Author Topic: Changing ashtray lid insert  (Read 8322 times)

dldubois

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Changing ashtray lid insert
« on: April 03, 2021, 21:54:59 »
After 20 years of my ashtray missing a lid I ordered one from Buds.   Black insert though I’d like to replace with my parchment mb Tex as original.  Secret to it?.   Don’t want to brake the new one,   
Dana DuBois
1969 280sl
Pembroke Pines, FL

MikeSimon

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2021, 23:43:07 »
The lid was always black. Parchment is not original.
1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
3rd owner

lreppond

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2021, 15:30:12 »
I have a family owned car and the ashtray cover is in the same color as its interior. 
~Len

1971 280 SL
576G red/251 Beige
4 speed manual
Family owned since new (father —> son)

Pawel66

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2021, 17:25:01 »
Here you have a handful of threads on materials used for ashtray liners (seems not necessarily leather), looks like thinner materials. But my upholsterer made it with leather somehow.

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=30533.msg221389#msg221389
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=19838.msg139995#msg139995

Working the hinge:
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=9879.msg65270#msg65270

When you put in "ashtray" in the search window, you get something like 5 pages of hits. Perhaps the exact procedure how to open given type of lid safely and replace the insert is there...
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

kampala

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2021, 03:31:05 »
I have a family owned car and the ashtray cover is in the same color as its interior.

I understood that except for early 230’s,  pagodas had ash trays with cover matching interior color.   

It would be good to hear from our original owners on this.
250sl - later - manual
280sl - 1971 - Auto - LSD

66andBlue

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2021, 04:58:07 »
The lid was always black. Parchment is not original.
Mike, speaking ex cathedra?
Still wrong.
Even in 230SL cars starting with VIN 012467 the ashtray followed the interior code, MB-Tex and leather.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

MikeSimon

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2021, 12:54:32 »
I thought we had a discussion here, and it was determined the lid was black. May not remember that correctly. I have parchment interior and the lid is "off-white". But I know it has been re-dyed, the PO gave me the color cans for the interior.
1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
3rd owner

Brennie

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2021, 16:30:56 »
I tried to swap black for the red of my car interior.. in doing so, I lifted the little tags to allow easy access to the padded bit... BIG mistake.. they just dropped of and ruined the whole lid.. I subsequently learns the it just slides apart.. too much haste...
Now looking for an ashtray lid only...
Just saying.. I may help someone from making the same mistake...

Shvegel

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2021, 15:08:46 »
Just got all the plated parts back from the chrome shop and went to put the ashtray back together.  I seem to be missing the flat spring that holds the mechanism together.  It is the one that gets crimped to the body of the ashtray with 2 tabs.  Can anyone post a couple pictures so I can remake one?

Pawel66

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2021, 17:32:49 »
Not what you need perhaps, but for starters: https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=9879.msg65270#msg65270
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

66andBlue

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2021, 21:56:49 »
Or you can buy one from a member here:
http://pagode-markt.de
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

Shvegel

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2021, 23:13:55 »
Thank you for the responses.  I will make a last attempt to find the original then probably make one.

66andBlue

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2021, 00:30:09 »
Here is a photo but not sure whether it helps. You probably need a side view of the spring.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

66andBlue

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2021, 01:18:32 »
Found an old tray without lid (like to find one also  :) ).
This particular one had a movable tab in the spring "tongue", but all the other ones I have seem did not have that. I believe it makes the lid movement a bit more smooth.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

Shvegel

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2021, 17:14:21 »
Thanks for all the replies! 

Brennie,  i broke my tabs too so I spread a little epoxy between the aluminum inner and the upper lid.  Clamped it in a vice and it is AOK.

Brennie

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #15 on: April 13, 2021, 17:40:55 »
Unfortunately I attempted to use small screws... it worked but looks terrible...
I wish I’d of thought of epoxy...
Thank

Shvegel

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #16 on: April 13, 2021, 19:25:48 »
All done.  My old vinyl insert was looking rather deflated so I made a sandwich of the metal backing plate, 1/4” urethane foam and a new bit of MB-tex.

66andBlue

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #17 on: April 13, 2021, 20:41:34 »
Looking good!
Did you find the spring or make a new one ... in record time?
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

dldubois

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #18 on: April 13, 2021, 23:20:40 »
How's it just slide off?    I was also thinking of bending those tabs  :-[
Dana DuBois
1969 280sl
Pembroke Pines, FL

Shvegel

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #19 on: April 15, 2021, 10:13:47 »
66andBlue,  I made a new one.  I had a piece of spring steel so it went fairly quick.   

Brennie

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #20 on: April 15, 2021, 13:36:01 »
Whatever you do, don’t touch the tabs... they really just come away so easily.. they bund up , but as soon as you attempt to bend them back they just drop off... I’m guessing you just squeeze together and slide... I never got that far I’m afraid... decided in haste, repenting at leisure.....

66andBlue

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #21 on: April 15, 2021, 19:24:39 »
Did you also make a new rubber buffer disk?
I noticed that the SLS ashtray reproduction has a rubber disk between the clip and the lid.
Haven't seen that on old ones either.
Question to the group: how many of you have an ashtray with that disk?
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

DaveB

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #22 on: April 16, 2021, 12:10:07 »
I have an NOS ashtray here with the rubber hinge bumper - which I would not have noticed had you not mentioned it.
DaveB
'65 US 230sl 4-speed, DB190

66andBlue

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #23 on: April 16, 2021, 21:01:24 »
Thanks for posting photos and clearing up a suspicion I had that the rubber disk was perhaps only on these reproduction.
For how long will yours remain a unicorn? Anyone else having one?
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

JamesL

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Re: Changing ashtray lid insert
« Reply #24 on: January 10, 2023, 11:50:17 »
Can someone help me out....

The ashtray has a lid, a chrome surround and a box. The thread above is about the lid going on the surround.

Am I to understand that the ("chrome") surround and (zinc finish) box are "one" item or are they separable. If so, how? I'm looking to keep the visible parts but change the box underneath...
Thanks
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather