|
|
Post by marcus on Jun 26, 2013 16:42:50 GMT
Hi everyone Firstly, I have just discovered four or five hairline cracks on the front of my Windrush, running under one of the front handles, approx 6 inches long. They seem quite superficial but I am worried they might grow. I think these were caused by an over-enthusiastic neighbour pulling on the handle. Should I fill these and if so, with what? Secondly, I need to do some minor repairs to the seals on the side of the van, particularly the door frame. What filler should I use and which adhesive (to stick the black plastic back around the frame)?? Thanks in advance for any advice!!  |
|
|
|
Post by Administrator on Jun 26, 2013 20:00:24 GMT
Hi
Welcome
Re stress cracking around pull handles.
if you just fill the stress cracks in they wouls only re appear in a few weeks time as its the gel coat to the fiberglass and a proper repair needs to be instigated to prevent further cracking.
This involves access to the rear of the pane l in that area so the inside covering panel should carefully be re moved. Once removed undo the screws from outside the van and remove the pull/push handle.
cut away the the backing pad internally and source some 22mm exterior grade ply and cut oversize so that when placed in position so that the defective area that stressed is covered with the ply internally shamfer the edges at 4 5 degrees so that no angle in the repair is at 90 degrees as this angle is weak in relation to reinforcement.
Fiber glass over with resin and glassfiber roving sheet material and laminated the ply with 3 layers of rovings and resin
gauge out the stress cracks externally at 45 degrees with an old wood chisel so your well dug into the glass rovings externally.
Obtain some plastic padding gel coat filler from a marine chandlers and mix and spread into the widen cracks with a spatula, immediately lay over the filled area with selotape this leaves a very smooth finish to the gel coat when set peel off and cut in with fine wet and dry paper with a cutting compound and spray area to match colour leave a few weeks and buff paintwork.
Re sealing door
Remove infil strip around frame remove screws take of door and frame complete. clean off all old sealant off the frame and caravan panel. apply sealant to area that frame is being fixed to place the frame in position and re fix using stainless steel counter sunk screws making sure the sealant is well bedded and sqeezed out, leave 24 hours before final tightning and re fix new plastic infill strip with a flat spatula, Always use new as the old will be britle.
When applying infill strip always allow 48 hours to rest as it stretches and over this period it with retract to its existing form and if you make the cut immediately once retracted it will be to short and not look good. always start at the bottom as the joint will let out any rainwater that may be driven in there.
Any excess sealant should be removed with a plastic spatula and cleaned off with soapy water.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Stuart
|
|
|
|
Post by marcus on Jul 9, 2013 13:52:51 GMT
Thanks very much Stuart. I am new to all this - can you tell me where I can buy the sealant, fibre-glass and infill strip?
Cheers
Marcus
|
|
|
|
Post by Administrator on Jul 9, 2013 17:16:18 GMT
|
|
