Mounting a Plasma TV
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Mounting a Plasma TV
I need some advice regarding an installation I did a few weeks back. I mounted a 42" Sylvania PE6842 plasma TV using a Mustang MV Tilt3 mount. I followed the instructions - found center of 2 studs about 16" apart (more like 15 1/2"). Using the 4 - M8x63 hex bolts and washers installed the mount(had to drill 1/4" pilot holes). After the TV was installed, I noticed that the top right corner of the mount (facing TV to wall) had a little play in it and was about 1/8" away from the wall (left side seems better), but the bolts seem to be secure. I thought it was because the bolts were more towards the center of the mount - the way the holes were situatued on the mount - the right side was about 6" bolt to end Vs. 4" on the left side.
Now, as I was cleaning the TV for the Super Bowl, I noticed that when my friend and I hung the TV onto the mount bars, it wasn't centered properly. I plan on centering it as soon as I have time to undo some of the wires to allow me to move the TV a few inches. Centering should help.
Few Questions;
1) If I have to reset the mount to center it with the bolts better (if possible) & lower it an inch or two on the wall - can I still use the same studs and drill new holes into them? Not really sure one if not both may be structural. Is there anything I can use to fill in the old holes? I heard Liquid Nails works (?)
2) If it sound like the mount is properly secured and in fact centering the TV will help, Can anyone recommend a toggle bolt or fastner that I can simply drill a hole (with the mount on the wall as is) thru the mount, and use a washer to secure the outer four corners? The slots for the screw holes on the mount are 1/2" wide (verticle) and almost 1 3/4" long (horizontal). Is there a toggle bolt out there that would fit thru this opening without having to remove the mount?
I would preferr to leave the mount up as is, if I can find a fastner that I can squeez the flange thru the screw opening and set it flush to the wall. What about the Toggler? It sounds like it would be strong enough OR is a standard 1/4" toggle bolt strong enough for additional supports in outer corners.
I would appreciate any advice - I need to address this in the next few days - my concern is that the mount may be bending and I don't want that to happen.
Thanks
Now, as I was cleaning the TV for the Super Bowl, I noticed that when my friend and I hung the TV onto the mount bars, it wasn't centered properly. I plan on centering it as soon as I have time to undo some of the wires to allow me to move the TV a few inches. Centering should help.
Few Questions;
1) If I have to reset the mount to center it with the bolts better (if possible) & lower it an inch or two on the wall - can I still use the same studs and drill new holes into them? Not really sure one if not both may be structural. Is there anything I can use to fill in the old holes? I heard Liquid Nails works (?)
2) If it sound like the mount is properly secured and in fact centering the TV will help, Can anyone recommend a toggle bolt or fastner that I can simply drill a hole (with the mount on the wall as is) thru the mount, and use a washer to secure the outer four corners? The slots for the screw holes on the mount are 1/2" wide (verticle) and almost 1 3/4" long (horizontal). Is there a toggle bolt out there that would fit thru this opening without having to remove the mount?
I would preferr to leave the mount up as is, if I can find a fastner that I can squeez the flange thru the screw opening and set it flush to the wall. What about the Toggler? It sounds like it would be strong enough OR is a standard 1/4" toggle bolt strong enough for additional supports in outer corners.
I would appreciate any advice - I need to address this in the next few days - my concern is that the mount may be bending and I don't want that to happen.
Thanks
#2
OK, if the bolt is "secure" why is there play in it? It obviously needs to be tightened up to go flush to the mount. Did you hit the stud solidly, or did you hit it with a glancing blow? You can move the bolts to new holes without any problem with structure. And you can fill the holes with spackling compound (if it is sheetrock) or wood filler. Liquid nails won't do any good, as it is an adhesive, not a filler. I would center the mounting plate between the studs to prevent the edge from coming out. Also, you can loosen the mount and install a toggle in the outer holes to help to secure it, but don't rely on them to hold up the tv. The lag bolts in the studs are your primary holding force.
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OK, if the bolt is "secure" why is there play in it? It obviously needs to be tightened up to go flush to the mount. Did you hit the stud solidly, or did you hit it with a glancing blow? You can move the bolts to new holes without any problem with structure. And you can fill the holes with spackling compound (if it is sheetrock) or wood filler. Liquid nails won't do any good, as it is an adhesive, not a filler. I would center the mounting plate between the studs to prevent the edge from coming out. Also, you can loosen the mount and install a toggle in the outer holes to help to secure it, but don't rely on them to hold up the tv. The lag bolts in the studs are your primary holding force.
