End caps May 15, 2017, 09:17:07 pm Lady and Gents... Im about to put in some work on my LD. There are little gaps 1/5 "on the end caps. Mothership advised that its not an issue but I would like to seal it off as best as I can. Any advice and type of sealant to be used would be very helpful. Thank youVRDave
Re: End caps Reply #1 – May 15, 2017, 09:31:09 pm I couldn't improve on the detailed advise posted here by Larry and others. I don't want to be "that guy", but searching end caps will yield a cornucopia of experienced solutions. As to whether to leave them or seal them? I advise sealing them. The underneath construction "should" be impervious to water, but it's a sad day when one discovers the sealing under the end caps failed too.
Re: End caps Reply #2 – May 16, 2017, 08:03:06 am I mentioned a crack in my front end cap weeks ago and someone asked for a picture but I forgot to post. It is hereby attached. Extreme in temps out here are about a 110 degree swing between winter cold and summer heat. It takes a toll on a rig. No leaks discovered to date.Dave
Re: End caps Reply #3 – May 16, 2017, 09:10:51 am Last i talked to the factory they were using Locktite PLS40 to set the end caps. In 1988 they were used Putty tape, as best Vince can guess. The putty is currently oosing out and through he last semi rigid caulk used to reseal the '88 MB, amber, probably eternabond caulk, the repaint, and every other joint that has not been resealed.Husker,The crack location in the picture may indicates the cab and/or the cabover is sagging, or wood is drying and shrinking. This is a stress crack..to seal I would fill the surface crack with Dicor No Sag, White, since it looks like the cabover is moving. The NoSag will get wrinkles as it ages. Maybe other members know of an sealant for the crack that will not wrinkle and still allow movement.
Re: End caps Reply #4 – May 16, 2017, 10:55:03 am Do these sealing agents dry clear or white? Near to apply to my back end caps.
Re: End caps Reply #5 – May 16, 2017, 10:57:00 am Quote from: huskerblue - May 16, 2017, 08:03:06 amI mentioned a crack in my front end cap weeks ago and someone asked for a picture but I forgot to post. It is hereby attached. Extreme in temps out here are about a 110 degree swing between winter cold and summer heat. It takes a toll on a rig. No leaks discovered to date.DaveI have exactly the same type of cracks in my '06 TK. I drilled holes at the leading ends to stop the spread, then used Captain Trolley to fill in the cracks. Worked on one, but not the other as it continued to crack beyond the hole. I'm not going to over-worry it and rely on the factory's assurance about the under sealant. -- Jon
Re: End caps Reply #6 – May 16, 2017, 11:00:54 am Dicor dries in what ever color you buy.Loctite PLS40 should dry to the color you buy. I have not used PLS 40.
Re: End caps Reply #7 – May 16, 2017, 01:06:26 pm Quote from: huskerblue - May 16, 2017, 08:03:06 amI mentioned a crack in my front end cap weeks ago and someone asked for a picture but I forgot to post. It is hereby attached. Extreme in temps out here are about a 110 degree swing between winter cold and summer heat. It takes a toll on a rig. No leaks discovered to date.Sideways cracks, on the caps, is very common and not a huge concern. They happen in all climates, in LDs new and old.The normally go all the way across a cap but each cracks is different.Thin cracks can be sealed with a clear sealant, something with a little body to keep it in place, while it cures.A big, wide crack needs more attention, in some cases, a cut strip of Eternabond tape can be applied over the crack.I use this method to seal the seam on the rear caps. Searching the forum will provide a lot of information on how to seal the caps.Any of them can be save as long as the the cap is intact. People have handed me their caps, after they have fallen off, to be reattached and sealed. It's a lot of work but much faster and cheaper than replacing and then having paint the caps, to match.LD charge a small fortune to replace an paint caps.The last thing you want to do is to remove an entire cap and replace it, it is a HUGE job. Try to keep the original.The best adhesive have found for reattaching capris my old favorite, 3M 5200 Fast Cure. It beats every other adhesive that I have tried over the last twenty five years. I use #8 and #10 stainless steel sheet metal screws to attach the caps and keep them in position while the adhesive cures.Larry 2 Likes
Re: End caps Reply #8 – May 17, 2017, 01:35:54 pm Does anyone know if the 5200 fast cure is paintable?
Re: End caps Reply #10 – May 19, 2017, 12:25:07 pm Quote from: paul banbury - May 19, 2017, 01:54:54 amYes, it takes and holds paint. Paul or Larry. In your experience does the 5200 do a better job of filling a crack than something like the Loctite poly that the factory currently uses and does it hold paint better?Jim
Re: End caps Reply #11 – May 19, 2017, 05:47:47 pm Quote from: Jim & Gayle - May 19, 2017, 12:25:07 pmIn your experience does the 5200 do a better job of filling a crack than something like the Loctite poly that the factory currently uses and does it hold paint better?IMO, the 5200 FastCure is a better sealant and adhesive.No idea about paint, I'm more concerned with how durable and effective the sealant is.Paint, in reality, is mostly cosmetic.Larry 1 Likes
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