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Water leaks...new start [message #98386] Fri, 03 September 2010 16:23 Go to next message
Dennis S is currently offline  Dennis S   United States
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
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Senior Member
Lyle,
Somehow you hijacked the O-ring thread so I started a new one...

Look here for pictures of a 73 gutter project by Kelvin (you might wat to review his other albums, he does nice work)

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=3702

Dennis


Lyle wrote....

Yesterday afternoon we had a rain of near biblical proportions (up to four inches in about two hours in some local areas). This was the first time I had been inside our GMC during a serious rain. While insulating the rear cap (we have most of the interior out... including the inside skin) I noticed quite a bit of rain running in through the aluminum track that runs the length of the coach on the inside just above the windows. This is the track that the wiring harness runs in and is covered by a plastic cap about three and a half inches wide. I did notice leaks under some of the windows... I'm working on that, but the amount running in through the track was really bad.

Our coach (a '73) does not have an outside gutter. Rather, it has what looks to be a cap that runs the length of the coach and seems to be held in place by screws set every 12 inches or so. My question is this.. given how bad it seemed to be leaking, should I remove this cap and seal under it? The po had sealed it part way down the length on the top side with white bath tub caulking. I'm thinking that won't be enough. Any suggestions?
Soggy in Illinois,
Lyle.

Lyle A. Rigdon, Retired Superintendent
'73 Soggy Yellow Sequoia
Pawnee, IL 62558
Pawnee Pride - Live It!


Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
Re: [GMCnet] Water leaks...new start [message #98391 is a reply to message #98386] Fri, 03 September 2010 16:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kelvin is currently offline  kelvin   United States
Messages: 608
Registered: February 2004
Location: Eugene, OR
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Thanks, Dennis...

I would suggest you dive in and see what's under that cap. My leaks
were doing the same as yours - running down that wiring channel. You'll
never find them all unless you get under those caps and seal stuff up
AFTER you get all of the silicone off of everything.

I added a few rivets, too. Just because.

Kelvin
'73 23'

> Lyle,
> Somehow you hijacked the O-ring thread so I started a new one...
>
> Look here for pictures of a 73 gutter project by Kelvin (you might wat to review his other albums, he does nice work)
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=3702
>
> Dennis
>
>
> Lyle wrote....
>
> Yesterday afternoon we had a rain of near biblical proportions (up to four inches in about two hours in some local areas). This was the first time I had been inside our GMC during a serious rain. While insulating the rear cap (we have most of the interior out... including the inside skin) I noticed quite a bit of rain running in through the aluminum track that runs the length of the coach on the inside just above the windows. This is the track that the wiring harness runs in and is covered by a plastic cap about three and a half inches wide. I did notice leaks under some of the windows... I'm working on that, but the amount running in through the track was really bad.
>
> Our coach (a '73) does not have an outside gutter. Rather, it has what looks to be a cap that runs the length of the coach and seems to be held in place by screws set every 12 inches or so. My question is this.. given how bad it seemed to be leaking, should I remove this cap and seal under it? The po had sealed it part way down the length on the top side with white bath tub caulking. I'm thinking that won't be enough. Any suggestions?
> Soggy in Illinois,
> Lyle.
>
> Lyle A. Rigdon, Retired Superintendent
> '73 Soggy Yellow Sequoia
> Pawnee, IL 62558
> Pawnee Pride - Live It!
>
>

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Re: [GMCnet] Water leaks...new start [message #98396 is a reply to message #98386] Fri, 03 September 2010 17:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tmaki is currently offline  tmaki   United States
Messages: 200
Registered: September 2005
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 9/3/2010 2:23 PM, Dennis Sexton wrote:
>
>
> Look here for pictures of a 73 gutter project by Kelvin (you might wat to review his other albums, he does nice work)
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=3702
>
> Dennis
>
>
> Lyle wrote....

> Our coach (a '73) does not have an outside gutter. Rather, it has what looks to be a cap that runs the length of the coach


FWIW, GM issued a service bulletin on this very topic - No.
75-TM-1, October 1974.

It applied to '73 and '74. Photos in bulletin look exactly
like what Kelvin showed in his photos.

To quote, in part:

" Water entry may be experienced on some of the subject
motor homes due to the roof panel joints not being
adequately sealed.

