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1969fowler · 07-26-2016, 04:23 PM

I am searching for the upper and lower plastic channel slider inserts for the side windows. Does anyone know of a sourse?

bobmiller1 · 07-26-2016, 04:32 PM

Maybe Inland RV can help. Regards, Bob

bkahler · 07-29-2016, 03:16 PM

I spent a lot of time searching for those plastic channels several years ago with zero luck.

If you get lucky and find some please lets us know!

Brad

davejay · 08-26-2016, 08:33 PM

Hey,
I got an85 325. I got a shop, at this moment making me a prototype of those gray inserts. I got to see if they ll work, before I talk it up to much. Anybody interested? If you take a close look at those inserts, you ll see they were nibbled off on the bottom edge. I think airstream adapted them for their windows. The weak point is that lip that goes over the aluminum. Most of mine are cracked there. When i did the fuzz on the windows, I broke them future trying to get the windows out of the channels. Price right now is 14.00 per channel, if I buy 500 of them each coach takes at least 30 of them 2 per window. 345 and370s would take more. If y'all are interested, I may get a better price if I order 1000 of them we would need at least 33 owners to buy a full set. I may be able to get a lot better price with a big quantity order. Anyone interested?

bkahler · 08-27-2016, 04:37 AM

These tracks are used in every Classic motorhome made. However I'm not sure where you got the number 30 for each coach. A 310 should only use 14 of them which would be about $200 plus shipping. Considering how important these are to keeping the windows functioning properly I would think $200 would be a small price to pay for having a complete set on hand.

I need to look closer at my Argosy windows to see if they use these same tracks. If they do I'm in for a few.

Brad

1969fowler · 08-27-2016, 04:41 AM

I am interested. I have a 1992 350LE Classic. I will get a photo of how they are made and send it.

Before this one we had a 1981 Excella Diesel Classic and did get some from Inland RV many years ago but have not been lucky to find any now. I tried to remove the ones in the 1981 coach but they are now brittle and was not lucky to get one in one piece.

Van
TVFD Chief in Texas

richstrike · 08-27-2016, 05:04 AM

Post a photo someone please. it is dark out so I can't go look at lzzy, our 75 argosy, but I have an idea. I think I can make a plastic injection mold.
....rich

bkahler · 08-27-2016, 05:15 AM

Rich, I'll go look at my 74 Argosy and I'll also look at Peanut which is a 77 Argosy to see if the tracks are used.

From what I remember of the gray tracks is I had thought they were an extruded piece of plastic. I suppose it's possible to make a mold and have them fabricated that way.

Brad

dspaw · 08-27-2016, 05:40 PM

I am interested in these as well. I would probably buy two sets.

Dave

davejay · 08-27-2016, 08:06 PM

Hey all,
Your right, that was polish adding my 325 has 8 windows that need those channels two per window is 16 . Sorry about that. The guy making these will basically make them on a proffessional grade router. I've seen their work very good, tight tolerances. I'm impressed with what I've seen . I gave him one of my channels. I should have the prototypes next week. If they work, I'll get back to y'all and we will map out a plan I think these will be better than the originals. I don't think those channels were made specifically for that window. That little nibbled off edge was supposed to be a reinforcing for the weight of the frame. I think that these channels sag in the middle and opening up a window pushes on thee edge of the channel. When they were new, they could handle the stress. ,but as age and uv took its toll, I think that is why they break off that lip. My channels will have the bottom side of the channel a solid plant in the aluminum rail that way the rails will have strength when opening the window. That's the plan anyway,. I'll keep you informed. Dj

bobmiller1 · 08-28-2016, 07:42 AM

Great news on those grey plastic window slide channels....thanks to the efforts that you are making it makes it possible for those of us that want to do a restoration correctly possible.....If you are successful, put me down for a complete set for my 370LE. I had a bear of a time with them when I did the job on my 325LE. Regards, Bob

jimbro · 08-28-2016, 08:57 AM

I will take a set as well.

Thanks

Jim

mehes · 08-28-2016, 01:31 PM

Well count me in as well. I was putting off doing the windows and this take away the last excuse. I'll get a count on my 345 and let you know when the time is right.

Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

richstrike · 08-28-2016, 06:09 PM

I have looked at Izzy and cannot see plastic channels on the windows. all I see is fuzzy schlegels which I got from Andy. I got a full package of window seals and gaskets from him.... Inland RV ... not all installed yet. But... if they can be extruded ... extrusion dies are quicker to make and cheaper. We injection mold, but do not extrude, which is why I suggested injection molding.

Izzy's (1975) problems seem to grow greater in number every time I look, so window seals, etc are now low in priority.

streamquest · 08-28-2016, 08:43 PM

Sign me up for a set for my 370, plus another 8 pieces for my 325 (which is not a typical 325). Thanks for your efforts!

Charly

bkahler · 08-29-2016, 05:56 PM

I just checked my 74 Argosy and the slider windows don't appear to use the plastic track insert. I then checked Peanut which is a 77 Argosy and didn't see the plastic slider either. Plus I have a slider from a 78 Argosy that doesn't have the plastic slider. So it would appear that all of the Argosy line did not use the plastic slider insert.

However, I don't think Airstream changed the window frames and I wouldn't be surprised if the seal and slider components from the later models could be retrofitted into the Argosies.

I have a windows from an 86 345 that I can use to compare the frame construction to my Argosy. I'll try and do a compare in the next week or so. It would be nice to know there are alternatives for repairing these windows.

Brad

Boom Sounds · 08-30-2016, 07:00 AM

I don't think my 250 has the plastic slide. It has the fuzzy schegel channel, but I think Out of Doors mart sold a better replacement product that Inland (IMHO). They also have the weep hole covers.

Out of interest, and not wanted to go off topic, but has anyone ever successfully refurbished the window handle/lock with the pillar system. Some of mine are only juts functional

Alumatube · 08-31-2016, 12:46 PM

I am very interested in a set for my 1984 310 - thanks for taking this on! I don't think A/S was thinking 30+ years down the line when they were constructing these shiny silver tubes...

Alumatube · 08-31-2016, 04:33 PM

Meaning for all the windows in the 310, BTW...

richstrike · 09-02-2016, 06:26 AM

Since Izzy (1975 Argosy) does not have the channels, I have not seen them, but if they can be extruded that might be the best way to go. Extrusion dies are relatively cheap to make and the cost of the parts produced would be low. We injection mold, but do not extrude, but if you Classic owners can find a sympathetic extruder it might be a good route.