Getting Those Windows Open - Tool?

[mstephens]

The windows on my 2012 FC sure are nice. And very hard to open too! So far, we can really only do it from the outside. I have never managed enough strength and leverage to open them from the inside. One, the stick to the rubber no matter what I put on the rubber. Two, the lever doesn't provide much leverage.

I pry them up from the outside, but that's a bit inconvenient. I am thinking of this: Drill a 3/16" hole in the screen frame right about on line with the latch handle. Then, by inserting a 1/8" dia. x 6" long T-handle dowel, I could push the bottom of the window from the inside enough to allow the levers to gain some leverage.

Or?

[BigAl]

Silicone spray has always worked well for me. Sometimes after winter storage they are stuck. Once freed up they work all summer. I have also heard that a coat of wax on the seal works but I haven't tried it.
Be careful if they are stuck. Not sure how much leverage the glass can stand before it breaks.
Al

[nilesrob]

Had the same issues with opening (and latching) our 2008 windows. Nothing silicon spray, two people, 5 years and a little latch maneuvering won't cure. I would resist drilling holes - at a minimum time will help cure and I am sure others will contribute better solutions than what I have offered up.

[Jim Clark]

This came up and Tire Talc is suppose to be the solution. Don't have any Tire Talc around use good old Baby Talc or Shower to Shower and it smells better. The dealer told me olive oil so if the Talc doesn't work I am going to spray the gasket with Olive Oil Pam. My little handles on the levers turned and would come off, the set screws were missing. I purchased set screes and they pushed out the brass casing out of the handle. Solution 5 minute epoxy. Remind me again how much I paid for this trailer.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Plastic....


And...


Bob

[mstephens]

I tried olive oil - no worky.
I tried WD40 - no worky
I tried a silicon spray lube - no worky.

A little bit of sun for a few days and those windows are glued to the rubber.

I don't think the small hole would be trouble. After all, the screen has a million holes.

[Phrunes]

Graphite spray...available at your favorite locksmith or auto/ home store.

[CanoeStream]

I've had excellent experience with DuPont teflon spray after getting this advice from a high source -- lewster -- http://www.airforums.com/forums/f454...ick-24187.html

[Papou]

Mr. Dave Schumann in the March 2013 WBCCI issue recommends the "303 Aerospace Protectant" product.
Read his article on this hyperlink:
http://wbcci.org/general-information...ews-march-2013

Michel

[switz]

I gently worked and slid an old credit card around the lower half of the window between the glass and the gasket. After the window opened, I used Silcone spray to lube the gasket.

[Jammer]

Tire talc, used it 3 years ago, windows have opened ever since.

[aftermath]

Dupont teflon spray and Aerospace 303 protectant are two very good products. I use the 303 on all the rubber gaskets and my windows don't give me any trouble.

The stabilizers were very squeaky and difficult to raise and lower. I tried WD 40 and then some silicon spray. Nothing seemed to last until I read on the forum about the teflon spray. I picked up a can at the local HD and it took care of the jacks and everything else that moves and is not supposed to squeak.

I would second the comment made about NOT drilling holes in things. This would be asking for one of those unintended consequences kind of thing.

[dkottum]

Mine would stick because the latch assembly was adjusted too tight on my 2007 Airstream. Loosened the adjustment so the glass snugged against the glass just enough to keep water out, then applied silicon grease or "Aerospace Protectant 303" on the seals.

That does the trick but needs retreating occasionally, as the lube products seem to dry up.

doug k

[mstephens]

Great stuff fellas! Ok, that might handle the lube question, but are you all able to open these from INSIDE? One person or two? LOL

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by mstephens

Great stuff fellas! Ok, that might handle the lube question, but are you all able to open these from INSIDE? One person or two? LOL

Once the seals are lubed they should be easy to open from the inside, one-person job.

[dkottum]

Yes, they open freely once lubed and the latches not too tight; the large front and rear windows on the pano models are heavy and may be easier to lift from the outside for some folks.

doug k

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by mstephens

Great stuff fellas! Ok, that might handle the lube question, but are you all able to open these from INSIDE? One person or two? LOL

DW's in charge....her secret, both hands on one lift at a time, alternate pressure 'til window free's up.

I gave up on the dam* things. Another example of price point not meeting expectation's. The angle of the dangle is off.

Bob

[mstephens]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Yes, they open freely once lubed and the latches not too tight; the large front and rear windows on the pano models are heavy and may be easier to lift from the outside for some folks.

doug k

Ok, I'm hopeful then! We will try the recommended lubes and see how it goes. It's not the end of the world if I have to walk outside and help, but it would enhance the cool factor to do it easily from inside. We will be doing lots more warm and hot weather camping from now on, and the windows are a big part of comfort. Our first year was spent in cold weather where we had only rare opportunities to open windows.

[aftermath]

You can do it from inside. Someone has mentioned adjusting the latches so that they don't close to tightly. I am in the middle of this process. My back window was too tight and not easy to open. Now it is not tight enough and lets water to accumulate in the channel when the window is closed. I will work on it this season. I think the 303 protectant is the way to go. It might take a little time to recondition the seals.

[No. 13]

Use your windows and they will open nicely.