Corning Window Closing Cranks

[dbj216]

I had a stray 1966 Trade Wind follow me home last weekend. It seems in pretty good shape considering the age. I began learning abouit it with the window mechanisms. I understand this is the first year of the Corning curved safety glass and the fancy window opening and closing mechanisms.

I have two that won't crank open out of the 16 on my windows. Not too shabby. I was careful not to force them as I understand the window latch mechanisms are no longer available. Glass and clips are, but not the crank mechanisms.

I disassembled the stuck closers. They are made simular to a lathe ball screw and nut. The crank turns the ball screw, and the nut advances down the screw. Attached to that is a fancy spring steel stamping that moves out and away from the clip hook on the glass. Very nice. I found that my two stuck ones are corroded. I am soaking them in penetrating oil in hopes of getting them freed up and working again.

I took a picture of the assembly view of this mechanism. I thought it might be helpful to someone with similar problems. I have learned this window closer mechanism, and the window opener need cleaning and lubrication a couple times a year to keep them from corroding together.

Maybe bigEd has a way to get them unstuck?

It is clear why Airstream changed to simple dual levers and cam locks to open and close the windows in 1969. More reliable and cheaper. But the frameless automotive look of the Corning glass is unique.

David

[FreshAir]

Been there......still doing that. Fortunately all mine....well one of the 3 holding the rear window needs attention.......still work. Getting a bit awkward with increasing arthritis.

Neil

[desertair27]

I hear that VTS will be reproducing those highly sought after closures. I think this May be them even thought hey aren't available yet. Keep your eyes open for them.
http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/..._p/vts-093.htm
Sorry I still don't know how to do the super cool hyper link.
Good luck
Mike

[BIGED52]

David, You are on the right track with these assemblies. Removed from the window sills take all the assembly pieces apart and soak in a lubricating oil for 24 to 48 hours. The barrel nuts can have lube oil placed in the thread wells and squeezed to infuse (force the oil thru the bronze/brass barrel with your thumb and forefinger) and that will keep it from seizing up in the future. NOTE: Be very,very careful of the barrel nut and screw assembly as the screw itself is very brittle after all these years and is no longer available. Neither is the spring steel tongue that grips the clip to hold the glass closed. Once the parts are all cleaned up and dried off use white lithium grease to lube the moving parts and re-assemble. Each season use a small amount of silicone spray to flush out any debris and check operation of each assembly. If any binding is detected dis-assemble and clean/lube as noted above. This should go on your pre-season checklist as a routine maintenance item. If you are unable to free up this assembly barrel nuts used to be available from InlandRV.com. You will have to very carefully cut and remove the barrel nut from the screw and the using a pick tool and small hobby file to clean out the threads on the screw. It can be done ( personal experience ). If the new repro sill assemblies are the ones that we have waited so long for VTS to tool up and produce these will certainly be embraced by the "66 - '68 trailer owners out there. I will be buying them for all my windows on my '67 Safari ..... if Steve tells us they are an exact one-for-one replacement part. I really wouldn't want to have to drill different locating holes in the window sills. Hope this helps, Ed

[dbj216]

Thank you BigEd.

It looked like the screw was bronze or something. I will be careful not to break it. I didn't realize they were brittle. All of the window "regulators" that move the glass via the "glass bar" linkage are working fine. I'll bet that mechanism is prone to breakage and impossible to find parts to repair.

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Thank you BigEd.

It looked like the screw was bronze or something. I will be careful not to break it. I didn't realize they were brittle. All of the window "regulators" that move the glass via the "glass bar" linkage are working fine. I'll bet that mechanism is prone to breakage and impossible to find parts to repair.

David

I believe the window regulators are available from VTS. I bought one just to have an extra one on hand.

Dan

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by TouringDan

David

I believe the window regulators are available from VTS. I bought one just to have an extra one on hand.

Dan

The arm at the top is called a "bar arm". Those are available as a machined part, which is much stronger than the original cast part.

The "operator" is also available, and is modified so that the small post at the end of the arm, is a part of the arm instead of an extra part.

Also, the barrel nut, which is the part that the brass screw threads through, is available.

Andy

[dbj216]

Thanks for the information Andy. I'm glad there are still window parts available for this 42 year old Airstream.

I was able to free up the corroded barrel nuts to screw by soaking in penetrating oil overnight, and then applying a little heat. I was careful not to apply too much torque. Whew, I didn't break one.

Now all seven of my windows open and close as they're supposed to. It's neat to work the cranks as opposed to the levers in my 86 Limited. The gaskets are shot, but that's another day.

My Trade Wind has the Land Yacht trim level. There are fabric window shades are suppose to slip over the windows to keep the sun out. They have fringe on the bottom. I wonder if other Trade Winds had this feature, or was it an aftermarked item?

David

[BIGED52]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Thanks for the information Andy. I'm glad there are still window parts available for this 42 year old Airstream.

I was able to free up the corroded barrel nuts to screw by soaking in penetrating oil overnight, and then applying a little heat. I was careful not to apply too much torque. Whew, I didn't break one.

Now all seven of my windows open and close as they're supposed to. It's neat to work the cranks as opposed to the levers in my 86 Limited. The gaskets are shot, but that's another day.

My Trade Wind has the Land Yacht trim level. There are fabric window shades are suppose to slip over the windows to keep the sun out. They have fringe on the bottom. I wonder if other Trade Winds had this feature, or was it an aftermarked item?

David

David, That treatment on your widow coverings would have been different depending on the trim packages selected by the original owners. My '67 Safari had the same fringe on them as did the roll-up shades. Hope this helps, Ed

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

The arm at the top is called a "bar arm". Those are available ...

The "operator" is also available, ...

Also, the barrel nut, ... is available...

Keep an eye on this thread for other parts that MIGHT be available at some point:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f454...lp-110802.html

Tom