leaks

robert teed

New member
Feb 15, 1998
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Arch,
What was the problem with the first window seal repair?
And what did You do differently on the second repair
of said windows...
Thanks,
Robert Teed 74 Painted Desert

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Gcbr
> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 1998 10:41 AM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: GMC: Leaks
>
>
> GMCers
>
> I would like to tell you of a leak I just found. We had a real bad storm
> here yesterday. 70 MPH winds a 2 inches of rain. I have installed a new
> outside vent for the galley. The darn thing leaked. Really easy to see
> why. Yes, it was locked closed. There is an 1/8 inch gap along the two
> sides of the flapper. Think I will work on that today. The good news is
> now that I have redone the windows for a second time I did not have
> any leaks on the main windows. I did have a leak on the driverside
> cockpit slider. I had redone it too. Will look at it. Yes, Patrick has the
> pics.
>
> Take Care
> Arch 76 GB IL
>
 
Well thanks for the story. Maybe I'll be able to avoid
the same pitfalls. As for silicone...I use it on all
of Me Trim Wraps on house remodels and new construction
See Ya,
Rob Teed

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Gcbr
> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 1998 10:19 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Leaks
>
>
> Robert
>
> Do you really want to hear this? First mistake was I loosened the frame on
> one window to see if it was still sealed to the body---seemed good. So I
> decided not to pull the frames. I could see that almost all of the glass
> had shifted and was no longer attached to the frames. I assumed that
> all of the leaks were coming from there. Pulled the glass out of
> the frames.
> My frames were in very bad shape. The last owner had painted them with
> a brush. It looked the old girl had wood framed windows. I
> chatted with a few
> people on here and came up with a plan. Sanded down the windows. Sprayed
> them with self etching primer. Then put on two coats of automotive acrylic
> enamel. Man did the look good. Then used a new 3M product someone
> in here told me about called Windo-Weld to seal the windows to the frames.
> When I sent the pics to Patrick I told him "I feel sorry for the
> next guy who
> has to take these windows out because they are IN THERE" The night
> after I put them in we had a big rain. NO LEAKS---------I was very happy!
> We went on working. Even built some cabinets under the windows in the
> bedroom. About a week later we had another big rain. EVERY window
> leaked. Got the hose out. Some leaked around frame and some leaked
> around glass. OK what is wrong here! The first problem was that
> the windows
> that I thought would never come out--------just pushed out with
> very little
> effort.
> The sealant stuck to the paint very well but had loosened the bond between
> the paint and the window frames. Push on the glass and the paint came off
> with the sealant. At the same time we pulled the window frames out of
> the coach. I had checked the butyl tape along the sides and bottom of
> the one window I checked. When I took a window completely out I
> found out the tape was not in bad shape on the sides and bottom but
> hard as rocks top.
>
> The second time around we pulled all windows and frames out. Sanded
> down the lip where the glass meets the frame to bare metal. Cleaned
> the back of the window frame of all butyl tape. Put the glass back in
> with Windo-Weld and put a large bead of silicone on the window frame.
> Sorry I like silicone------it works for me. This last storm
> ------none of the
> window leaked. I was happy. The problem here is that where the
> silicone came
> out around the edges of the frames it pulled the paint off when we removed
> it. Thats my story warts and all.
>
> Take Care
> Arch 76 GB IL
>
>
> > Arch,
> > What was the problem with the first window seal repair?
> > And what did You do differently on the second repair
> > of said windows...
> > Thanks,
> > Robert Teed 74 Painted Desert
> >
> >
>
 
Water leakage is one ugly problem which must be addressed and it is
never fun.
To make matters better or worse,(depends how you interpret it) the water
coming in could be entering anywhere down the length of the drip cap on
the top edge of the coach. The water can seep in anywhere along its
length and be drawn in any of the screw holes where the drip edge is
attached. The water then enters the main aluminum channel which runs
full length. Given the right circumstances this water will run out the
front( just above the drivers window,rear top corner) , out the rear of
this channel or seep through any of the screw holes that were made to
attach coach wiring. I have found, the only way to fix this, is to
remove, reseal and reinstall this drip rail. Maybe there is a better fix
but I couldn't figure one out.
 
