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utee94 · 11-26-2008, 03:30 PM

Like everyone says, everything takes so much longer than you expect or plan for. But, the show must go on. I have the bedroom upper cabinets out, and the twins out.

CS twin removed:

SS twin removed:

The blue thing is the freshwater tank, from INCA plastics. I removed it and the PAR pump (it's a water pump not a pressure pump):

Removed the water heater-- be sure to drain it before breaking all of the connections. Also be sure to turn off your LPG tanks and then remove the LPG supply line.

My neighbors love me:

Hey Terry, this 12V line tees off the CS bedroom light fixture 12V supply, and runs through the upper cabinet and into the top of the pantry. Is this the line for the 3-way Dometic refrigerator?

I'll take tomorrow off, for Thanksgiving, rest, and Texas Longhorn football. But then I'll be back at it on Friday.

Hook 'em!

-Marcus

vhord · 11-26-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utee94

I'll take tomorrow off, for Thanksgiving, rest, and Texas Longhorn football. But then I'll be back at it on Friday.

Hook 'em!

-Marcus

Thanks for not mentioning the other team this year.

Jim & Susan · 11-26-2008, 05:05 PM

So, are the 'Horns having a good year this year? I haven't followed it very close.

Got a funny story about Texas football. Susan and I lived in San Angelo for about 10 years, on and off. Uncle Sam sent us there for the first time back in the '70's. We would do a tour overseas and then he would send us right back. We LOVED Texas! Anyway...

There is a football stadium in town that seats about 15,000 people. Naturally, I assumed it belonged to the local University there, Angelo State. I have been told that it actually belongs to the local High School. I have not been able to confirm this rumor, but it made perfect sense....once I attended my first 6 man football game. Now, I have been told that in Texas, nobody let's the facts get in the way of a good story. I love a good story, and Texas is full of 'em.

If there is any place that loves football, it's Texas. And I thought we had a bad case of football fever here in Georgia! Hook 'em 'Horns!

Jim

utee94 · 11-26-2008, 08:24 PM

Heh! Great football in Georgia too, for sure. If it weren't for the 1984 Cotton Bowl, I'd be a big fan of Bulldog football

(yes, our memories here are as long as our stories are tall!).

Not sure about the high school stadium in San Angelo, but it wouldn't surprise me at all. I know that Ratliff Stadium, where Permian plays there in Odessa, seats something like 20K. I've been there to see a game and it's something else. Mojo indeed.

overlander63 · 11-26-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utee94

Hey Terry, this 12V line tees off the CS bedroom light fixture 12V supply, and runs through the upper cabinet and into the top of the pantry. Is this the line for the 3-way Dometic refrigerator?

-Marcus

From what I remember, it is. A word of caution: If you are going to hook up the 12 volts for the 12v part of the three way fridge, you will need to run heavier wires there. The ones there are not heavy enough to carry the load without overheating.

utee94 · 11-26-2008, 09:28 PM

Thanks for the quick response, Terry. Based on your earlier words of caution, and those of others, I don't really see the need to hook up the 12V for 3-way operation. I've tested several times now and the LPG works fantastic so should suffice for boondocking, and the 110VAC works normally as well. From what you and others have said, the 12VDC operation is the one with the highest risk for board burnout and other potential issues, and I really don't see any need for it in the foreseeable future.

As always, thanks for your help!

-Marcus

GR8DANE · 11-26-2008, 10:46 PM

I see that you are staying hydrated during your teardown! And what neighbor doesn't appreciate what looks like a yard sale?

At least after you are done for the day, you are living in one of the music capitals of the universe, so you can relax with the best. W.C. Clarke used to play up here in Minnesota and said that Austin only has one band, but it has 1000 great guitar players in it...

Peace, brother!

utee94 · 11-30-2008, 05:19 PM

Yes indeed, we have a ton of live music here. That's one of the reasons I've stayed here all these years!

