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OTRA15 · 02-15-2016, 08:41 AM

Ditto Brian to your concern about heat compromising the Velco adhesive, especially where the Velco adheres to the plastic vent base, if I have understood this assembly correctly.

Recent suggestion for spring may be difficult IMO. Where would the spring attach at the top end? Inside the round (flexible?) duct? Sounds as if this solution might create new problems of its own IMO. [deforming the duct wall, sagging, etc.]

PS Brian would you please try my Fred Flintstone solution with aluminum foil on (only) three tabs, and see if it helps keep the vent cover up? Each journey begins with one small step?

Thanks,

Peter

TG2500 · 02-15-2016, 09:24 AM

We have a 2016 26U - after the first few trips, vents started falling out. Agree seems to be a widespread problem

subfan1 · 02-15-2016, 10:32 AM

The old spring clips sound interesting. Is there a reason why you didn't switch out the clips from fixed to adjustable?

**moosetags** · 02-15-2016, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subfan1

The old spring clips sound interesting. Is there a reason why you didn't switch out the clips from fixed to adjustable?

The metal clips on the OEM vents are spot welded to the the metal trim ring. I don't see any way to attach them to the adjustable vent plastic base ring.

Brian

RareStream · 02-15-2016, 02:27 PM

Man...you guys could turn making toast into a 3 week discussion...

Clear RTV and be done with it.

Wayne&Sam · 02-15-2016, 02:31 PM

Well, it depends you make the toast on a regular toaster or one of those gizmos you put on the stove burner.

But yes, RTV cures a lot of problems. I used it on light covers that popped off all the time. Fixed it.

**moosetags** · 02-15-2016, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RareStream

Man...you guys could turn making toast into a 3 week discussion...

Clear RTV and be done with it.

Exactly. That's what makes these Forums a valuable asset.

Brian

OTRA15 · 02-16-2016, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RareStream

Man...you guys could turn making toast into a 3 week discussion...

Clear RTV and be done with it.

And will the vent covers be removable? Thanks for joining the discussion! Ditto to Brian . . .

**moosetags** · 02-16-2016, 07:50 AM

I was up early this morning and out in Lucy. I decided to try putting some tin foil on the air conditioning vents. First I wrapped some on the edge of the hole. When I installed the vent, it pushed most of the tin foil up into the vent. I then tried putting pieces of tin foil on the plastic tabs held on by two sided tape. Doing it this way seemed to make the vents even looser than without it. It was almost as if the tin foil was acting as a lubricant.

Brian

gypsydad · 02-16-2016, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

I was up early this morning and out in Lucy. I decided to try putting some tin foil on the air conditioning vents. First I wrapped some on the edge of the hole. When I installed the vent, it pushed most of the tin foil up into the vent. I then tried putting pieces of tin foil on the plastic tabs held on by two sided tape. Doing it this way seemed to make the vents even looser than without it. It was almost as if the tin foil was acting as a lubricant.

Brian

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

I was up early this morning and out in Lucy. I decided to try putting some tin foil on the air conditioning vents. First I wrapped some on the edge of the hole. When I installed the vent, it pushed most of the tin foil up into the vent. I then tried putting pieces of tin foil on the plastic tabs held on by two sided tape. Doing it this way seemed to make the vents even looser than without it. It was almost as if the tin foil was acting as a lubricant.

Brian

Could have told you the foil idea would not work; RTV...it aint going to ruin your rig, and it does roll off with finger ...now, for toast, you put the bread near the heat just till it turns brown...

Wayne&Sam · 02-16-2016, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsydad

..now, for toast, you put the bread near the heat just till it turns brown...

What?? Are you nuts?? That's the worst way to make toast!! The ONLY acceptable way is in a Cuisinart toaster, powered by an inverter, using lithium batteries, charged by solar panels. Now THAT makes toast.

SteveSueMac · 02-16-2016, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

What?? Are you nuts?? That's the worst way to make toast!! The ONLY acceptable way is in a Cuisinart toaster, powered by an inverter, using lithium batteries, charged by solar panels. Now THAT makes toast.

Only if you have a ProPride. 😃

OTRA15 · 02-16-2016, 09:11 AM

Thanks for trying Brian, the aluminum foil probably bunched up and pushed the tabs away from the rough opening, thus decreasing their abiiity to catch on the edge of the aluminum ceiling skin.

gypsydad · 02-16-2016, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

What?? Are you nuts?? That's the worst way to make toast!! The ONLY acceptable way is in a Cuisinart toaster, powered by an inverter, using lithium batteries, charged by solar panels. Now THAT makes toast.

