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Topic: LD Factory Roof Air Installation (Read 211 times) previous topic - next topic
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LD Factory Roof Air Installation
This is our rainy season down here (Tucson) and we get some real gully washers. Had one last week and in the morning I found water on the floor under the A/C. Running the A/C added to the puddle. Time to replace the original (2009) gasket. I've installed a couple of A/Cs and figured it would take a couple of hours. Well, in this case, how about two days!

I removed the shroud topside and the plenum below, disconnected all the wires and removed the four bolts. Then I gave the unit a push. Huh? No movement. OK, another push. No dice. Then I gave it all I got and nuthin'! Jeez, what's the deal with this thing. I got in there with a flashlight for a close examination and saw the problem. The factory sealed the unit to the roof with butyl tape and compressed the gasket as much as possible. This is not the way it's done. Must have been a new guy on the job. No sealant, caulk or anything else goes on that gasket. (contacted original owner; no work ever done on the A/C since new)

I had to go at it with screwdrivers, nail bars, knives, acetone and prayer. I finally got that baby loose. Then I had to clean all that stuff off of both surfaces so I could get my new gasket on. Finally got it done. At least I know now that if I ever have to replace the A/C it will come right off like it's supposed to.

If the factory was still with us, I'd give them a call and ask them what they were thinking. Anyhow, good to go now.
jor
09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
Re: LD Factory Roof Air Installation
Reply #1 –
That's the way LD did things - a little bit (a lot) of extra sealant for good measure. 

I've worked on other brands with a 'properly' installed gasket (no sealant) and I was working on them because there was a water leak.  Given Lake Newton (pooling condensate) and their track record (I think leaks around the A/C on the factory install are rare), I'd probably copy the original install for a replacement.

Maybe others have some insight, but I bet they had a good reason for installing it that way.  Probably a lesson they learned the hard way. 

Rich



2003 MB
Re: LD Factory Roof Air Installation
Reply #2 –
I had to use a crow bar but it never leaked. Took me two days, also. They did it right in my opinion.

I installed the new A/C with butyl tape.
Harry 2006RB
Re: LD Factory Roof Air Installation
Reply #3 –
I had some dripage and followed advise on here to tightened the bolts.
Steve and Jill, Steve posting
1999 26.5 Mid-Bath
Re: LD Factory Roof Air Installation
Reply #4 –
"That's the way LD did things - a little bit (a lot) of extra sealant for good measure."

If LD did the extra sealant in 2009 on Jor's coach they didn't do that on my 2010 RB. When ordering our 2010 coach I asked Steve if we could get the Dometic heat pump instead of the AC. He wasn't aware that Dometic made one. We had the heat pump on our 2004 Born Free rear bath and was really impressed how well it heated the coach in cold weather. When we picked the new coach up in April '10 we were pleased that it had the heat pump unit.
Some time later (maybe a year) that heat pump lost freon and it was replaced (under Dometic warranty) by a RV technician that came to my shop to do the work. The removal of the original went very easily and there was only the rubber gasket at the base to remove with no additional sealant. The reason the freon escaped was caused by the high pressure freon line being coiled in a stack causing friction between the coils that wore through the copper. That was where the oil was located. The replacement heat pump had the same issue later and was also replaced by Dometic. The third unit had plastic spacers between the coils that solved the problem from then on.  On our 2021 coach the coiled tubing has something like heat shrink tubing over the copper tubing preventing any wear issues.
We currently have been on a short trip to eastern North Carolina and now returning back to Florida and have been using the AC constantly when camped with no problems being comfortable inside. The Carolinas are a bit warmer than back here in Florida where it is in the low 90's during the day and the comfortable 70's at night. Last night we walked the Atlantic shore line in the moonlight at Anastasia Island State Park. (see photos) Then back home to the ranch today.
Mike C
2010 RB "Monty"  & currently: 2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23'
1982 Dolphin/Toyota 22'
Re: LD Factory Roof Air Installation
Reply #5 –
Nice pics, Mike!  Is that a halo over your head? 😇
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: LD Factory Roof Air Installation
Reply #6 –
But of course Greg! You know me.   :D
2010 RB "Monty"  & currently: 2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23'
1982 Dolphin/Toyota 22'
 
Re: LD Factory Roof Air Installation
Reply #7 –
There is a message in the archives, with advice from the factory. 

Water leak at A/C

Quote from: Linley  - 
Yahoo Message Number: 99791
Be careful.

Having had to replace an AC unit (it was defective), I can tell you that LD's installation is, shall we say, "complete"  They sit the AC's gasket on a rim of body putty about 1" wide all around the AC's hole.
The other side of the gasket, of course, glued to the AC unit.

I talked to Steve before the process and he said that if you try to lift the AC off of the roof, it will stretch the aluminum roof cover and it will never ever lie flat again.  That's the way of sheet metal.
Steve said that after removing the AC's lower unit, to using a small pointy hand saw, reach between the AC unit and the roof and cut the the gasket in half, all the way around.  Then and only then should you try to lift the AC unit.

Perhaps they changed the process at some point over the years.  Cutting the gasket in half is a trick to remember. 

Rich

2003 MB