Sheared the mounting tabs off my Garmin - replacement back panel?

rab!dmonkey

Last weekend I had the misfortune of shearing the mounting tabs off of my Edge 510 (just riding along, I swear :rolleyes:). Apart from the missing plastic protrusions, the device is fine - a credit to Garmin's build quality. Ideally, I'd simply unscrew the damaged back panel and replace it, but it looks like Garmin don't sell parts like that. Has anyone here had any joy sourcing a replacement back panel for their own busted Garmin?

The best repair I've found so far is this doodah from Race Ware. It adds to the stack height a bit, but it should do the job as an interim repair.

carpetrunner

I believe that Garmin will require you to send it back for them to replace it - it is not cheap and it will probably break again.
I've heard that the non-garmin mounts are pretty tough on the tabs (like KCNC) - having said that mine broke on a Garmin mount.

When the tabs sheared off my Edge 500, I used an alloy replacement. It has been in place for over a year and feels much more sturdy, yes it does add a little to the stack height, but I don't notice it. Have a search on facebook for lugfix.

- Carpetrunner

Crocked

Fairly sure someone last year on here said they repaired theirs with some sugru. Should come up on a search

niceonetom

Replace it or do as I did:

http://www.dogearsgps.com/. Took a while to arrive but it's a proper solution.

CramCycle

carpetrunner wrote: »

I believe that Garmin will require you to send it back for them to replace it - it is not cheap and it will probably break again.

If its within the warranty, all it will cost is shipping, just ring them for an RMA number, outside of the year, they are generally good if its their fault or an accepted fault.

If they decide its your fault, I know the 500 was about 70 sterling probably cheaper now, they basically just take your unit and send you a refurbished one.

dogsears

niceonetom wrote: »

Replace it or do as I did:

http://www.dogearsgps.com/. Took a while to arrive but it's a proper solution.

I feel violated:eek:

They've even got a picture!

ckeego

My tabs sheared off in a race a couple of weeks back-didn't stop to go back!!!

Kind fellow member had picked up the unit saving me the trip back down the road after the race an bar a scratch, it was ok..

I rang dogsears as mine was out of warranty and despite their website looking a bit dodge, they had the mont out to me inside of a week-20 euro all in incl shipping..

It is a great bit of kit and is easily fitted..

Unreal though how flimsy the Garmin case is at that mounting tab considering how valuable some of the units are..

Highly recommend getting the mount, particularly if out of warranty..It's about 90 sterling to do it through Garmin, 40 or so through Ebay to get a backing or the best solution in this case is the cheapest..Had it fitted in 2 minutes..It suggests gluing it too, but there was absolutely no need, plus, even if I get a new unit, I will take the mount off this and refit it!!

Cee-Jay-Cee

ckeego wrote: »

My tabs sheared off in a race a couple of weeks back-didn't stop to go back!!!

Kind fellow member had picked up the unit saving me the trip back down the road after the race an bar a scratch, it was ok..

I rang dogsears as mine was out of warranty and despite their website looking a bit dodge, they had the mont out to me inside of a week-20 euro all in incl shipping..

It is a great bit of kit and is easily fitted..

Unreal though how flimsy the Garmin case is at that mounting tab considering how valuable some of the units are..

Highly recommend getting the mount, particularly if out of warranty..It's about 90 sterling to do it through Garmin, 40 or so through Ebay to get a backing or the best solution in this case is the cheapest..Had it fitted in 2 minutes..It suggests gluing it too, but there was absolutely no need, plus, even if I get a new unit, I will take the mount off this and refit it!!

How is it fitted? I have a bryton unit which mounts to Garmin mounts so has the same style tabs. I broke mine in a crash last year and home fabbed a new mount with an aluminium tab and epoxy but it's not ideal and I'm looking for something better.

ckeego

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

How is it fitted? I have a bryton unit which mounts to Garmin mounts so has the same style tabs. I broke mine in a crash last year and home fabbed a new mount with an aluminium tab and epoxy but it's not ideal and I'm looking for something better.

It's a piece of cake to fit it..

The entire piece sleeves over the existing part (with gaps for the sensor/mic thingys)

There is a flat part to be lined up and then screw in 2 self tapping screws to the old part of the mount.

The instructions say to then glue/epoxy it but it is rock solid with just the screws-I was slightly worried that the glue/epoxy might block something, so didnt risk it...

It then mounts as per normal-even a slight bit sturdier (like a new unit) as the lugs won't wear away..

They should be made this way in the first place considering some of the head units are over 400 nicker..

rab!dmonkey

So, I had a go with Sugru, but despite the fullest application of my arts and crafts skills and a model to work off of, I wasn't able to create anything useful (I blame the schools).



I bought my 510 in the summer of 2013, so it's the best part of a year out of warranty. I contacted Garmin Support to ask if they would sell me a back panel that I could replace myself. No luck there, but they did give me an RMA number and didn't mention any fees. €9.80 later, my 510 was travelling to Garmin Europe via registered post (insured to €200). Two weeks after that, I'm the proud owner of a flawless 510 refurb - complete with 'new Garmin smell' - for less than the price of any of the tab repair products. Happy days.