Lithium batteries...that sounds like a great idea when my AGM's give out... how much juice does the Cuisinart use? The hairdryer worked fine and only used 800...my 1500 W inverter that came with my FC does the job for us...we use the 80W GoPower portable solar, but are thinking a few things after this last desert trip...ran into a "full timer" in Borrego Springs with 25 FC also...he has most everything needed to stay on the road...quite interesting to see the things we had not thought of, only going out for a week or so at a time...immediately had to go on line to Amazon and pick up a few things...almost made me want to quite my job and leave early!

utee94 · 02-16-2016, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsydad

...almost made me want to quite my job and leave early!

Hmmmm.... pretty much anything makes me want to do that.

And man it's been a long time since I checked in on this thread. I believe I'm 2 Lucys behind.

-Marcus

Gene · 02-16-2016, 11:19 AM

Brian, it sounds like there might be non-adjustable vents available (post 1380) and maybe that is the only solution.

Or, apply something tough like a thin coat of epoxy to the tabs to make them slightly thicker. Let it dry, try it out.

How long since you've contacted Airstream about a fix? I think it still is warranteed since it seems you bought it less than 2 years ago. Seems like they are responsible and even if it is out of warranty, they have been known to help out people when a problem is common.

Or, I might get tired of the whole thing and screw them in place if there's enough room to put a hole through both the register and ceiling. How important is it to turn them?

As far as how hot they get, I doubt the heat coming out is very hot, but you can check with a tester. Even if it is 110-120˚ or so, most glues should hold at that temp. If the temp is hotter, you may be able to make toast in the hole; it would probably be faster than those things for camping you can put on a stove.

Gene

gypsydad · 02-16-2016, 12:06 PM

As far as how hot they get, I doubt the heat coming out is very hot, but you can check with a tester. Even if it is 110-120˚ or so, most glues should hold at that temp. If the temp is hotter, you may be able to make toast in the hole; it would probably be faster than those things for camping you can put on a stove.

Gene[/QUOTE]

I like your thinking, Gene!

**moosetags** · 02-16-2016, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene

Brian, it sounds like there might be non-adjustable vents available (post 1380) and maybe that is the only solution.

Or, apply something tough like a thin coat of epoxy to the tabs to make them slightly thicker. Let it dry, try it out.

How long since you've contacted Airstream about a fix? I think it still is warranteed since it seems you bought it less than 2 years ago. Seems like they are responsible and even if it is out of warranty, they have been known to help out people when a problem is common.

Or, I might get tired of the whole thing and screw them in place if there's enough room to put a hole through both the register and ceiling. How important is it to turn them?

As far as how hot they get, I doubt the heat coming out is very hot, but you can check with a tester. Even if it is 110-120˚ or so, most glues should hold at that temp. If the temp is hotter, you may be able to make toast in the hole; it would probably be faster than those things for camping you can put on a stove.

Gene

Hi Gene,

The epoxy suggestion would work, but might make them permanent. OK, but not desirable.

It was January when I contacted Airstream. They had no real answer then, and the never got back wit me on a new find. New Lucy's warranty is good until October, 2016. She will be going back to Jackson Center this spring. The vents will be one of the issues that they will be addressing if I cannot come up with my own solution in the meantime.

Screwing them in place would negate their adjustability. I am not as concerned with the direction of the air flow as I am with being able to cut off flow to selected vents.

I haven't checked the heat level of the vents with my infrared scope, but I have noticed that the metal part of the vent is too hot to touch when the heat pump has been running.

Brian

**moosetags** · 02-16-2016, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utee94

Hmmmm.... pretty much anything makes me want to do that.

And man it's been a long time since I checked in on this thread. I believe I'm 2 Lucys behind.

-Marcus

Hi Marcus,

Apparently you have slipped behind on the saga of the Lucys. Old Lucy was the 2005 Safari 25FB. Little was the 2012 Flying Cloud 23FB, and New Lucy is the 2015 Flying Cloud 25FB.

Brian

66Overlander · 02-17-2016, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

I haven't checked the heat level of the vents with my infrared scope, but I have noticed that the metal part of the vent is too hot to touch when the heat pump has been running.

Brian

The threshold of pain for most people is about 140F according to a report I read many years ago for work.

The whole interior might get to near or above this temp if your Airstream is locked up with windows and vents closed on a very hot and sunny day without shade. Car interiors can get to over 150F air temp and over 200F surface temp (if in direct sun light) in those conditions.