Cockpit window leak question

[Christo]

Pulled out the cockpit carpet today intending to replace it and found that one of my floorboards is wet and rotted. The job just got bigger! My question: Is the bottom plastic/felt channel supposed to have drain slots cut into it corresponding to the drain slots in the aluminum window frame? My channels don't have any slots cut, so I assume water runs off one end or the other and may be contributing to the leak problem.

 

[JSanford]

There should be three drain slots, the felt inside the channel on mine is pretty degraded so the water goes through. If you use the new rubber channel felts you should cut holes otherwise the water cannot get to the drain slots. The original material was just water permeable fabric, the replacement stuff is solid rubber.

 

[Christo]

I have the replacement rubber ones and I have one vote for cutting slots. Thank you! Who agrees/disagrees?

 

[bdub]

Of course, ya have to have a route for the water to take other than onto the floor.

 

[Christo]

Of course, ya have to have a route for the water to take other than onto the floor.

Just trying not to assume anything, or throw the PO under the bus, er, coach.

 

[tmsnyder]

Mine had water leaking there too, but it was from around the frame to body seal as well as from the drain slots being plugged. Pulling those windows and resealing was not fun, mostly b/c the po thought water could be stopped by applying liberal amounts of silicone to the inside areas. Literally tubes and tubes of silicone that all had to be cut out just to remove the window. Whoever is telling people to use silicone on an RV ought to be slapped.

 

[6cuda6]

i would cut slots as well in the new install....doesn't make sense to have drain slots in the frame and no slots in the rubber unless the rubber was designed to allow water to channel to the holes.

If your worried perhaps only put slots in the back half of the center and rear most position [leave the front one closed] that way the water has someplace to go out and wont leak if the window is closed?

 

[Christo]

i would cut slots as well in the new install....doesn't make sense to have drain slots in the frame and no slots in the rubber unless the rubber was designed to allow water to channel to the holes.

If your worried perhaps only put slots in the back half of the center and rear most position [leave the front one closed] that way the water has someplace to go out and wont leak if the window is closed?

The rubber channel isn't new; the PO replaced them at some point but didn't cut holes for drainage.

 

[JR Williams]

Pulled out the cockpit carpet today intending to replace it and found that one of my floorboards is wet and rotted. The job just got bigger! My question: Is the bottom plastic/felt channel supposed to have drain slots cut into it corresponding to the drain slots in the aluminum window frame? My channels don't have any slots cut, so I assume water runs off one end or the other and may be contributing to the leak problem.

Hey Christo.

I'm in the middle of totally refurbishing both my cockpit windows. I bought the new felt tracks from Sirum and I did cut the drains. The felt track from Sirum are nice. They're made with a wire cage and required the ole dremel to make the cuts.

I've put one together and will make a tutorial on the other. Seems to be no detail information on this subject which I think is very important.

Saying all this, I found the build design from GMC a little lackluster for keeping water out. Very large gaps between the dividing support/front cap, and lower surround where it meets the windshield gasket. My driver side has a 3/4" x 1/2" hole where the top meets the sides and the passenger side doesn't. Guess mine was built on a friday before lunch?

Passenger side... (that line your looking at is the subject. You can see light coming from the hole across the way)



Drivers side...



Here's my before and after cockpit windows.

Drivers side (forgot to take photos before disassembling passenger side, but they looked the same. Beat up and leaking.)



Passenger side all pretty with new tint.

 

[who_dun_it]

Did you remove all of the glass from the frame? If so, can you post a short description of the process.
Les
T.O. CA

 

[tmsnyder]

The rubber channel isn't new; the PO replaced them at some point but didn't cut holes for drainage.

Can you slice them with a utility knife while they are in place?

 

[Christo]

Can you slice them with a utility knife while they are in place?

Easier to remove. Also, in addition to the longitudinal slot, a small 1/2" lateral slot is needed so that any water in the inboard channel can run through. There's a hole in the divider between the inboard and outboard channel for that.

 

[traveler1980]

If someone would be willing to post photos of exactly where the cuts (for example, the lateral cut mentioned above) need to be made, that would be greatly appreciated. My felts were also not cut and there seems to be very little to no documentation on this topic. ?

 

[Christo]

Just align them with the three drain slots in the window frame. The smaller slot between the inboard and outboard channels is centered on the outside drain slots. The rearmost outer slot does not have a corresponding lateral slot. Note, in the photo below I made a lateral slot in the rearmost position where it wasn't needed. Oops, but harmless.

 

[traveler1980]

Just align them with the three drain slots in the window frame. The smaller slot between the inboard and outboard channels is centered on the outside drain slots. The rearmost outer slot does not have a corresponding lateral slot. Note, in the photo below I made a lateral slot in the rearmost position where it wasn't needed. Oops, but harmless.
View attachment 2923
View attachment 2924

Thanks Christo!

 

[Matt Colie]

Jamie Sharp,
There may be a problem with trying to tell you where to cut the slots. I have replaced all the felt channel in all the windows and tried two use one rear window and the pattern for the other and they were different. Not even mirror of the other.
Matt

 

[traveler1980]

Jamie Sharp,
There may be a problem with trying to tell you where to cut the slots. I have replaced all the felt channel in all the windows and tried two use one rear window and the pattern for the other and they were different. Not even mirror of the other.
Matt

Thanks Matt. That should make the process “interesting”. Looking at my coach, I don’t think any of the slots were ever cut on any of the windows. The felts are in great shape, though, with the exception of the front passenger toll window. The bottom channel felt in that window is a few inches too short and will need to be replaced.

 

[Christo]

Thanks Matt. That should make the process “interesting”. Looking at my coach, I don’t think any of the slots were ever cut on any of the windows. The felts are in great shape, though, with the exception of the front passenger toll window. The bottom channel felt in that window is a few inches too short and will need to be replaced.

This thread is only about the toll windows.

 

[tmsnyder]

Here is some guidance that came with the window rebuild kit from GMC Coop, maybe this will help

 

[who_dun_it]

Here is some guidance that came with the window rebuild kit from GMC Coop, maybe this will help

View attachment 2929

View attachment 2930

View attachment 2931

Thank you