|
09-16-2007, 04:07 PM
|
#1
|
2 Rivet Member
1998 30' Limited
garden Ridge
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 42
|
Leaky Airstream
I recently purchased a 1998 30 foot classic and it leaks water around the curved windows in the front of the trailer. I have been told by a very reliable source that the water is likely coming in from the top of the trailer. I just found out that some of the front top segments have been replaced on my trailer(before I bought it) and I did not know it. They used olympic rivets which I am told are not really waterproof. I have been advised to put silicone sealant on each of the rivets in an effort to seal them off. Have any of you had any experience with this kind of deal? Thanks for your feedback.
Rudy
|
|
|
09-16-2007, 05:10 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
Commercial Member
1986 31' Sovereign
1975 25' Tradewind
1967 17' Caravel
Sherfield English
, Hampshire
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 700
|
Hi Rudy,
thought about this! Think it might look messy putting silicone sealant on the rivets. I'd go for applying super glue around the rivets to seal them.
Marc
|
|
|
09-16-2007, 05:16 PM
|
#3
|
4 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 272
|
From what I have read one should never use silicone ever.. super glue may work or maybe Parbond as it is thinner and has the ability to seep into the area to be sealed. Good luck
James
__________________
____________
1970 Overlander
|
|
|
09-16-2007, 05:24 PM
|
#4
|
Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,618
|
I would use Acryl-R, it is the recomended seam sealer from airstream. It will seep into and seal the leaks. If properly installed the Olynpic Rivets should not leak.
http://[IMG]http://store.airstream.c....jpg[/IMG]
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
|
|
|
09-16-2007, 05:28 PM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
2005 25' International CCD
1954 22' Flying Cloud
1957 22' Flying Cloud
Simi Valley
, California
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,251
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crawdad
I recently purchased a 1998 30 foot classic and it leaks water around the curved windows
\\ MASSIVE SNIP //
Thanks for your feedback.
Rudy
|
mr rudy,
the windows are "radiused", not curved or round...
look at the roof vent(s) first...
and
Acryl-R is the ONLY thing i'd use...
just sayin,
kevin
|
|
|
09-16-2007, 05:40 PM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
|
Yep!
You guys got the picture!!!!!
Acryl-R is what the factory (and yours truly) use to seal and re-seal the seams of the Airstreams. Great stuff, and with a little practice, you can get yourself in a Zen-like state and apply the stuff and never see where you did it!
As far as the Olympic rivets go, they should be waterproof as Richard said, but if you suspect them, a little shot of the Acryl-R will actually soak into the seam and give you further protection.
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
|
|
|
09-16-2007, 07:52 PM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
|
Where can a person buy Acryl-R?
|
|
|
09-16-2007, 08:18 PM
|
#8
|
2 Rivet Member
1998 30' Limited
garden Ridge
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 42
|
Truthfully, the water shows up on the bottom of the radiused windows inside the trailer. I wondering if ther water is coming in where the metal frame and the glasss come together. Maybe I should try caulking with Acryl-r on the outside where the glass and the metal frame come together.
|
|
|
09-17-2007, 12:14 AM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
Where can a person buy Acryl-R?
|
You can get it direct from the factory, or any well stocked Airstream dealer.
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
|
|
|
09-23-2007, 08:59 AM
|
#10
|
2 Rivet Member
2010 30' Classic
Copper Falls
, Michigan
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 46
|
We have a 25' Safari. It has leaked in the front window, rear escape window and door from the beginning. Jackson Center reset the door and fix that problem. They also replaced the rear window. It still leaks. The dealer fixed it too. It still leaks. The front window has been fixed by the dealer and Jackson Center. It still leaks.
Have heard the mantra - "its an airstream, of course it leaks" Is this true?? Do they all leak??
|
|
|
09-23-2007, 09:26 AM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
1984 29' Sovereign
Savannah
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,478
|
Just to say
Quote:
Originally Posted by huskyfan
We have a 25' Safari. It has leaked in the front window, rear escape window and door from the beginning. Jackson Center reset the door and fix that problem. They also replaced the rear window. It still leaks. The dealer fixed it too. It still leaks. The front window has been fixed by the dealer and Jackson Center. It still leaks.
Have heard the mantra - "its an airstream, of course it leaks" Is this true?? Do they all leak??
|
They all have the tendencies to leak, given time...
It's called, "Internal Water Therapy"...
|
|
|
09-23-2007, 11:04 AM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crawdad
I recently purchased a 1998 30 foot classic and it leaks water around the curved windows in the front of the trailer. I have been told by a very reliable source that the water is likely coming in from the top of the trailer. I just found out that some of the front top segments have been replaced on my trailer(before I bought it) and I did not know it. They used olympic rivets which I am told are not really waterproof. I have been advised to put silicone sealant on each of the rivets in an effort to seal them off. Have any of you had any experience with this kind of deal? Thanks for your feedback.Rudy
|
If you plan on keeping the trailer for a long time, then I would suggest that you use a long term fix to correct the leaks.
There is nothing wrong with using "olympic rivets" as long as they are used correctly.
You can drill out the rivets that were installed, and replace them correctly.
With the seams open, you can inject vulkem sealer.
Next, put a small circle of vulkem under the head of each rivet, insert it and pull it.
If you replaced all the rivets on the 3 segments on the front top of the trailer, it would take about 5 to 6 hours, from start to finish.
Materials costs are minor. Three hundred olympic rivets are $60.00, Two tubes of vulkem sealer. $20.00.
Shaving the rivets can be done several ways.
Should you take the permanent fix approach, that front end will never leak again.
Most importantly, if the fix is done correctly, it would take an expert to notice it.
Installing "any" sealer over the tops of the rivets will make the trailer look unsightly.
Further, if the rivets leak, then I would bet that a sealer was never put within the seams. Therefore in order to do that, you would still have to remove all the rivets.
Andy
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
Similar Threads
|
Thread |
Thread Starter |
Forum |
Replies |
Last Post |
help with leaky roof!!
|
fancy pants |
Leaks - Weatherstrips, Gaskets, Caulks & Sealants |
7 |
05-21-2007 06:26 AM |
Leaky rivets?
|
wacnstac |
Leaks - Weatherstrips, Gaskets, Caulks & Sealants |
4 |
04-07-2006 12:16 PM |
Leaky Excella
|
Steve Heywood |
1997 -2001 Excella |
13 |
02-19-2006 02:35 PM |
leaky used 04 28 ccd
|
annw |
Our Community |
16 |
01-20-2006 09:40 PM |
Leaky BW tank
|
jaiman |
Waste Systems, Tanks & Totes |
6 |
07-30-2005 07:04 AM |
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|