do's and dont's for a window defrost *KA BOOM*

Topic: do's and dont's for a window defrost *KA BOOM* (Read 1693 times) previous topic - next topic

do's and dont's for a window defrost KA BOOM

June 22, 2014, 03:39:47 PM

while working on my 1990 full size bronco rear tailgate/window.......... a defrost tab broke off.

do...............
lightly heat up the suface of the defrost pad with a torch
add flux
heat some more
lay solder in the hot spot and let it settle and puddle
stand the defrost tab up into the puddle and continue small light passes of heat to let the tab come to same temperature
take away your heat
grab a nice cool screw driver to press the tab down into the puddle of solder and to help wick heat away

take a small break by chit chatting with the wife for a minute in the garden

get your alcohol out to clean away the flux

**DONT************ assume just because you let a min or so go by that its cool

**DONT
pour ice cold alcohol over the connection because my rear window simply expoded. thats all i can describe it as.. it simply hopped up off the tailgate about 2'' and at the same time expoded in mid air.. while i was staring straight at it.

not sure why i still have eyeballs... picking glass out of my pockets, my shoes, my hair ect.

so ,, as i sit here ready to give up,, i realize its too hot out anyway so F it! im going down to the river and swim... then dairy queen for some ice cream.

im so pissed

do's and dont's for a window defrost KA BOOM

Reply #1 – June 22, 2014, 08:54:50 PM

That sucks, heh. I can feel your pain, to a degree. I was loading a 351w in the back of my astro van with my cherry picker. The chain was a tad too long, and the boom was too high I was going to set it back down and shorten the chain. A neighbor was walking by and was like "I see what you're trying to do, lemme get in there and just pull it". Well, I'm dumb. He got in, pulled the block forward, which pulled the cherry picker forward, and smashed out the rear hatch glass.

Now finding a nice astro hatch is difficult, but luckily my hatch was very rotten, and I had already bought a new hatch (complete with glass) with plans to replace it. I just wasn't planning on doing that day...

For future reference, they make rear-defrost conductive paint for repairs. I don't know if that would have helped you...

do's and dont's for a window defrost KA BOOM

Reply #2 – June 23, 2014, 11:01:14 PM

new tailgate window installed.,, much better now!

do's and dont's for a window defrost KA BOOM

Reply #3 – June 24, 2014, 07:07:24 AM

Glad you're OK.

I hate wiring.

do's and dont's for a window defrost KA BOOM

Reply #4 – June 24, 2014, 06:19:52 PM

You know they make a glue for this kind of thing right? Cost me less than $10 at the parts store. I used it to re-secure the driver's side defroster tab that came off on my Thunderbird. Works great :).

do's and dont's for a window defrost KA BOOM

Reply #5 – June 26, 2014, 07:04:24 PM

We use a 35WATT soldering iron which Ford says is the biggest you should use. Glad you are OK and not hurt. have a great evening guys. And be careful out there!!

Hay JAY stuff happens don;t let it bother you. Been there many times in my career. It is funny to an extent. have you ever done something knowing dam well it wont work and do it anyway. I did that the other day on a set of Porsche signal light lenses. I was installing the lenses and you have to heat them with a heat gun. But i got lazy and screwed them down. BINGO i not only broke one i broke both of them. 500 Bucks later and a very humble look from Junior telling me i am a DUFACE. have a good evening Jay

do's and dont's for a window defrost KA BOOM

Reply #6 – June 26, 2014, 07:27:16 PM

Quote from: TOM Renzo;435208

you have to heat them with a heat gun.

Now that is a hell of a tight fit!

do's and dont's for a window defrost KA BOOM

Reply #7 – June 28, 2014, 09:01:19 PM

I dont know why they have to be installed that way but i know better and broke them both. It was a senior moment. I actually started to laugh at myself then the reality hit me. Hay dad those lenses are 500 Bucks a pair JR screamed out from across the shop. OOPS DAM IT. Have a great weekend guys.