Where did you get the galley vent? I bought one at the RV shop that they
told me was universal and it would not fit in the hole. Do you have a brand
and part number.

Ed Hatter
Omaha, NE

73 Glacier

> ----------
> From: Gcbr[SMTP:Gcbr]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 1998 9:40 AM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: GMC: Leaks
>
> GMCers
>
> I would like to tell you of a leak I just found. We had a real bad storm
> here yesterday. 70 MPH winds a 2 inches of rain. I have installed a new
> outside vent for the galley. The darn thing leaked. Really easy to see
> why. Yes, it was locked closed. There is an 1/8 inch gap along the two
> sides of the flapper. Think I will work on that today. The good news is
> now that I have redone the windows for a second time I did not have
> any leaks on the main windows. I did have a leak on the driverside
> cockpit slider. I had redone it too. Will look at it. Yes, Patrick has the
> pics.
>
> Take Care
> Arch 76 GB IL
>
 
We did the same thing two winters ago. The vent was an EXACT replacement.
Right down to the tape that acts as the hinge for the flap. We always
thought that the previous owner had "repaired" it with the tape. Boy were
we surprised when we got the new one and it was also "repaired"! We used
some stainless screws to put the new one in and it really looks good.

Zak

>Ed
>
>It came from Cinnabar. Just use the original Part # in your parts book.
>It was an exact fit. Will send pics to Patrick after I fix it.
>
>Take Care
>Arch 76 GB IL
 
Arch. Easy as eating pumpkin pie. I'll try to remember everything.
You have to remove any trim finish pieces on the inside of the window. This
will reveal a set of 4? aluminum strips which clamp the window into the
opening. Remove all of the screws that hold these on and remove the
strips.There are also pieces of aluminum which are used to attach the inside
trim pieces around the bottom rear corner. These also have to come off. Now
that should be all that holds the window in place, except for whatever type of
sealant was added to the outside or around the body side of the frame. When I
removed mine I just used good constant pressure on the back of the window. That
is, toward the rear of the coach. This is important because the window is set
into the main upright where the side window meets the windshield. I'm sure
there is a better way to describe this but this is the best I can come up with.
Originally, GM used a one sided foam tape and over the years this foam
deteriorates and shrinks. I suspect this is the cause of your leak. When you do
get the window out you will have to clean all of the old tape off the window
frame and off the opening in the coach. You can reseal it with your choice of
sealer, of course. I prefer to use butyl tape. This is similar to putty tape
but is more flexible and will stay that way for a long time. (25 years anyway)
Put your sealant on the frame and place it back in the opening, forward edge
first. I'm sure that I missed something but it all sounds good. Good luck.
Darren PS. don't worry the window stays all in one piece when you remove it.
But, oh man, don't break it...Very expensive to replace.

> GMCers
>
> OK one last leak. Spent 2 hrs in my old gal yesterday watching it
> rain outside. I had thought that the driverside cockpit slider was leaking.
> WRONG it is the frame on the whole window. Now I need someone
> to hold my hand on this one. I looked in the manual nothing there
> on removing this section of glass. I have not seen anything in most
> of what I have read. Has anybody removed this frame and glass?
> Will the front end of the GMC fall off if I do it wrong?
>
> Well, everybody have a great Thanksgiving. Getting ready to do
> 3 hours in the LeSharo to my brothers house. Its his turn to
> cook. Will be taking laptop so I can keep up with all of you.
>
> Take Care
> Arch 76 GB IL -------and a 87 Le Sharo
 
Howdy! H.T.G. When it stops raining, go to your friendly automotive window man
and ash him. He may want to have you bring it in but mire likely he will sell
you a tube of black in color glazing material. It never dries out it is easily
put on the rubber, it is easily removed from the rubber, when appklied
correctly it adhears to the rubber and glass and wallah no more leaks. Chuck

