End cap seperation August 23, 2005, 11:32:26 am Yahoo Message Number: 57168The end caps and seams on our '04 began seperating about 4 months after delivery - when the weather warmed up. I have contacted the factory several times talking with both Tim and Vince. The method of repair suggested has been covered in other posts. What has worked for me has been how and when I apply the sealant. I first clean the area to be sealed per factory instructions. Then I wait for a warm day (80+) when the seam is opened due to the differnce in the coefficient of expansion. Mask off the area and apply the sealant forcing it into the gap with a spatula. This seems to be the key. This part of Tim's repair instructions went right past me the first time around. You have to force the sealant into the seam - I have been amazed at the amount of sealant that can be induced into the gap with the spatula. Just running a bead along the gap will not work. Remove the tape and clean up any residule sealant with a q-tip dipped in alcohol. I have repaired about 6 feet of seams on our rig including the whole top edge of the spare tire cutout that broke loose gapping more than 1/4 inch. Thus far the repairs have been holding. I have used the factory supplied sealant PR-255 and PL polyurethane sealant from Home Depot (Same manufacturer, OSI, same Fed Spec.) I have not been successful with the touchup paint on these areas. For this the factory had no explaination but the sealant cartridge does call for "non-rigid paint" I am not a big fan of bonded seams. I prefer fasteners but Tim warned against using fasteners on the ABS end caps on the newer units. I have noticed at the Caravan GTG's the rear end caps (at the eye level curve) that had a fastener installed had a crack emanating from the fastener to the inboard edge of the cap. Just my two cents worth - sorry for the rambling nature of this post. John '04 23.5FL
Re: End cap seperation Reply #1 – August 23, 2005, 12:41:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 57174"jaczac56" wrote: sorry for the rambling nature of this post. ---- John, your post wasn't rambling at all; I appreciate hearing the details of how others have dealt with the end wrap separation problem! I will attempt my next repairs with the sun directly on the rear end of the rig so that the "heat coefficient" (Is this the correct term? High school physics was a *long* time ago!) of the two materials is similar! Thanks.Joan
Re: End cap seperation Reply #2 – August 23, 2005, 01:36:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 57177Quote "jaczac56" wrote: sorry for the rambling nature of this post. ---- John, your post wasn't rambling at all; I appreciate hearing the details of how others have dealt with the end wrap separation problem! I will attempt my next repairs with the sun directly on the rear end of the rig so that the "heat coefficient" (Is this the correct term? High school physics was a *long* time ago!) of the two materials is similar! Thanks.Joan Joan, I did not work the sealant into the seam when the sun was directly on the cap. Just after the cap went into shade the gap seemed to remain open and the cap pliable to be able to insert the most sealant into the gap. As the cap cooled the sealant bulged slightly convexed at the cap edge. Then I knew I had completely filled the void. John PS: I think Bumper is on the right track. ,
Re: End cap seperation Reply #3 – August 23, 2005, 02:27:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 57182Great info John, thanks - no doubt that is why my caulking job lasted all of one week. I'll try your fix with the remaining PR-255 that I have.DaveRuby the red 04 RK
Topic: End cap seperation (Read 18 times)
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Topic: End cap seperation (Read 18 times)
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