Martin's Argosy Rebuild Thread

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by Hochstrasser

I bought (scored!!) a '78 Argosy 28 several years ago from near Spokane, Wa and drove down it here to Jarrell, Tx. I would certainly enjoy meeting any fellow owners, and especially any who would pass on some remodeling tips.

Jay

My remodelling tip:

1) KEEP EVERYTHING, until totally finished; even if you know you're going to throw it out.
2) Weigh vehicle before you gut; and after you gut; so you know the weight target not to cross. Going lighter is always better, but a lot harder than you think to accomplish.
3) The mind set I had when I did my renovation was this; if I couldn't replace the OEM Airstream sink with a lighter sink, I would make a note of the weight difference and have to take that weight out of somewhere else. When I added dual bottom mount soft close drawer slides to my cabinets, instead of the one single bottom mounted Accuride slide that was OEM, it meant I lost the 50lb small freezer that I had to take out to compensate for the added weight.

For every 100 lbs of weight you add, you should add 10 hp to compensate; not to mention get bigger brakes.

Weight has a nasty habit of creeping up.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[martin300662]

To add to Tony's very valid comments.....

Really consider the difference between renovation vs remodeling. Renovation (replacing/repairing/refurbishing the current layout) is reasonably straightforward and takes skills/effort/money. Remodeling (redesigning/changing layout) is very different.

You have to understand that a even a blank canvas is not a without restrictions. Spend time understanding the constraints of what you are working with. For example you will notice some windows are 24" high, some 30" high; counter tops can only go under the 24" windows, and the task of moving tanks/heaters/fridge is not just a case of where you would like it to be, it is where is is able to go.

[Hochstrasser]

Thanks guys, appreciate the input. I am only replacing worn out parts like window channels and interior defects, not gutting it for total restore. I thank all of you who share your wisdom for newbies like me.
Jay

[martin300662]

OK....

Regardless of what everyone else is up to today, I am officially the luckiest idiot around. We have a gap of about 3 weeks until our next trip in Bella so I have been 'pottering' with a long list of things to do. Now this is nothing like Bob's to-do list and mainly things like adapting the flag pole holder to take the longer 5m poles which are 2mm wider....you know, the import stuff.

Well I have mentioned in the past that AS NE 'forgot' to replace the seal around the center rear window and that meant water was getting into the channel, collecting until it was deep enough to cover the latches which then allows water to run inside (this is a common problem with pano windows). Well this hasn't need a problem whilst Bella is parked under cover in the winter but today I wanted to drill some relief holes (to let the water exit outside), replace the 1 1/2in screws AS NE had used to screw the screen to the inner walls (but which were so long they actually punctured the seal on the window) and, at long last replace the seal.

Screws were changed no issue, relief holes drilled no issue, then I had the bright idea of removing the window retainers (that stop the window opening past 45 degrees) and inverting the window so that I could work on the seal.

Now anyone that is familiar with the center window in a pano set is now screaming at their screen...NOOOOO!

For those not familiar, when the window is inverted, it simply falls out, by that I mean there is no hinge just two U-channels with the lower (the window) hooking into the upper (the body) to act as a hinge

Well I realized this just about the point that the now inverted window (7ft off the ground) released from the body.

Somehow in that 7ft drop I manged to fumble and partially catch, but also get my foot under, that priceless piece of glass, whilst jumping off the 'hopper' on which I was standing. Honestly I feel like trying out for the Giants as a replacement for Odell Beckham, because I have no idea how I ended up, on the ground, foot under the window, and holding the top and bottom, which were the sides by this time.

I would buy a lottery ticket but honestly I have used up all my luck for the rest of the year.

Anyway.....new seal, now refitted, and I am going back to those import jobs like modifying the windbreaks and adapting the draw inserts to take the new mugs we bought!

[rmkrum]

Yeah, and just keep in mind that as we all age, our bones get more brittle. You could have easily broken more than just a piece of glass...

[bkahler]

Yep, you should have bought the lottery ticket BEFORE you started working on Bella!

To be honest I never looked to see if the rear window sash could be removed from the frame. I guess I just assumed it was a one piece affair. I wonder if the Classic motorhomes with the newer style emergency egress bar have the same issue? I'll look tonight as I have one sitting somewhere in the shop.

I like the idea of those drain holes. Good tip!

Brad

[Isuzusweet]

Open up brain, insert file, red flagged it and again profusely thank those whose boots marked a trail through the mine field ahead of me.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Yep, you should have bought the lottery ticket BEFORE you started working on Bella!

To be honest I never looked to see if the rear window sash could be removed from the frame. I guess I just assumed it was a one piece affair. I wonder if the Classic motorhomes with the newer style emergency egress bar have the same issue? I'll look tonight as I have one sitting somewhere in the shop.

I like the idea of those drain holes. Good tip!

Brad

In my defense, it appeared that you had to remove the small riveted end plug and slide out the window from the side, which is exactly what I had to do to get it back in, so I was caught out completely when it came free!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

In my defense, it appeared that you had to remove the small riveted end plug and slide out the window from the side, which is exactly what I had to do to get it back in, so I was caught out completely when it came free!

Martin, if you're expecting leniency from a group like this your sadly mistaken

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

In my defense, it appeared that you had to remove the small riveted end plug and slide out the window from the side, which is exactly what I had to do to get it back in, so I was caught out completely when it came free!