1. Remove upper rub rail attaching screws, end caps and rail.

2. Clean joint at front of longitudinal beam and front body
end cap.

3. Apply sealer to thoroughly fill cavity.

4. Clean and seal longitudinal beam to side panel joint and
all blind rivets, working from front to rear of vehicle.

5. Clean joint at rear of longitudinal beam and rear end
cap. Fill oint thoroughly with sealer.

6. Water test vehicle.

7. Drill three 1/8" holes in bottom of rub rail, one at each
end and one in the middle.

8. Reinstall upper rub rail and end caps.

9. Clean excess sealer from vehicle using mineral spirits."

The sealer specified is clear vinyl acrylic sealer.

I'm guessing the three 1/8" holes are intended as weep
holes. GM offers no detailed explanation.

I would add that one clean the entire length of the rub rail
(as they call it) and the end caps as shown in Kelvin's pix.

Important to seal those rivets.

There are photo references in the bulletin. Interestingly,
they allow .9 hours flat rate time.

Get the service bulletin library from the usual sources.
Many questions about GMC motor home service and repairs can
be answered with the correct documentation.

HTH



Toby Maki
'73 Glacier 230
Riverside, CA
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Re: [GMCnet] Water leaks...new start [message #98397 is a reply to message #98396] Fri, 03 September 2010 17:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kelvin is currently offline  kelvin   United States
Messages: 608
Registered: February 2004
Location: Eugene, OR
Karma: 0
Senior Member

> Important to seal those rivets.
>

Forgot to mention. Did it.
> There are photo references in the bulletin. Interestingly,
> they allow .9 hours flat rate time.
>

That would have been back before the screws had become PART of the
aluminum extrusion thru electrolysis.
Those suckers were hard to get out.
> Get the service bulletin library from the usual sources.
>

I guess I should have asked about it before doing it. :^)

You gotta own one of these things for 7-8 years before knowing half of
what's to know!

Kelvin

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Re: [GMCnet] Water leaks...new start [message #98404 is a reply to message #98397] Fri, 03 September 2010 17:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tmaki is currently offline  tmaki   United States
Messages: 200
Registered: September 2005
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 9/3/2010 3:17 PM, Kelvin Dietz wrote:
>
>> Important to seal those rivets.
>>
>
> Forgot to mention. Did it.
>> There are photo references in the bulletin. Interestingly,
>> they allow .9 hours flat rate time.
>>
>
> That would have been back before the screws had become PART of the
> aluminum extrusion thru electrolysis.


Quite true. I can imagine the warranty claims at today's
rates of $65 - $125/ hr. if these were being done under
warranty. GM would be rejecting them right and left until a
field rep went out to see what was going on. "Nope", he'd
say. "They can't do it in .9 hrs. Give them a minimum of 4."

>
> You gotta own one of these things for 7-8 years before knowing half of
> what's to know!


That's why it's good to have at least the service bulletins.
Lots of the questions that are asked (repeatedly) on the
'Net are covered in those. There is also some insight into
the whys and hows of GM's thinking and techniques.



TM
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Re: [GMCnet] Water leaks...new start [message #98520 is a reply to message #98391] Sat, 04 September 2010 13:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
ejuk8em is currently offline  ejuk8em   United States
Messages: 90
Registered: July 2010
Karma: 0
Member
Hey all,
This has not been a good week.... After having broken a finger earlier in the week (my office door at work apparently had a grudge for some reason)... late yesterday afternoon while trying to remove the cap screws, the ladder I was on decided to walk away from the job while I was on it.  Fortunately, the ladder pitched me over into my wife's Hosta bed next to the house so I only ended up with a lot of soreness all over. The poor Hosta's ended up a lot worse off than I am. At almost 60 I've got to learn to be more careful when working more than 6 inches off the ground.
At any rate, thanks for the info about the drain cap. At least now I have a good idea what needs to be done. I think I'll let this part of the project simmer for a couple of days until my muscles and joints get back to normal.
Take care and have a great Labor Day!
Lyle

Lyle A. Rigdon, Retired Superintendent
'73 Pineapple Yellow Sequoia
(One very dead ladder)
Pawnee, IL  62558
Pawnee Pride - Live It!

--- On Fri, 9/3/10, Kelvin Dietz <kelvin@datsuns.com> wrote:


From: Kelvin Dietz <kelvin@datsuns.com>
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Water leaks...new start
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Friday, September 3, 2010, 4:51 PM


Thanks, Dennis...

I would suggest you dive in and see what's under that cap.  My leaks
were doing the same as yours - running down that wiring channel.  You'll
never find them all unless you get under those caps and seal stuff up
AFTER you get all of the silicone off of everything.