Some more progress, we're pretty much gutted now.

And now I have a good look at the floor rot, and it ain't pretty!

Next, remove the interior panels, cut away the belly pan below, and then remove the old subfloor. I had hoped to get to that point by tonight, but now I'm hoping I'll be there by the end of next weekend.

-Marcus

utee94 · 12-02-2008, 09:26 PM

Removing inner skins:

Here is the worst of the corrosion. Both the exterior panel, and the c-channel, show lots of corrosion:

3Ms75Argosy · 12-03-2008, 08:52 AM

Yikes, what's that from? Did salt get sprayed up in there? That's a weird distrubution of corrosion. I see you have the weird rib splits like I have. I wondered why the ribs just don't go to the floor around the curves... probably to adjust each on the line as they're not all assembled the same?

Lots of insulation setteling too.
How many beers did you buy?
Marc

utee94 · 12-03-2008, 09:00 AM

Don't know if any salt was involved-- that's the curve on the rear curbside that the tub was right up against. My guess is that an interior bathroom leak allowed water to build up in the insulation, and that wet insulation just rested against the skin for a period of time to corrode it.

I noticed the odd ribs, and your explanation for the possible reason makes sense. That would give the assemblers the ability to make corrections along the way.

The bottom bits of insulation were dirty, so I will replace them with new. The tops bits were clean and did't stink, so I'll keep those (in those pictures, it is just rolled up under the endcap piece).

And I have a beer 'fridge in the garage, so I don't know how many beers I have, but it's plentiful and I never seem to run out!

overlander63 · 12-03-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Ms75Argosy

Yikes, what's that from? Did salt get sprayed up in there? That's a weird distrubution of corrosion. I see you have the weird rib splits like I have. I wondered why the ribs just don't go to the floor around the curves... probably to adjust each on the line as they're not all assembled the same?

Lots of insulation setteling too.
How many beers did you buy?
Marc

The PO had placed a bunch of foam up inside the tub drain area to keep the leaking drain from dripping on the ground. While this worked to stem the drip, it left the evaporsting moisture with nowhere to go but up. The drain leak was roughly where the corrosion is.

utee94 · 12-03-2008, 10:50 AM

Thanks for continuing to check in, Terry. I hope it's interesting for you to see "what lies beneath" so to speak?

3Ms75Argosy · 12-03-2008, 10:53 AM

Ah ha! I love mysteries that are solved!
Marc

utee94 · 12-03-2008, 10:58 AM

Me too!

I'm just really hoping that there are no perforations amidst that corrosion. Panel replacement is not high on my list of "Things I Want To Do."

Aage · 12-03-2008, 01:00 PM

Does aluminum do that? I mean, I know steel or iron does, but I thought that aluminum's surface corrosion "protected" the aluminum under it.

I guess the next chapter will tell!

overlander63 · 12-03-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aage

Does aluminum do that? I mean, I know steel or iron does, but I thought that aluminum's surface corrosion "protected" the aluminum under it.

I guess the next chapter will tell!

No, unfortunately aluminum seems to rot from the inside out. At least he's got the inside pieces off, it will be easy to install a new panel now, if needed.

byamcaravanner · 12-03-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

...it will be easy to install a new panel now, if needed.

Terry,
Do you want to rethink that comment?

Is it ever easy to replace an Airstream shell panel?

overlander63 · 12-03-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byamcaravanner

Terry,
Do you want to rethink that comment?

Is it ever easy to replace an Airstream shell panel?

It should take about 3-4 hours, less time already spent prepping.

utee94 · 12-04-2008, 08:48 AM

Well, the good news is that I checked it last night and there doesn't seem to be any perforation through. I couldn't see any light through the skin, no pin-prick holes detected.

There were some black marks which must have been what looked like possible holes, and there is definitely some pitting within the corrosion, but it doesn't look like anything went all the way through.

No panel replacement for me!