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11-25-2011, 10:26 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
1976 29' Ambassador
Tarpon Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 10
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Sticky fridge seals
My newly acquired Airstream has old seals that have developed a sticky surface. Has anyone seen this before? Can I just clean them with a Goo B Gone or something and move on or who they need replacing?
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11-25-2011, 10:52 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hopichangi
My newly acquired Airstream has old seals that have developed a sticky surface. Has anyone seen this before? Can I just clean them with a Goo B Gone or something and move on or who they need replacing?
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Clean them and then spray them with "silicone spray".
Andy
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11-25-2011, 11:10 PM
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#3
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1 Rivet Member
1976 29' Ambassador
Tarpon Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Clean them and then spray them with "silicone spray".
Andy
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Thanks. May all my Airstream woes be resolved so easily.
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11-26-2011, 01:08 AM
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#4
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1 Rivet Member
1959 26' Overlander
Rutherfordton
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 11
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Sometimes you can get away with spraying just a bit of WD40 on a rag and it will clean and "de-sticky" the seal.
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11-26-2011, 04:51 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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The sticky is caused by the same thing the sticky is caused by on the walls of the 70's trailers. Some of the seals are flexible PVC and and can be fixed the same way. By cleaning it off and putting a coating on it to prevent re-emergence.
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11-27-2011, 01:38 AM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
1990 34' Limited
Proud to be
, an American
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 64
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Also try Krud Cutter ( Home Depot) cleans as well ;-)
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11-27-2011, 05:40 AM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member
1969 27' Overlander
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 168
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Cleaning with peanut butter...
Peanut butter is very gentle on old plastic. The peanut oil breaks down a lot of organic gums, including chewing gum and label adhesive. You have to wash it off with soap and water afterwards, of course.
Andy,
you might know the answer to this, regarding the fridge seals: I want to change the swing direction of the Dometic fridge from left hand to right hand. When I swapped the hinge sides, the door won't properly close because the seals are "sticking".
Can the seals be replaced, or softened up to re-seat properly?
__________________
Ed Glenn
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11-27-2011, 07:58 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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Do not use peanut butter. The peanut oil in it will act as a plasticizer and permeate into the seal and soften it, but the Peanut oil will go rancid and also drive out more plasticizer. You will end up with a smelly sticky seal. The original plasticizer was likely DOP and an oxidized soy bean oil. If you need to soften the gasket use DOP.
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11-28-2011, 08:11 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
1969 27' Overlander
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 168
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That's good information....
What's "DOP"?
__________________
Ed Glenn
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11-28-2011, 08:57 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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Di Octal Phalate. also sometimes called DEHP by some. It is the most common plasticizer used in PVC, also the cheapest. I used to buy it by the ton. I have not investigated where you could buy it by the bottle.
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11-29-2011, 07:01 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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You could replace the seal.
McMaster-Carr
Perry
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11-29-2011, 11:04 AM
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#12
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3 Rivet Member
1969 27' Overlander
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 168
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I'm afraid to ask. How hard IS it to replace fridge seals?
__________________
Ed Glenn
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11-29-2011, 11:10 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Do it and let us know. I am not sure how they attach. Most attach with sheet metal screws under the lip. Should be pretty easy.
Perry
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11-29-2011, 03:52 PM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
1969 27' Overlander
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 168
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Famous last words; "Should be pretty easy."
Right up there with "Look Ma, no hands!!!"
__________________
Ed Glenn
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