points on the jamb nut have a slash along the points the mirror is left handed.

[Arimaul]

left-hand thread.

I had to strip the hell out of the nut on my stock mirror, give my brother-in-law the stink eye repeatedly when he suggested trying the other way, and then try the other way before I got my mirrors off.

Is there a reason to do this? Besides to make the beast with two backs with us?

[corey]

i thought it would be because the wind could technically loosen the right mirror... but then i realized that if it were RIGHT handed thread, it would actually TIGHTEN the mirror... so i have no make the beast with two backsing idea... but i recall spending a solid hour with a make the beast with two backsing wrench screaming and yelling and actually whipping my wrench across the alley way at a wooden fence out of shear frustration... called my dad up... he  goes... you sure it's not threaded the other way? i'll be damned.. didn't even take much effort...

[jamanta]

i thought it would be because the wind could technically loosen the right mirror... but then i realized that if it were RIGHT handed thread, it would actually TIGHTEN the mirror... so i have no make the beast with two backsing idea... but i recall spending a solid hour with a make the beast with two backsing wrench screaming and yelling and actually whipping my wrench across the alley way at a wooden fence out of shear frustration... called my dad up... he  goes... you sure it's not threaded the other way? i'll be damned.. didn't even take much effort...

i felt the same way today. just wanted to trash my whole garage in frustration. after i came home from work i tried turning the other way and i got it off but now the nut is all stripped. it's only a nut but it is a ducati i want to keep every little thing as nice as possible.

i felt like a dumb*ss for not almost being defeated by that hahah. i did notice the little slashs on the nut but had no idea why they were there. living and learning i guess 

now the mirrors are off and the bar-ends are in. looks pretty awesome and i see a lot better now.

thanks everybody!

[Spencer]

i thought it would be because the wind could technically loosen the right mirror... but then i realized that if it were RIGHT handed thread, it would actually TIGHTEN the mirror..

It's so that if you hit your mirror on something while riding, say a trucks mirror, road sign, pedestrian, it will swing back, doesn't snap the mount, or impale the pedestrian.  Required to meet EU pedestrian safety requirements.

.

[topanga duc]

It's so that if you hit your mirror on something while riding, say a trucks mirror, road sign, pedestrian, it will swing back, doesn't snap the mount, or impale the pedestrian.  Required to meet EU pedestrian safety requirements.

wow. now THAT makes sense.  i once thought it was the wind thing . . . but then realized that the mirrors would turn the wrong way for that to be the case.  i knew there had to be a logical reason, i've run into it on different bikes for over thirty years.  thanks spencer, for cluing us in and solving that mystery for me!

[corey]

AWESOME. know i get it.