Help - Water's pouring in my "New" 1974 sovereign

[rbenoiti]

Somebody help me! I just purchased a 1974 31' Sovereign. While removing the carpet I noticed soggy plywood. After removing the plywood I used a hose to spray water on the windows. Eureka! Water pours in the inside. Runs down the inside of the walls and also leaks through to the interior.

Question:

1. How do you remove the window frames? Do you have to first remove all the interior siding?

Any help would be appreciated. I am a new Airstream owner and I am not worried about the work just want to do it once/right.

Ray

[AYRSTRM2]

Search for threads on "leaks" and "windows". Look at the recent posts for a thread called "Windows 101" , it has good info on sealing windows.

John

[rbenoiti]

I did search the other threads but unless I'm missing something they only talk about the window itself. I think my leaks are around the frame of the window and I haven't seen anything about removing the entire unit. I will look again. Thanks for your advice.

Ray

[AYRSTRM2]

It's the same thing. Water gets in from the outside by either leaking in through the connection of the outside of the Window frame to the exterior skin or it leaks around the glass. I don't know the types of window frames you have, so there may be another issue with window frames that have come apart. Is water entering from some other spot?

John

[rbenoiti]

I believe water is leaking in through the connection of the outside of the Window frame to the exterior skin.

So do I have to remove the frame in order to reseal it?

Sealing the hinged windows themselves are relatively easy. The vista veiw will be more difficult but I have read alot about them.

Also do I need to remove interior skin to gain access to the frames etc.

Thanks again

Ray

[AYRSTRM2]

Ray, since I don't own your era of coach I won't tell you how to do this, I may have some of it wrong, but don't fret, I seriously doubt any skin removal is necessary. It is most probably a matter of getting a tube of Vulkem and caulking the top of the window frame on the outside, where it meets the skin. But make sure to get advice from the owners of that era and experts on AS's.

John

[uwe]

Ray,
If you want to take the windows out, you must drill out the rivets on the outer window frame.
The inside is just trim, can be removed easily.
I believe Vulkem would be the sealer of choice to reseal these windows properly.
However, you shoul dbe able to squeeze a small bead of "Par Bond" around the edge of the outer window frames and stop the leaks.
Par bond comes in grey color, and in small tubes that is easy to work with, in a precision manner. I believe it woul d work well to seal all the outer windows. You will need a good supply of it to do them all.

[rbenoiti]

Thanks for your advice, I'll keep researching.

Ray

[rbenoiti]

uwe - Thanks for that advice - I'll try that first before drilling out windows. Do you know a good source for that?

Ray

[Tripp]

Ray,

I had a persistent leak after I fixed my Vista Views and found it to be the window frames. I used parbond for that application since it flows well and "seeps" into the crevise rather than staying on top of it. Fixed my problems. While you're at it, same yourself some grief and seal all the body panel seams and segments. They can leak too and are really difficult to track down. I used 5 tubes on my 31', although I had a couple of tubes break open when I dropped them.

Tripp

[rbenoiti]

Tripp, thanks for the info! - I just went out and removed 3 of the "vista view" windows. They are definitely leaking.

I hope the parabond works so I don't have to drill out the frames of all of the windows.

Thanks again,

Ray

[uwe]

InlandRV, or AirstreamDreams
both .com

[Happycampers]

Hello Ray.. Welcome.. Parbon can be purchased at some RV dealers .. just ask and I believe you will find it is cheaper.. Annie

[wahoonc]

Ray,
I have a 1975 so I am the same Vintage as yours. A PO had sealed parts of my windows with silicone. First order of business is to get ALL of it out of the joints and off the skin. For the windows with the drip rails I used Vulkem to seal the top of the frames. For the Vista View frames I used Parabond. Both of these I bought from my AS dealer. I used a Dremel Tool with a brass or plastic brush to clean the crud out of the edge of the frame so the caulking would get a good clean surface to stick too. My vista views were leaking around the seals at the glass surface so those had to go also. That is a whole different process from just sealing the window frames. You will probably need to redo the vents and plumbing vents too.

Aaron

[Inland RV Center, In]

Unless the window gaskets have been replaced on a 1974 trailer, I would be very surprised if they did not leak, especially when the trailer is watered down from a garden hose.

Andy

[john hd]

here is how rick and i tackled a leaky front window in a 1974 excella 31'

http://www.airforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=10794

what window(s) are giving you trouble?

john

[rbenoiti]

Sorry for the delay in responding but I had to take my daughter out to dinner - she just graduated from kindergarten!

Anyway it seems that the upper vista veiw windows are leaking as well as the main hinged windows are leaking as well.

I have removed 3 of the visata view windows and it is readily apparent that they leak.

Should I remove the interior walls to inspect behind them for damage?

The floors have suffered and I am replacing them. I am going to remove the refrigerator as well as the stove, sink, counter etc. all the way up to the center bathroom.

The rear of the unit seems to be ok.

Thanks for the help.

Ray