Thanks
#4
You won't degrade the stud by moving your bolts. How much did the plasma cost, and do you really, really want to trust it to a composition as sheetrock, and a 75 cent fastener that claims to hold alot of weight? The fastener will hold if the sheetrock doesn't give way, so Catch-22. Use the studs.
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You won't degrade the stud by moving your bolts. How much did the plasma cost, and do you really, really want to trust it to a composition as sheetrock, and a 75 cent fastener that claims to hold alot of weight? The fastener will hold if the sheetrock doesn't give way, so Catch-22. Use the studs.
#6
First, note that I've installed *one* wall mounted LCD TV this year, so I'm no expert. I had to fix the goofups of the last guy who tried to put it up. Here's what I learned:
The bracket must be *perfectly* level. If you have one of those junky 2 ft levels that reads one way when it's against the wall, and a different way when you turn it around, that isn't going to fly. You might as well use that level for a baseball bat. The longer the level, the more accurate it will be. The bracket I used was about 20" wide, and mounts to 2 studs. If the TV is 40" wide, any variation in level is going to be exaggerated, and in turn, can cause the TV to be off-balanced and make it want to "hang" to one side. If the bracket is 1/16" out of level in 16", that would be 1/4" out in 48", for example.
The bracket I used also had 2 wingnuts that could be loosened to allow the TV to be adjusted up or down. I found that these wingnuts had to be tightened quite tight, so that it took a little effort to swivel the TV up and down. If they were too loose, the weight of the TV would pull itself downward.
Not sure if any of this will help any, but I thought I'd share.
The bracket must be *perfectly* level. If you have one of those junky 2 ft levels that reads one way when it's against the wall, and a different way when you turn it around, that isn't going to fly. You might as well use that level for a baseball bat. The longer the level, the more accurate it will be. The bracket I used was about 20" wide, and mounts to 2 studs. If the TV is 40" wide, any variation in level is going to be exaggerated, and in turn, can cause the TV to be off-balanced and make it want to "hang" to one side. If the bracket is 1/16" out of level in 16", that would be 1/4" out in 48", for example.
The bracket I used also had 2 wingnuts that could be loosened to allow the TV to be adjusted up or down. I found that these wingnuts had to be tightened quite tight, so that it took a little effort to swivel the TV up and down. If they were too loose, the weight of the TV would pull itself downward.
Not sure if any of this will help any, but I thought I'd share.
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Thanks xsleeper. I also have a tilt mount and it's level - so is the TV iteslf (checked with a 4ft level). I do have the TV tilted down at a slight angle, but isn't that what this mount is supposed to do? Why would the right corner come away from the wall - even just a little?
Only 2 things I can think of that are causing the right side upper corner not to be flush.
- the wall isn't straight or the mount needs to be centered on the four bolts better. The bolts are secure, but as I said in my earlier post, the right side bolts are about 6" from center to end of mount and the left bolts are about 3+" from center to end of mount. I researched this before setting it up and I thought the mount didn't have to be exactly centered on the studs - just bolt it into 2 adjacent studs @ 16" on center. I'm not sure if the slots to insert the bolts on the mount will match up any better than the way I have it, but I'll measure it and check. Plan on working with this on Saturday.
Only 2 things I can think of that are causing the right side upper corner not to be flush.
- the wall isn't straight or the mount needs to be centered on the four bolts better. The bolts are secure, but as I said in my earlier post, the right side bolts are about 6" from center to end of mount and the left bolts are about 3+" from center to end of mount. I researched this before setting it up and I thought the mount didn't have to be exactly centered on the studs - just bolt it into 2 adjacent studs @ 16" on center. I'm not sure if the slots to insert the bolts on the mount will match up any better than the way I have it, but I'll measure it and check. Plan on working with this on Saturday.
#8
One other thing I remember about that installation... the spot where the mount attaches to the TV itself also needed some adjustment... seems like the screws into the TV weren't tight which allowed it to tip a bit. Hope you get it figured out.
I ended up building a nice surround for it to make it look like the bar cabinets on the same wall (cherry colored walnut) then the top was surrounded with crown moulding. Makes me wish I had one just like it in my living room! Maybe someday!
I ended up building a nice surround for it to make it look like the bar cabinets on the same wall (cherry colored walnut) then the top was surrounded with crown moulding. Makes me wish I had one just like it in my living room! Maybe someday!