Window opening rods, three busted on 2017

[Dave18134]

My wife was just trying to open windows on our brand spanking new 27 FB and broke the left side handle on three windows. Anyone else had issues with this? The rods look like cheap castings. Sheesh.

[LilBigfoot]

Originally Posted by Dave18134

My wife was just trying to open windows on our brand spanking new 27 FB and broke the left side handle on three windows. Anyone else had issues with this? The rods look like cheap castings. Sheesh.

Unfortunately new windows and even windows that sit closed for awhile become hard to open. Best to undo latch on the inside and then go outside and use an old credit card to slip under the seal and wiggle window loose. Some here use a thin scraper wrapped in tape to protect the rubber seal and wiggle the window free. Go inside and then carefully slide both arms up at the same time to open the window to the desired level.

A couple times a year open windows fully and wipe seals around window with 303 protectant or some type of lubricant. This really helps from then on.

These Window Poppers added to the inside of your windows really help as well. Easy install.

http://www.seeyoudowntheroad.com/window-poppers/

[FishByFly]

2nd on the window poppers and silicone lubricant. I also put talcum powder after the silicone

[Dave18134]

Thanks lilbigfoot and fishbyfly!

[LilBigfoot]

Originally Posted by Dave18134

Thanks lilbigfoot and fishbyfly!

The poppers only work after you've used the lubricant on the the outside seals. After a time the windows will stick again and the poppers aren't forceful enough to break them open. Get the credit card out and reapply the lubricant. Watch you don't cut or damage the window gasket.

[ChuckFeldt]

I have a dedicated new wide putty knife near the door to assist opening sticky windows. The blade has a layer of plastic packing tape applied to protect the gaskets.

[BoscoMN]

Before each trip we open each window and lubricate the window's rubber gasket. We keep a small auto trim panel removal tool in the Airstream's kitchen drawer and use it to open any sticking window from the outside. The tool's curved contour provides easy leverage to gently pull the glass away from the rubber gasket without causing any damage to the rubber. So far this simple maintenance has kept the windows from sticking on our trips or having me running outside in the rain to pry them open.

[Pat.Mann]

We use one of those squarish 2 x 2 inch or so flat food scrapers to release the gap when the windows stick, 303 once a year or so and they usually open OK, an occasional pry with the scraper and re-303 when they don't.

If the levers don't work, don't try to force them - they really have no leverage at all. Just do the pry-open thing.

[JMynes]

I usually have a quarter in my pocket. Works great to gently pry the window loose from the outside.

[AirstreamInc]

Originally Posted by Dave18134

My wife was just trying to open windows on our brand spanking new 27 FB and broke the left side handle on three windows. Anyone else had issues with this? The rods look like cheap castings. Sheesh.

Hi Dave18134,

Congrats on your new 27FB, just in time for camping season! As others have mentioned, you'll want to use the 303 Aerospace Protectant to keep the window gaskets from sticking and a credit card to help it get unstuck (this can be normal after having windows in the closed and locked for position for a little while). This is also listed in the owner's manual for reference.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Customer Service and Technical Support Team and, again, congrats on your new Airstream!

[The Colonel]

I strongly recommend the poppers. They'll make your life just a little bit easier. Doesn't hurt to put protectant on occasionally.
http://www.seeyoudowntheroad.com/window-poppers/

[WestieHouse]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

I strongly recommend the poppers. They'll make your life just a little bit easier. Doesn't hurt to put protectant on occasionally.
http://www.seeyoudowntheroad.com/window-poppers/

Great advice here - my windows stuck badly when new, but after 2 years of regularly (3-4 times/year) applying silicon they stick much less frequently/intensively. But because they do sometimes still stick I just ordered a set of window poppers. The install video is clear and it looks like a true 2-minute job/window.

This a great forum for getting tried and true tips!

[Dave18134]

Very good suggestions all. I got the 2x2 plastic scraper, ordered the 303 and poppers, and replaced the three busted opener rods. Also going back and reading the owner manual 🙄

[The Colonel]

They can be troublesome as I had a window that wife couldn't open. I tried and found that window was closed but rods were in bottom level slots and it created a catch 22. I ended up going outside the window was already loose and Playing with it until I could get the rods to come out of the detents. Strange

[Martee]

Originally Posted by BoscoMN

Before each trip we open each window and lubricate the window's rubber gasket. We keep a small auto trim panel removal tool in the Airstream's kitchen drawer and use it to open any sticking window from the outside. The tool's curved contour provides easy leverage to gently pull the glass away from the rubber gasket without causing any damage to the rubber. So far this simple maintenance has kept the windows from sticking on our trips or having me running outside in the rain to pry them open.

Yes Indeed. The Auto trim removal tool. It's the perfect shape and also non-damaging to the rubber seals around the windows. Available on Amazon.com for a few dollars.

[AirstreamCSH]

Simple credit card on the outside to break the seal. Treat rubber with 303 at beginning, middle and end of season. And don't force mechanical items.

[Dave18134]

Originally Posted by AirstreamCSH

Simple credit card on the outside to break the seal. Treat rubber with 303 at beginning, middle and end of season. And don't force mechanical items.

My wife did it, thank goodness. She says it took very little force to snap the rods. Just one of those AS design quirks I guess.

[switz]

The large side windows on our 2015 23D International Serenity can NOT use the lower slot. They lock if there is a slight breeze and the arms are then over center somehow and extremely difficult to operate. We use the middle slots so the windows do not stick out beyond the street side awning so I won't walk into them...

The small curbside bedside window sticks out about 6" in the lowest slot and that is all we open it so we don't walk into it.

The rear wide escape hatch window on our 2014 31' Classic takes both of us sometimes when it is slightly stuck.

303 and the window poppers are a big help.