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Old 03-25-2015, 08:16 PM   #1
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1976 31' Excella 500
Providence Village , Texas
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 365
Vista and stacked windows questions

Hey all - and as always thank you in advance...
So after lots of searching I am in need of a bit of clarification.

This is in reference to vista and stacked windows.....

We have a 76 Excella 500 - 31 foot - 5 vista windows and 3 stacked windows

My internal gaskets are failing on the stacked windows - I have read the threads about taping and breaking the inner pane - and I am not replacing the inner pane- and do not want to tackle removing the entire frame - but where the questions come is what is the general consensus on gasket material? I have reached out via email and phone call to Canam in Canada but no response on the email, and the phone call resulted in the email ( and from what I have read shipping is high). I have also seen others use (I believe 5/8th) closed cell foam neoprene sponge cord. So curious if there was something else I was missing to use as a gasket material to hold the glass in and look aesthetically appealing.

As for my Vista windows... The PO already removed the inner pane and cleaned them up (and I do NOT have the removable ring clip - however in the front 3 whatever they used as caulking looks terrible and dingy (even looks like mold on a 2 in section) - here are a few pics
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and on the 2 in the rear it looks like they used vulkem - since it is still pliable - but had gotten very hot on a few occasions and dripped onto the backside of the vista shades and down the wall.

So I want to clean the caulking out and replace with the same gasket material I use in the stacked windows.

What have others done?
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Old 03-25-2015, 08:57 PM   #2
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1976 27' Overlander
Tampa , Florida
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 796
I bought the stuff to do mine, but havent yet. I found a write up on Can-Am's method to do this and I decided it was the best method for me.

Note there are 2 Can-Am's. I tried the wrong one first, then got the correct one. Here's who helped me in January 2014:

"Hi Micky,

The part# for that gasket is 825344

It is $4.88/FT plus tax and shipping. I have lots in stock


Thanks,

parts@canamrv.ca
Ian Gooder
Parts Manager
Can-Am RV Centre
6068 Colonel Talbot Road
London, ON
N6P 1R1
P: 519-652-3284
www.canamrv.ca"


Here was the write up on the method that I will be doing:

Here is a response from Can-Am RV Can Am RV | Headingley, MB CANADA | RV Sales, Rentals & Service | The Leaders in RV Sales,and Service on working with Vista View windows.

From Can-Am RV - date unknown

Glad to be of assistance. We have been fixing these windows using this
method for about 15 years with good success and no leaks.

We have had a gasket material custom made to fill the space in the frame
when the inner glass is removed. This material costs $3.00 Canadian or
$2.00 U.S. per foot to purchase if you would like some you can order it
from Sandy (parts@can- am-rv.com or 800 709 2931) and have it shipped
UPS. You need the smaller size for snap ring windows and the larger for
windows without the snap ring on the inside.

All of this is done without removing the aluminium frame from the
trailer thereby not disturbing the original caulking where the frame
fastens to the trailer shell.

WEAR SAFETY GLASSES AND GLOVES. It does not happen very often but every
once in a while one of the outer safety glasses explodes, it will throw
glass 100' if it does.

1972:
The first year Double Pane Vista View Windows were available was 1972
and these trailers actually had a plastic inner pane with its own frame.
So on a 72 you can remove the inner vista view pane and just clean off
the damaged tint on the inside of the outer pane. It is quit simple and
the finished product looks good.

Snap ring windows; 1973 & 1974 a few early 75's

These windows have an aluminium snap ring on the inside which is fairly
easy to remove. Once it is out you can pry out the plastic inner pane
and start cleaning out the caulking around the edges eventually you will
be able to push the outer pane through to the inside and remove it
completely.

Clean the inside of the frame out completely and wipe it with a solvent
so that it is totally clean, make certain that the solvent does not run
down the outside of the unit and damage the lacquer. Next clean the
glass off completely (you can remove the remains of the old tint with a
razor blade) and wipe it off with a solvent such as lacquer thinner as
well.

Coat all of the inside surfaces of the window frame with about a 1/8"
thick layer of silver silicone sealant. Take the clean glass and push
it into the silicone and then push in the rubber gasket(smaller size)
that will take up the extra space in the frame. Then all that is
necessary is to clean off the excess silicone on the inside and out and
let the remainder harden. The trailer should be kept dry for 6 hours
and not be towed for 48 hours.

1975-1984 Non Snap Ring Windows - Glass Inner Pane.

These windows are the most difficult to do. The inner pane is glass set
in the gooiest caulking you have ever seen. First you need to break the
inner pane with a hammer and a screw driver near the edge, don't go
through and break the outer pane. The larger chunks of glass in the
middle will drop out easily but the small shards of glass stuck in the
caulking need to be pulled out one at a time with pliers.

There is a soft plastic moulding in the frame that goes from the outside
of the outer pane through to the inside of the frame, you will see a lip
of it on between the outer frame and the glass. Cut the lip off of the
outside by running a sharp knife all around the inside edge of the
frame. Then it you grab the moulding on the inside with pliers you can
pull it out of the frame with the last of the glass pieces and the gooey
caulking.

Unlike the snap ring windows the outer glass will not come out through
the inside frame so you need to clean the glass and the frame with it in
there loose. Clean the inside of the frame out completely and wipe it
with a solvent so that it is totally clean, make certain that the
solvent does not run down the outside of the unit and damage the
lacquer. Next clean the glass off completely (you can remove the
remains of the old tint with a razor blade) and wipe it off with a
solvent such as lacquer thinner as well.

Coat all of the inside surfaces of the window frame with about a 1/8"
thick layer of silver silicone sealant. Take the clean glass and push
it into the silicone and then push in the rubber gasket (larger size)
that will take up the extra space in the frame. Then all that is
necessary is to clean off the excess silicone on the inside and out and
let the remainder harden. The trailer should be kept dry for 6 hours
and not be towed for 48 hours.


There you have it. It is not a job for the faint hearted but it is more
tedious than difficult. When it is done with the rubber gasket in place
it looks professional, like the factory made it that way. If you do not
wish to attempt the operation yourself we can do it for you here at
Can-Am but the labor can add up if you have several windows to do.
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Old 03-25-2015, 09:26 PM   #3
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1976 31' Excella 500
Providence Village , Texas
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Mixter- thanks that's the same write up I've seen - I actually spoke with Ian on the second call and sent three emails to parts one with pics of my windows after the phone call with no response back. Sorry but I should not have to chase down a company to give them my business.
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Old 03-25-2015, 09:40 PM   #4
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Consider the time of year and that they are probably working full tilt helping their regular, local clientele get trailers de-winterized and ready for the trailering season.
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Old 04-22-2015, 08:17 PM   #5
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1976 31' Excella 500
Providence Village , Texas
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cameront120 View Post
Consider the time of year and that they are probably working full tilt helping their regular, local clientele get trailers de-winterized and ready for the trailering season.

Unfortunately I did - contacted them several times over the winter months....
So I bought 100 feet of closed cell backer rod to use its a perfect fit for the vistas...

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