|
 Topic: Refitting Old Van front windows
|
  |
05/5/2024 at 7:37pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
There are three front windows in my old Avondale. The strips between the windows do get full of algae so now and again I open the windows to clean the strips. All was going well until the front offside widow slipped from its seal on the top hinge. Fortunately I held on to it and it is intact. Initially it wouldn't slide back in so I removed the seal and used some Lithium grease as a lubricant and have managed to refit the window. The Lithium grease I used contains some petroleum distillates. I know that petroleum distillates aren't good for rubber so maybe it will damage the seal. Can anyone advise what lubricant I should have used. Thanks
|
05/5/2024 at 10:16pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 11/8/2016 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 3150
| Site Reviews Total: | 3 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 3 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 15 |
|
anything that contains silicone, is best, so mr sheen furniture polish is good
|
05/5/2024 at 10:26pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Thanks. That was my first go to thought. It didn't work so I tried the Lithium Grease that I use for my steadies. Not sure if it is right for seals. I've been doing a bit more research and looks like I should have used a silicone lubricant.
|
06/5/2024 at 3:39pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/9/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 658
| Site Reviews Total: | 39 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 10 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 19 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Thank you, I'm away in the caravan for a few nights shortly. As things stand the window is back in and secure. I appreciate all the advice and will have another look when the caravan is back on the drive.
|
06/5/2024 at 5:31pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2541
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 6 |
|
STOP!!!!!
Some of the recommendations above are absolute death to Acrylic windows! Contact with them will cause irreversible damage, either instant softening/clouding of the plastic or longer term crazing and weakening leading to likely mechanical failure!
Acrylic is not very resistant to most Esters, Ketones, Aromatic hydrocarbons, Chlorinated hydrocarbons, in layman's terms that's most things with a smelly solvent that evaporates quickly! As well as Brake Fluid and Methylated Spirits!
It may be too late to stop any damage as Lithium Grease is usually petroleum based! Best clean up thoroughly ASAP with nothing stronger than detergent, NO SOLVENTS!
Use detergent (washing up liquid) as a lubricant, or a Silicone lubricant, but be careful that doesn't have anything else harmful in it by way of propellants/additives in aerosols! Some silicone lubricants claim safe for use on plastics. Thetford's toilet seal lubricant is often recommended for stopping rubber seals sticking to windows, so seems to be OK.
As to the chemical resistance of the rubber seals themselves, that's a bit of an unknown, as many different types of rubbers out there, some more resistant than others, probably best to get the Lithium grease off and play safe!
|
06/5/2024 at 6:20pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2541
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 6 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Toad acaravan on 06/5/2024
I wonder what components are present in vehicle brake systems and what are the components made from...also what is the type of liquid is used to manufacture brake fluid?
It used to be a vegetable based oil, hence it's propensity to absorb atmospheric moisture and need frequent changing, but had a few cars in recent years with different and incompatible fluids to the old stuff - remember old style fluid stripping paint VERY effectively!!!! .... not sure about modern stuff.
One of the challenges with brake fluid is finding something with a consistent viscosity over quite a wide temp range, otherwise the brake peddle effort would vary greatly between cold and hot days, AND it has to not degrade/alter is characteristics when subjected to VERY high temperature from brake components when braking exceptionally hard!
The components in a brake system are made from steel, aluminium, synthetic rubbers, plastics and probably a few brass bits. Quite a range of materials to consider, and avoid chemical damage and electrolytic reactions by the fluid!
|
06/5/2024 at 6:22pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2541
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 6 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Toad acaravan on 06/5/2024
Hence the reason I suggested the window be covered..!!
Was thinking more of the risk of it washing out of the hinge and onto the window when it rained!
|
|
via mobile 05/5/2024 at 9:43pm