Before parking mine outside I think it's time to address the rear window seal as you have done. So, I have a few questions:

If I were to remove the rear window do you think with two people it would be possible to re-install the window without removing the rivet and end plug?

Did you use the small D style gasket?

How did you attach the gasket to the window?

How many drain holes did you add?

I have the D style gasket I bought from Inland years ago that I will be using.

Thanks!

Brad

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Before parking mine outside I think it's time to address the rear window seal as you have done. So, I have a few questions:

If I were to remove the rear window do you think with two people it would be possible to re-install the window without removing the rivet and end plug?

Did you use the small D style gasket?

How did you attach the gasket to the window?

How many drain holes did you add?

I have the D style gasket I bought from Inland years ago that I will be using.

Thanks!

Brad

Denise and I made several attempts to re-install without removing the rivet and end plug. The basic problem was the 'bow' to the U-channel on the window, is significant, whereas the U attached to the body is 'flat'. No doubt if it was you and Ernie you could flex the window back to flat. Denise was struggling to hold the weight so I was using both hands to hold the window, which meant I did not have a spare hand to work the channels make together.

I used the small D gasket from VTS, that came with a 3M red double sided tape. The corners are a pain as you really don't want to cut through the seal. I created a 'pigs ear' then snipped that off so the gasket is continuous but the overlapping material is removed. You can get a neoprene adhesive to stick the corners and give continuity - I could find any locally so will monitor and add later if needed. The original gasket was different along the top (a bladed design like a wiper blade) to the sides/bottom (a solid rectangular section rubber. Getting the old seal off was messy; chip away what you can, fine grade sandpaper to remove the original contact adhesive, methylated spirits to clean before applying the new seal.

I did one hole in the center and then one each side, drilled flush with the bottom of the inner channel, which actually puts it under the new seal. So anything getting past the seal, runs down the channel and out the new weep holes.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Denise and I made several attempts to re-install without removing the rivet and end plug. The basic problem was the 'bow' to the U-channel on the window, is significant, whereas the U attached to the body is 'flat'. No doubt if it was you and Ernie you could flex the window back to flat. Denise was struggling to hold the weight so I was using both hands to hold the window, which meant I did not have a spare hand to work the channels make together.

I think I'll try and remove/re-install the window without removing the plug. Who knows we might get lucky!

I used the small D gasket from VTS, that came with a 3M red double sided tape. The corners are a pain as you really don't want to cut through the seal. I created a 'pigs ear' then snipped that off so the gasket is continuous but the overlapping material is removed. You can get a neoprene adhesive to stick the corners and give continuity - I could find any locally so will monitor and add later if needed. The original gasket was different along the top (a bladed design like a wiper blade) to the sides/bottom (a solid rectangular section rubber. Getting the old seal off was messy; chip away what you can, fine grade sandpaper to remove the original contact adhesive, methylated spirits to clean before applying the new seal.

It sounds like I have the same gasket and I was wondering how the corners came out. I was playing with the gasket and came to the same conclusion you did on how the corners would work.

I did one hole in the center and then one each side, drilled flush with the bottom of the inner channel, which actually puts it under the new seal. So anything getting past the seal, runs down the channel and out the new weep holes.

Thanks for the info.

Brad

[martin300662]

All packed and ready to leave for the rally at Ettie's Field

9https://www.ettiesfield.com/)

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

All packed and ready to leave for the rally at Ettie's Field

9https://www.ettiesfield.com/)

Attachment 348205

Enjoy your trip!

From the looks of the clouds you might be driving in rain.

[mayco]

She looks soooooooooo good Martin, A#1!! Enjoy your trip.

It looks like you're toting a hitch mounted scooter or motorcycle? Yes?

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by mayco

She looks soooooooooo good Martin, A#1!! Enjoy your trip.

It looks like you're toting a hitch mounted scooter or motorcycle? Yes?

Just a couple of bikes this trip Mike, but I do prefer the ‘tray’ type carriers. We are setup to carry a little Honda ANF 125 but only use that if we are travelling further afield. This weekends rally is a couple of hundred miles each way and the rlly field is only a short walk to the village pub!

One small but frustrating issue on the way here, the darn throttle is not shutting properly. A quick check seems to suggest there is a little corrosion in the rod/lever assembly between the pedal and the cable. It was nearly dark by the time we arrived so I will check it out tomorrow.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by martin300662

One small but frustrating issue on the way here, the darn throttle is not shutting properly. A quick check seems to suggest there is a little corrosion in the rod/lever assembly between the pedal and the cable. It was nearly dark by the time we arrived so I will check it out tomorrow.

Poor man's cruise control.[emoji16]

Have a great trip!
Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[GREEN ARGOSY]

She looks awesome!
Take care and have a nice trip!

[martin300662]

How can stuff ‘go missing’ between one camping trip and the next?

This time I have lost (or rather misplaced the U-bolts that hold the flag holder to the two hitch extension.

Means no flag poles this trip.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

How can stuff ‘go missing’ between one camping trip and the next?

This time I have lost (or rather misplaced the U-bolts that hold the flag holder to the two hitch extension.

Means no flag poles this trip.

Hmmm....is it an age thing.....?!

Just kidding

I think if I ever find all the misplaced tools in my shop I will be able to outfit a complete second tool box