> GMCers
>
> OK one last leak. Spent 2 hrs in my old gal yesterday watching it
> rain outside. I had thought that the driverside cockpit slider was leaking.
> WRONG it is the frame on the whole window. Now I need someone
> to hold my hand on this one. I looked in the manual nothing there
> on removing this section of glass. I have not seen anything in most
> of what I have read. Has anybody removed this frame and glass?
> Will the front end of the GMC fall off if I do it wrong?
>
> Well, everybody have a great Thanksgiving. Getting ready to do
> 3 hours in the LeSharo to my brothers house. Its his turn to
> cook. Will be taking laptop so I can keep up with all of you.
>
> Take Care
> Arch 76 GB IL -------and a 87 Le Sharo
 
>GMCers
>
>OK one last leak. Spent 2 hrs in my old gal yesterday watching it
>rain outside. I had thought that the driverside cockpit slider was
>leaking.
>WRONG it is the frame on the whole window. Now I need someone
>to hold my hand on this one. I looked in the manual nothing there
>on removing this section of glass. I have not seen anything in most
>of what I have read. Has anybody removed this frame and glass?
>Will the front end of the GMC fall off if I do it wrong?
>
>Take Care
>Arch 76 GB IL -------and a 87 Le Sharo
>
Arch, be very careful. I am not certain how the glass comes out: Alex
Sirum described it to me one day but I wouldn't be able to direct someone
but the important point is this. If you take out the top piece be VEY
careful. As I recall, Alex said the top piece is not available and it is
easy to break it in the removal process.

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Drive
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
 
[ADMIN note - Darren, this post was html encoded. Be sure to post in
plain text only. Patrick]

If it was the glass, only, you wanted to remove. Once you get the window
out there are seven screws which hold all of the pieces in place. When
mine came apart it came apart great. Not real sticky, just firm enough
that it doesn't just fall apart once the screws are out. If you do have
it apart this far, you should get a new set of rubber slider tracks (From
Jim Bounds) to reseal the sliding window. The upper fixed glass is framed
in a rubber gasket. If this gasket is a little loose, when you put it
back together run a piece of black electricians tape around the outside
of the window before you replace the rubber gasket. You can't see it once
it is in place and it does help seal the rubber a little tighter. Make
sure you reseal the joints of the frame when you put it back together.
Hope this helps. I guess ignorance is sometimes bliss. I removed ALL of
my windows, disassembled them plasta-blasted them, powder coated them,
put them back together again and reinstalled them just because it seemed
a good idea at the time. Never thought about breaking them, because it
just wasn't going to happen.:-)

> >GMCers
> >
> >OK one last leak. Spent 2 hrs in my old gal yesterday watching it
> >rain outside. I had thought that the driverside cockpit slider was
> >leaking.
> >WRONG it is the frame on the whole window. Now I need someone
> >to hold my hand on this one. I looked in the manual nothing there
> >on removing this section of glass. I have not seen anything in most
> >of what I have read. Has anybody removed this frame and glass?
> >Will the front end of the GMC fall off if I do it wrong?
> >
> >Take Care
> >Arch 76 GB IL -------and a 87 Le Sharo
> >
> Arch, be very careful. I am not certain how the glass comes out: Alex
> Sirum described it to me one day but I wouldn't be able to direct someone
> but the important point is this. If you take out the top piece be VEY
> careful. As I recall, Alex said the top piece is not available and it is
> easy to break it in the removal process.
>
> David Lee Greenberg
> GMC Motorhome Registry
> 200 MacFarlane Drive
> Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
 
I also have a leak(s) to deal with. Don't know yet if this is source,
but now wondering just how much is "very expensive" and IF it is even
available. Repair in place, though possibly "halffast", is beginning to
look quite prudent.
Tim Timothy
'73 Glacier NW FL

>"... As I recall, Alex said the top piece is not available and it is
> easy to break it in the removal process..." (Dave)

>"...But, oh man, don't break it...Very expensive to replace..."(Darren)