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crazeevw · 12-15-2011, 05:53 PM

Ok,
Lots done today on the Airstream, under cabinet coffee maker FINALLY installed, plumbing leak issue finally solved, but created another leak in the P-Trap drain. One of the PO's used caulking to stop the leak. Gonna take it all with me to Home Depot/Lowes over weekend to get all of the correct parts.
Worked on Awnings, both street and curbside. Phone call to Zip-Dee tomorrow for some much needed parts, as well as hopefully some advice on how to get these things to extend and retract properly.
Had CitriStrip'd the street side section of roof last night. One of the many PO's had decided that gray roofing paint and extended the paint all the way down the street side of AS all the way to awning rail, about one foot or so. Looked pretty awful. CitriStrip will have to be re-applied to get it completely removed.
But, here's my big problem. As I was getting AS all cleaned up from my many projects, my buddy who was helping me with all of this work, gave me a 'holler' and said "Your Airstream is peeing all over the ground"!
Yup, nice small hole in gray water tank. It was already too dark outside to get a good look at the tank, but I could make out what looked like a previous patch surrounding the area.
Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions for this repair. I know, I know, a new tank would be the best solution, but $ won't allow that at this point.
Is the tank a plastic, ABS, fiberglass???
Thanks, Derek

SteSpot · 12-15-2011, 10:53 PM

What can the matter be? Yikes....paula

crazeevw · 12-16-2011, 04:09 AM

Hi Paula,
Will be up under the moho after work this afternoon getting some pix to post. May have found a ABS plastic repair kit, but it's mail-order only. Know that with the holiday season next weekend, no way for it to arrive by next Friday. Going to try to find some kind of repair kit locally.
Thanks, Derek

raveson · 12-16-2011, 07:14 AM

Haven't tried this, but mabe it will work. Harbour Feight sells an inexpensive plastic welding kit. Check and see if it works on ABS if thats what the tank is made of.

ScrapIrony-2 · 12-16-2011, 07:59 AM

FIRST: if you can see a crack, drill holes(small ones) at each end of the crack to prevent further cracking.
You will need to empty the gray water tank and let it dry out.
Plastic welding is an art...practice on something else.
GOOD LUCK!!!

Mike Leary · 12-16-2011, 08:08 AM

Google "mek/abs". I believe the tank is abs.

crazeevw · 12-17-2011, 01:33 AM

Mike, believe that Keyair has done some repairs using your idea before. Just make a 'slurry' of MEK and ABS chips and place over crack. Everything I'm reading so far about fiberglass repair kits mention that they really don't last much more than a year or two. Home Depot, here I come.
Thanks, Derek

Mike Leary · 12-17-2011, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazeevw

Mike, believe that Keyair has done some repairs using your idea before. Just make a 'slurry' of MEK and ABS chips and place over crack. Everything I'm reading so far about fiberglass repair kits mention that they really don't last much more than a year or two. Home Depot, here I come.
Thanks, Derek

I repaired my front and rear fairings last season with the MEK/ABS method and used fibreglass cloth as as a "doubler". Worked fine to this day after a lot of miles. Prep with MEK is the big deal. Also, "Lego" blocks are not pure ABS and a waste of time.

crazeevw · 12-17-2011, 11:25 PM

I'll say this about LEGO blocks, as a kid who grew up with TONS of LEGO bricks around, there's NO WAY I'd ever chop them up to try this. I'll go to Home Depot and pick up all of the ABS I can find, NEVER touch my LEGO! lol
Thanks, Derek

crazeevw · 12-29-2011, 08:16 PM

During my Christmas camping trip, I walked the camp a few times with the puppy.
Noticed several of the motorhomes there had different set-ups on their exterior mirrors. Man, I'd love to get mine up front of the windshield, so I didn't have to do a 90 degree head turn just to look at either one of the exterior mirrors.
Of course, throwing those mirrors out front, would also involve new mounting plates and I'm certain other necessities.
As well, having them further out front, will cause a HUGE blind spot, therefore my last photo, exterior mounted mirrors from the roof, not side.
This is way down on my 'to-do' list.
Any thoughts? Does anyone have any plans to do this sort of upgrade?
Thanks, Derek

streamquest · 12-29-2011, 11:06 PM

Hi Derek,

I know what you're saying about the distance your eyes have to travel away from the road ahead in order to see the mirrors, especially the right side. I am constantly thinking about doing something with side view cameras to address the problem. Then I think about all of the millions of miles that these things have covered, and figure that I'll just get used to them where they've always been located.

As far as locating the mirrors out front.... I just don't know. Seems like the fabrication and mounting alone could be a bear of a project, and thats not even talking about style and esthetics.

Charly.

Waipio Rim · 12-30-2011, 01:29 PM

I saw a 325 advertised for sale awhile back that had newer chrome mirrors that projected far out in front on a single mount. I think that I offended the seller with my comments about them, they just did not look right. He assured me that they did not stick out to the side more than the originals, but they sure looked like they did.

Mike Leary · 12-30-2011, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waipio Rim

I think that I offended the seller with my comments about them, they just did not look right.

Not hard to do with a lot of AS owners. Mostly,a joke like, "hey, you missed a spot" will set them off. Not sure why a few are so grumpy and standoffish.

Mike Leary · 12-30-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waipio Rim

I think that I offended the seller with my comments about them, they just did not look right.

Not hard to do with a lot of AS owners. Mostly,a joke like, "hey, you missed a spot" will set them off. Not sure why a few are so grumpy and standoffish. Could it be our Aussie peed on their tires?

crazeevw · 12-30-2011, 07:08 PM

Some people just need to let their hair down. Told a Dr today, that if I'm not laughing, something's wrong with me! That I'm 50, and plan on another 50 years, so fix me! lol.
About to post a link to a video showing how 'tight' of a parking situation I have getting my motorhome into my alley driveway.
Mom, Dad, brother and sister in law in town for the afternoon, so HAD to go for a short cruise in the Airstream, especially since this was their 1st time even seeing my 'beast'!
Link in a few moments.
Thanks, Derek

crazeevw · 12-30-2011, 07:49 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n61m...ature=youtu.be

dadstoy · 12-30-2011, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazeevw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n61m...ature=youtu.be

That was great! Good job getting that big ship docked. I see your driver's window opens!

Buttercup · 12-30-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadstoy

That was great! Good job getting that big ship docked. I see your driver's window opens!

Hahahaha!! Hahahahaha!! Hahahaha!! I don't know why I thought that was funny!! Now, if that joke had been about the passenger side window, it would been funny..... oh wait.... I get it.

Neither side of mine open easy at all.

dadstoy · 12-30-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttercup

Hahahaha!! Hahahahaha!! Hahahaha!! I don't know why I thought that was funny!! Now, if that joke had been about the passenger side window, it would been funny..... oh wait.... I get it.

Neither side of mine open easy at all.

Well the funny thing is, not a single window opens on my MH!

crazeevw · 12-31-2011, 01:17 AM

Hahahaha!! Hahahahaha!! Hahahaha!! I don't know why I thought that was funny!! Now, if that joke had been about the passenger side window, it would been funny..... oh wait.... I get it.

Neither side of mine open easy at all.

Well the funny thing is, not a single window opens on my MH!

And to think, I complained that my windows are pretty tough to get open. Now I feel fortunate to need the strength of BigFoot to get mine open, that they open at all!
Happy New Year! Derek