I added a few rivets, too.  Just because.

Kelvin
'73 23'

> Lyle,
> Somehow you hijacked the O-ring thread so I started a new one...
>
> Look here for pictures of a 73 gutter project by Kelvin (you might wat to review his other albums, he does nice work)
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=3702
>
> Dennis
>
>
> Lyle wrote....
>
> Yesterday afternoon we had a rain of near biblical proportions (up to four inches in about two hours in some local areas). This was the first time I had been inside our GMC during a serious rain. While insulating the rear cap (we have most of the interior out... including the inside skin) I noticed quite a bit of rain running in through the aluminum track that runs the length of the coach on the inside just above the windows. This is the track that the wiring harness runs in and is covered by a plastic cap about three and a half inches wide. I did notice leaks under some of the windows... I'm working on that, but the amount running in through the track was really bad.

> Our coach (a '73) does not have an outside gutter. Rather, it has what looks to be a cap that runs the length of the coach and seems to be held in place by screws set every 12 inches or so. My question is this.. given how bad it seemed to be leaking, should I remove this cap and seal under it? The po had sealed it part way down the length on the top side with white bath tub caulking. I'm thinking that won't be enough. Any suggestions?
> Soggy in Illinois,
> Lyle.
>
> Lyle A. Rigdon, Retired Superintendent
> '73 Soggy Yellow Sequoia
> Pawnee, IL  62558
> Pawnee Pride - Live It!
>
>   

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Re: [GMCnet] Water leaks...new start [message #98531 is a reply to message #98520] Sat, 04 September 2010 15:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tmaki is currently offline  tmaki   United States
Messages: 200
Registered: September 2005
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 9/4/2010 11:06 AM, Lyle A. Rigdon wrote:
>
> This has not been a good week....
> At any rate, thanks for the info about the drain cap. At least now I have a good idea what needs to be done.

Lyle,

Some days it's just a good idea to sit back and restore your
electrolytes with your favorite adult beverage.

I don't know how you're going about removing those screws.
They are expendable, and slotting the heads with a Dremel
tool (or similar) with a diamond cutting wheel will make the
job go a lot faster (the fiberglass cutting discs break too
easily). A large screwdriver to fit the slot, a whack with a
rubber mallet, and twist them out of there. You can probably
get them all out in half an hour after you get rested up. If
you're already doing it that way, cool.

It really looks a lot worse than it is. The most labor
intensive part is cleaning up the pieces and extrusion
underneath.

Be well, and enjoy the holiday.



Toby Maki
'73 Glacier 230
Riverside, CA


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Re: [GMCnet] Water leaks...new start [message #98532 is a reply to message #98531] Sat, 04 September 2010 15:16 Go to previous message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
Senior Member
Unfortunately, the laws of gravity and inertia cannot easily be repealed.
Sorry to hear about your sudden descent into the Hosta's. Another one of
lifes lessons that all of us can learn from as well. As the shift sgt. of
Hill Street Blues used to say, Be careful out there guys, and go home
healthy at the end of your shift. I always say Murphy wouldn't own a GMC,
but he is always out there silently watching and waiting for the opportunity
to ruin an otherwise good day working on our favorite hobby.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 Royale 403

On Sat, Sep 4, 2010 at 1:05 PM, tmaki <tmaki@earthlink.net> wrote:

> On 9/4/2010 11:06 AM, Lyle A. Rigdon wrote:
> >
> > This has not been a good week....
> > At any rate, thanks for the info about the drain cap. At least now I have
> a good idea what needs to be done.
>
> Lyle,
>
> Some days it's just a good idea to sit back and restore your
> electrolytes with your favorite adult beverage.
>
> I don't know how you're going about removing those screws.
> They are expendable, and slotting the heads with a Dremel
> tool (or similar) with a diamond cutting wheel will make the
> job go a lot faster (the fiberglass cutting discs break too
> easily). A large screwdriver to fit the slot, a whack with a
> rubber mallet, and twist them out of there. You can probably
> get them all out in half an hour after you get rested up. If
> you're already doing it that way, cool.
>
> It really looks a lot worse than it is. The most labor
> intensive part is cleaning up the pieces and extrusion
> underneath.
>
> Be well, and enjoy the holiday.
>
>
>
> Toby Maki
> '73 Glacier 230
> Riverside, CA
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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