On/Off Button For My Garmin Montana 600

Teegate

Teegate

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As we have discussed here before, the On/Off button on the Garmin Montana usually breaks after a few years of use. Well, mine was in perfect shape until my GPS jammed against a metal box I was carrying and it ripped a portion of the rubber button off. I could still use it by pushing a pen or similar item into the hole, but I wanted/needed to fix it as I did not want to buy another GPS. So I purchased what appears to be a 3D printed button for $16 online, and using a video on YouTube I cut the old rubber button off and glued the new one on today as they showed.

As I expected I did not do as good a job as the video shows, but I was able to get the button glued on solidly and tomorrow I am going to run a bead of glue around the edges to fill in the gaps and make the unit waterproof again if it isn't already. I don't care how it looks, I just want it to work.

Here is what it looks like now and it turns on and off just fine. The glue I used was a boot glue I have that is indestructible. I used it on Jessica's boots and a few years later the rest of the boot was torn apart and the boot glue was still holding up. I am also going to fill in the gaps tomorrow with the same glue.


Without the battery cover

IMG_3092a.jpg


With the cover on

IMG_3093a.jpg
 
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Boyd

Boyd

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That looks like a good solution and a nice installation job! Will be interesting to see how it holds up. The cover broke off mine long ago. I can still use it by poking the little button on the circuit board with a stick. Guess I could just put a piece of tape over the hole. But I can't even remember the last time I used it...
 
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Teegate

Teegate

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Boyd said:
That looks like a good solution and a nice installation job! Will be interesting to see how it holds up. The cover broke off mine long ago. I can still use it by poking the little button on the circuit board with a stick. Guess I could just put a piece of tape over the hole. But I can't even remember the last time I used it...
Click to expand...

I was able to save the part of the rubber button that pushed the circuit board button and place duct tape over it as you mentioned. It worked for one day and then the rubber button moved and no longer worked. If I was still working I could have made a button in the lathe in minutes but obviously that won't happen. So I went this route and so far I am happy with it. Then again I haven't had it in the field.
 
Teegate

Teegate

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I glued around the edges. It is very secure it seems. Time will tell.

IMG_3096.jpg
 
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MuckSavage

MuckSavage

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I have a Garmin Zumo 350LM (motorcycle GPS). The same thing happened to my power button. I assumed it was because the unit sits in the sun, and the rays are magnified by the windscreen. I purchased a replacement button from the same vendor. My results after replacement are similar to yours.

1759522611618.png
 
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MuckSavage

MuckSavage

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I guess it's a compromise. Too soft a rubber & it wears faster, too hard & the push button is hard to operate. Especially when cold.
 
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