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Hi again all,

we have now resumed our extensive repair project, and are finding it tricky putting the trim into the window rubber. Is there a special tool for doing this ?

Or has anyone got any handy hints for doing it easily ? Its proving to be a bit of a bugger !!!

Thanks

Russ and Dawn

ask wizard but believe if you place it (the trim) in hot water for while it goes in easy.

http://www.caravandamprepairs.co.uk

Yes there is a special tool.

It has a diamond shaped head made of stiff wire. The head is about 3/4" long by 1/2" wide and the diamond bit goes into the insert space and the insert goes through the centre of the diamond.

You will find one here under Glazing Tools.

http://www.sealsdirect.co.uk/bbCMS/shopping.asp?intDepartmentId=4

Cost  £9.45.

Water, mixed half in half with washing up liquid will ease in the insert, but personally I do not like using this and much prefer to pu it in dry if I can.

GT 75 from the link above

Quote: Originally posted by geeljay on 01/2/2009

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I used a pice of my (broken) pastry scraper. Just a stong flat plastic. Worked well and quick. I suppose you wont better the correct tool, though.

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It much depends on the shape and the material that the insert piece is made from.

The classic cars that I use this tool on, the insert tends to be chrome on rubber under a clear plastic coating. It is easily damaged and this tool allows me to open out the window surround and ease the chrome insert in without it touching the tool at all.

My mate uses the handle end of a Solid Silver Fish Fork. It must be one of the most expensive tools he's got <G>.

Quote: Originally posted by LawrenceR on 01/2/2009

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Replaced one last week, tools to hand, a flat bladed screwdriver.
Inserted one side of the trim into the grove, peeled back the rubber on the other side, then slid the screwdriver along, seemed to work okay.

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Like I said, much depends on the shape of the insert and/or the space that the insert is going into.

Any flat bladed tool will only work if the insert and space is also flatish.

If you mean the grey insert which is a flat 1" wide length of plastic, that isnt the tool you need, its quite expensive for that tool, but you can do it with a flat screwdriver as mentioned earlier, we always spray the seal with silicone spray then insert one side as suggested then run round with the screwdriver.

Keith

Loads of really helpful advice here....

Thanks to all,

Regards,

Russ and Dawn

Hi Russ and Dawn,

You've probably had a go at this already but I followed Wizards advice on warming up the instert (I put it on the radiator in the house for 10 mins before getting to the caravan. I suppose a fan heater would do the same job.

It was mush easier to work with. Also I used an old plastic kids knife, as well as wetting my fingers with olive oil (I only found this out after accidentally leaving some WD40 on my hands after working on the door hinges).

The technique was to slide in one side of the insert into the window rubber, then use the plastic knife under the 'lip of the rubber, and slide my finger along in front of the knife to pursuade it in. Took a bit of practice but after the first window the others were a doddle ()