Heater Control Lens

[daytho1]

OK.  This one has me stumped.  My heater control lens on my 67 (without A/C) is filthy after 43 years of dust and smoke.  I can't find any decent pictures in the AIM or service manual on how to remove this.  I'm sure it's not a simple procedure but there has to be a way to do it since replacements are available from several sources.  As far as I can tell, the control levers have to come out in order to replace the lens.  Or do the chrome buttons come off to facilitate the lens removal?  Am I asking for a job that's more than it's worth?  I'm so confused!

[Sauron327]

Remove the knobs and carefully bend the white metal tabs just enough that retain the lens bezel. Remove the lens, clean or replace. Easy. I've done a half dozen. White metal is brittle and will break easily. Break the tabs? No biggie, just use self tapping machine screws in the holes adjacent located in the housing and bezel.

[daytho1]

Are the knobs just simply supposed to pull off?  Tried that and even tried a little persuasion but seems like there is more to it than meets the eye.  Maybe just terrifficly junked up?

[Gramps69Z]

Are the knobs just simply supposed to pull off?  Tried that and even tried a little persuasion but seems like there is more to it than meets the eye.  Maybe just terrifficly junked up?

Yes, they should slide off.

[Sauron327]

The lever ends are serrated. They are not junked up, just combative at times. They will pry off. I have seen others grind the sides like splitting a nut. Then simply replace. Mine have all come off at varying levels of resistance.

[daytho1]

Pull twist, pull twist, pull twist.  Got 'em.  Once I got the lens out, I found it needed to be replaced anyhow.  There was a hairline crack that wasn't visible at eye level but ran right under the "OFF" in one slot.  The bezel (geeze) looked like it came out of a fast food joint that had never passed a health inspection!  Guess I know what I'll be doing the rest of this 4th of July!  But what better way to spend it working on a true classic.  Thanks for the info guys!!!

[BlackoutSteve]

Easiest way to remove the knobs is with an angle grinder. They are chrome plated plastic..
Buy new knobs to replace them with.

Protect.    Cut.  Twist.

Replacememts push on easily enough.

[daytho1]

Ouch!  That seems pretty drastic.  Besides, I can't find a source for the replacement knobs.  Mine are still good.  Just need a good cleaning.

[BlackoutSteve]

Ouch!  That seems pretty drastic. Besides, I can't find a source for the replacement knobs

What's drastic is the amount of heater control levers that are broken by people trying to pull the knobs off.

Aren't 67 & 8 the same as 69? Classic Indutries list them as 69-81, but seriously, what do they know about correctness? :p KW409. $10 a set. Look identical to me.
Other suppliers list them as 67-81..

[Sauron327]

Ouch!  That seems pretty drastic. Besides, I can't find a source for the replacement knobs

What's drastic is the amount of heater control levers that are broken by people trying to pull the knobs off.

Aren't 67 & 8 the same as 69? Classic Indutries list them as 69-81, but seriously, what do they know about correctness? :p KW409. $10 a set. Look identical to me.
Other suppliers list them as 67-81..

By butchers who have zero mechanical aptitude or cognitive skills.

[daytho1]

LOL.  Not sure if they're all the same or not.  Rick's (argh!) lists them for $12.  I'll reuse mine just the same.

[daytho1]

I LOVE working under the dash of these things!  I now have a newfound admiration for David Copperfield.  Received my new lens and got the bezel secured to the rest of the control.  Went to install it only to have the control separate from the bezel once everthing was in place.  Took it back out and went with Sauron's suggestion.  I put in some self tapping screws in the holes adjacent to the tabs.  This made for a much more secure installation.  Don't know why they didn't go this route in the first place as it's much simpler.  Finally got everthing back together and it looks great.  Cleaned up my original knobs with some cleaner and reinstalled those also.  Thanks everyone for their help on this.

[MyRed67]

@>BlackoutSteve;
  67 and 68 Heater Controls fasten into the dash in a horizontal position, 69's are vertical.  Definately not the same.  I just recently found out that even though interchangeable, original 67's and 68's are not the same, they have different color background.  As for 69 thru 81 being interchangeable, maybe.  Same?  Doubtful.

[MyRed67]

Sorry, I just realized you're talking knobs only.  Yes, I think they are all interchangeable.

[BlackoutSteve]

Yep, just talking the knobs.