Years ago, when I was in the military, it was determined that the silicone sealant was corrosive to aluminum and not to be used on our helicopters. As to whether the formulation has changed and that is no longer the case, I haven't heard.
Here is a link to a fellow Airstreamer and advertiser on this forum who has the correct caulk in stock. I just ordered some yesterday for my Fantastic Fan project. http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/...Code=VTS%2D190
It is possible that they used urathane windshield sealer on you window.It is the best there is for automotive glass installations .Its not silicone but urathane and is really bonds,the windshield guys all use it.I dont recoomend it for your airstream but if thats what they used its sealed ,believe it!
Most Airstream dealers should carry SikaFlex, Acryl-R and ParBond as these are what Airstream uses. The others come from my RV parts distributors. If you can't find what you need, PM me and I can get them for you.
I believe that you can also get some of these directly from the A/S factory at the web site...factory store section.
Awhile back I seem to recall that someone from Airstream - it may have been Jim Parrett - made a post, either here or on Airstream's company site, listing the various types of caulking that the factory used for each different application.
I searched but could not find that posting. Does anyone have a link for it? It may be time to repost this information.
Also, when we were at the factory a year or so ago I purchased a really nice aluminum caulking gun (or maybe it's brushed steel) from them, which they filled with caulking -- I believe it's Acryl-R. They sell the empty guns in the factory store for around $20, and they are excellent. Then, they'll fill it with caulking for you (and refill it whenever you're there and need more) for around $3 or so (I can't remember the exact price).
Isn't Acryl-R is what the factory uses all over on the exterior - around the windows, doors, lights, rub rail, etc? That seems like awfully good caulking to me, and you can really lay a fine bead, easily, with that caulking gun that Airstream sells.
The ProFlex isn't bad stuff. I have a few tubes of it in my sealant inventory. I think you would be better off with grey SikaFlex polyurethane on your Airstream. Sealing up yout A/S is not the place to try to save a few bucks. It's the stuff that they use at the factory.
The Acryl-R that I use has a grease gun style applicator that screws directly onto the can that holds the sealant. The can is about 3 1/2" by 5" with a screw-on cap. It is a 'self leveling' selant that the factory uses for the narrow exterior seams. It seems to wick into the seam before it starts to cure. IMHO, it is the BEST for this particular application.
You can buy the refill cans from any A/S dealer and I believe that they are on the web site store as well......but they AIN"T CHEAP as the new can I have has a $32.99 price tag on it for 16 ounces!!!
the one I have sounds similar to yours, in that's it's a grease gun style, and it is a 16 oz size, except I just looked and it was only $17.99 (empty) from the Airstream store last year. Then, as I said, they filled the can at the factory for about $3. On mine, the top screws off and the liquid goes inside the can itself.
Really, I've seen commercial glass installers use WD-40 before they peel the old stuff off on a window replacement. Scrape-and-pull......scrape-and-pull with a plastic putty knife.
There are two types of silicone sealeant. One is Acetic Acid cure(very corrosive and outlawed by NAVAL Aviation period) and Alcohol cure(not corrosive). Neither works well on aluminum or on much of anything that I've found. Use the stuff that Airstream uses (Vulcum, Par bond Etc or anything that Andy of Inland RV recommends) Stay away from the silicones. You will be disapointed in the long run.
IF was me, due to the expericneds that I have had with the silicones in NAVAL AVIATION, I would clean the stuff off and replace it with what Inland recommends.
That's my two cents worth.
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I've been looking for more of the 3M 5200 in clear and can't find it... I did find a site that said using silicone on Aluminum isn't good, that it can corrode the aluminum. Why do YOU think it's a bad idea?
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It's the stuff that they use at the factory.
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