1975 Argosy front window

[Happycampers]

Hello everyone.. we are trying to get our Argosy on the road.. having a problem finding THE LEAK in the front window.. have tried the hose routine starting from the bottom up.. no water until above the top of the window .. thought it might be the lights.. or the Argosy sign.. Hubby took those off .. and stripped the paint off the end cap.. above front window.. old Vulkem taken out and new put in.. rain coming.. so just put a little parbon on the holes for the lights and the sign.. still have a problem with the front floor wet.. Have got new laminate flooring but do not want to put it in until the leak is found and fixed.. any suggestions.. right now he is wishing we had not sold the Tradewind.. but I keep telling him we will get this done .. Help Annie

[thenewkid64]

Annie,

How far up are you going before the leak starts?

Have you checked the vulcem around the TV Antenna?

I am in the middle of a project like this right now and have found 2 places where there is a leak. One is the seam between the center window frame and the side glass window frames. In the Airstream line there is a mullion bar that seals this, we don't have one. Also the water fill door that is cut into the front of the trailer seems to leak as well, so I plan on resealing it.

You also need to check the rivets that attach the upper rub rail to the coach. The rub rail trim is riveted into (through) the window frame if there is a missing rivet you may have water entering the coach there.

One way to try to seal stuff before applying the sealant is to use the aluminum foil duct tape. It will let you seal and remove if it is not the spot that leaks.

[Happycampers]

Hello Brett .. Thanks for the quick reply.. have sealed the rub rail , rivets ok.. also.. no leaks until above the window.. my Hubby has taken the antenna off and put on a aluminum patch.. vulkemed and riveted.. the water was coming in before he did this little job.. I am going to seal along the middle window on both sides this weekend and see if that helps.. we have had nothing but rain this month.. hoping for a nice weekend.. or we will be putting pontoons on this baby.. Annie

[MontanaArgy]

Annie did you ever solve the leak problem with your front windows? I am having a similar problem, (76 Argosy 20). I can't find a leak with a hose but each time it rains there is just a tiny bit of water on the road side windowsill next to the center window. It is getting too cold around here for the hose much longer!! I've sealed everything I can think of but haven't gotten up to the antenna area yet. Looks OK though. Thanks, Scott.

[Jim & Susan]

Scott, the leak in mine was coming from one of the front lights. The hole drilled in the aluminum for the power wire. The Vulkem had failed in that area and it allowed water to pour in during a rain. I didn't find it until I pulled the entire interior walls out. There might be a way for you to go thru the front end cap a look at it with a helper on the outside with a hose. I don't know the structure of your particular trailer. I can post a pic or two if you need it.

Jim

[fdx753]

If you are just looking at the floor to determine a leak, you may want to check the water tank. If I overfill mine,water will slosh out onto the floor as I go down the road. If it is not full and you are parked, maybe there is a crack somewhere in the side of the tank.

[Happycampers]

Hello Scott. Yes we finally found it. Hubby removed the interior panels below the window, than I soaped down the window in sections and he took the air compressor from the inside and we did each window at a time.. Bingo .. found it and it is fixed and the trailer is all done .. painted and looks wonderful. Going to put a new ac on this week. In fact we have been living in it for the past 3 weeks.. snowbirds.. .. Just love those Argosys..

[CanoeStream]

Annie, how was the leak happening?

I attempted quite a number of fixes and was getting quite frustrated. This leak was responsible for a major front floor replacement, as the water collected and rotted the floor under the water tank. I'd see water on the sill at the front of the curved window, so seemed anything above could be causing it -- all of which is now perfectly sealed! At least this problem helped me do a complete job of reconditioning the A-frame and sealing the banana wrap at the trailer front.

I determined that it was a failure of the barely visible plastic extrusion that borders the glass. I would guess that this extrusion is intended to both seal and cushion the glass from the metal frame. The plastic extrusion became suspect because it was squeezed slightly out of position. Some parts were pushed out slightly, others were recessed slightly; most areas were actually in very good position. I may have pictures but they're at home.

After I had the inside panels, water tank and gaucho reinstalled it rained again and steady drips reappeared! Some of the plastic extrusion on the lower edge of the glass was slightly recessed and served as a collecting area for water coming down the glass -- right past the failed seal and inside darnit!

As thenewkid64 stated some time back look at your water fill door and the inside hose clamps carefully. Another point: If the water fill door gasket is hardened like mine was, rainwater coming down the side of the trailer will flow right into your water tank. Not the greatest design for the long term -- 20:20 hindsight, eh?

Another topic -- Vulkem is okay stuff if you are bonding something that is out of sight. Sika-Flex 221 is also approved for aluminum, starts with a much smoother surface, and skins over rather quickly compared to Vulkem -- makes a nicer finished look! (Search the forums -- omitting the hyphen or other combinations -- you'll find a number of mentions)

Bob
Temporarily writing from the Alamo City -- sans Safari.

[MontanaArgy]

Annie, glad you have solved your leaks! Do you remember what exactly the leak was? I will check my lights again to be sure that area is OK. I have trimmed the old plastic window gasket Bob talked about and PAR bonded the window to seal it to the frame. It has sure slowed the leak, but not stopped it. Thanks, Scott.

[Happycampers]

Scott, It was half way up the outer wing window near the door...it actually travelled about 40 inches from where we found the leak to where it was showing up..Do check the uper lights but I would bet it is around the front windows.. Good luck..