Broken butterfly vent

RSD7a

RSD7a

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The butterfly vent on one of my Truma blown air heating outlets is missing one of its two retaining lugs upon which it spins, (handywork of an inquisitive 5 year old), so the butterfly vent can't be refitted ... it just falls out. I know I can buy a replacement end unit complete with butterfly, so it's not the end of the world, but it bugs me to buy the whole unit when it's just one piece that's shot. Naturally I've searched t'internet and not found a solution. Any ideas please?
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Superglue worked when I broke one.
Click to expand...
Which bit were you supergluing? The retaining lug on mine is missing. It looks like a bit of plastic "dowel" could do the job as there is a recess for something to fit in, but I can't think what I could use.
IMG_20250728_081844226.jpg
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Ah, mine were not spring loaded.

You could maybe get a pen spring and whittle a bit of plastic to fit.
 
What he says again, or cut a piece off of a knitting needle of the right size.
 
Just to say mine doesn't have a pin in that hole, it's got a spring in it, when mine came out I lost the spring and used one from a pen like Pudsey suggested :unsure:
 
Ta da ..... (Several biros later ...)
Could do with a tighter more rigid spring to be honest but this'll do the job for now.
Thanks Pudsey.

(I think the alternative, a rigid lug, would be difficult to get over the lip of the retaining groove.)

And yes I could have bought a replacement end unit including built in butterfly for under £4 on fleebay but not half as satisfying.
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RSD7a said:
I don't think these are either. They freely rotate
Click to expand...
What thickness does the 'dowel' need to be? A cheapo metal tent peg might be ok, and it can be cut to length with a hacksaw or junior hacksaw; or a cotterpin, or a 3mm thick screw hacksawn to length. I'm clearing out the garage ready for reroofing on Wednesday and am throwing away all sorts of odds 'n' ends that might be suitable!

Steve
 
marchie said:
What thickness does the 'dowel' need to be? A cheapo metal tent peg might be ok, and it can be cut to length with a hacksaw or junior hacksaw; or a cotterpin, or a 3mm thick screw hacksawn to length. I'm clearing out the garage ready for reroofing on Wednesday and am throwing away all sorts of odds 'n' ends that might be suitable!

Steve
Click to expand...
Thanks for the offer Steve. Now you mention it I have suitable tent pegs, but I'm seeing an installation problem with a rigid lug/dowel. If it was long enough to retain the butterfly, as far as I can see, it would be impossible to persuade the new lug to go past the lip of the retaining groove that runs around the outlet without damaging the lip. Maybe I could cut a small nick out of the lip to allow it past. I'll see how I get on with the spring fix and might return to the rigid idea also mentioned by RichardHelen
So much brain power focussed on my trivial problem. Thanks all!
 
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