2015 Flying Cloud 25FB

[moosetags]

Now that the weather is noticeably warming, we have been opening New Lucy's windows and using the Fantastic Fans.

Opening New Lucy's windows has been a problem. I have not been able to open her window as the rubber molding sticks to the glass. I have had go outside and lightly pry the windows open at the bottom to get them started.

There was black rubber residue on the edge of the glass when I first got them open. A couple of the windows even ripped pieces of rubber from the molding.

What am I doing wrong?

Brian

[fpbender]

Well we are ready to take Feather to Cedar Key this weekend.
We have the 16" Michlein LTX MS 225/75r Load E and when we pick her up the dealer inflated the tires to the recommended max 80psi. I don't know what they torqued the wheel lugs at. Could someone give me some guidance on pressure and torque.
Thanks
Wait till you see the questions after this first journey LOL

[moosetags]

Originally Posted by fpbender

Well we are ready to take Feather to Cedar Key this weekend.
We have the 16" Michlein LTX MS 225/75r Load E and when we pick her up the dealer inflated the tires to the recommended max 80psi. I don't know what they torqued the wheel lugs at. Could someone give me some guidance on pressure and torque.
Thanks
Wait till you see the questions after this first journey LOL

We had these same tires on Old Lucy for 60,000 miles, and we have also put a set on New Lucy. We have always run these tires at 72 PSI and torque the lug nuts to 115 foot pounds.

Brian

[Antique Pedaler]

I have always had the same sticky window situation. I lube the rubber molding with silicon but it doesn't last. So my trailer key fob is a bottle opener which which I gently use to open sticky windows from the outside.

Jay


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[moosetags]

I have been doing the same thing with the screw driver tip on my little pocket knife.

Brian

[Gene]

Brian, our windows stuck when the trailer was new. I sprayed liberal amounts of silicone on the rubber and after a few years they stopped sticking. I still spray them annually with silicone. I used a putty knife to pry them away from the rubber. It is not too sharp to cut the rubber, but strong and thin enough to work into the space. See what you get for buying a new one.

I too run the same tires at 72 lbs. I first used 68 lbs., but didn't like the way the tires were wearing across the treads. From early in the 2008 production run, Airstream has recommended 110 lbs., unless they've recently changed it. The first few months of the 2008 models and before was 120 lbs. The reason for the change was a change in what brand of wheels they were using. So if you have aftermarket wheels, check with the manufacturer.

Gene

[moosetags]

On Old Lucy (5005 Safari) I used a lug nut torque value of 115'#, splitting the difference between the Factory recommended of 110 to 120'#.

On New Lucy, I did a lot of research and came up with torque number all over the place. The wheel supplier recommended 75'#. After considering all of the information that I was getting, I decided to stick with the 115 number that I had always used.

Brian

[Gene]

Wheel torque is probably determined by guys drinking beer. Toyota now recommends 100 lbs. for my Tundra, but I recall the owner's manual recommends less. Mechanics often don't bother to use a torque wrench, though years of experience allows people to guess pretty accurately. When I torque the Airstream's wheels, I usually go over 110 a bit assuming the wrench isn't all that accurate. None of our wheels have fallen off so far.

Gene

[moosetags]

I have a fairly high end Craftsman torque wrench that I have had for years. In all the years with the Airstream, I checked the lug nut torque on a regular basis and never once were any of the lugs out of torque.

I always carry the torque wrench as I also use it for the U-bolts on the Hensley. These bolts do need some extra tightening on a regular basis.

Brian

[Tincampers]

I am going to be trying a product called Window Poppers to help with stuck window syndrome. Probably will install them this weekend.

www.seeyoudowntheroad.com

I am not affiliated in any way with this company.

[bunni]

Originally Posted by moosetags

Opening New Lucy's windows has been a problem. I have not been able to open her window as the rubber molding sticks to the glass. I have had go outside and lightly pry the windows open at the bottom to get them started.

We use a credit card or old hotel room key card to pry the windows open. It has gotten better but over a year later they still get stuck half of the time.

[Wayne&Sam]

Once open, keep the gaskets lubed with Armorall , 303 or something like that. I do that a couple of times a year and it seems to work.


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[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by mrprez

I am going to be trying a product called Window Poppers to help with stuck window syndrome. Probably will install them this weekend.

www.seeyoudowntheroad.com

I am not affiliated in any way with this company.

Looks interesting. Please do report on the results. With pictures if you can, please! My only concern would be excess pressure on window at only one point. I have the same sticking issues ...


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[moosetags]

Those look like they will work well. Please let us know how they work out.

Brian

[fpbender]

Because of all of you on this thread we feel confident on our first journey,
It's an honor to be involved with so many people with an absolutely pure passion for this great machine and past time,Hobby, lifestyle ,etc.
Fred

[dbj216]

Well, I can now say I have a feature on my old 66 Trade Wind just like New Lucy. My windows stick against the new rubber seals I put in, just like New Lucy.

My windows were shut most of the summer so I figured the sun and heat "welded" the seals to the glass. I had a heck of a time getting them open.

I wonder if the silicone I put on the rubber seals caused the sticking? My windows are glass on rubber as I don't have the glass frames. They are the unique Corning glass windows used in 66 till 68.

I bet New Lucy doesn't have thin, tempered, flexible Corning glass.

David

[moosetags]

I have had so much trouble with New Lucy's windows sticking to the rubber molding that I was ready for a solution.

The little spring loaded window openers look like a good answer.

I decided to try something a little different first. This afternoon I drilled 7/32" holes at the bottom center of the window frames from the inside. I then used a wooden dowel to push the window breaking the seal. Once the seal is broken, the window opens easily with the side handles.

This seems to do the job without cost or hassle.

Brian

[SeeMore]

Use 303 aerospace protectant to cure the sticking seal issue. It has no petroleum by products so the seals don't degrade over time and is a UV blocker as well. Works fine on all my seals and on the tires as well.

[Al - K4GLU]

Originally Posted by mrprez

I am going to be trying a product called Window Poppers to help with stuck window syndrome. Probably will install them this weekend.

www.seeyoudowntheroad.com

I am not affiliated in any way with this company.

Wonder if this is where they got the idea?

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f164...ml#post1358139

[dbj216]

The patent pending moosetags new Airstream window assist! I foresee huge potential sales and profits from this invention.

David