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drivers side window replacement
Does anyone have experience replacing the stationary half of the drivers side window (not the windshield). Mine came unglued and separated from its frame. Saved the glass though, stuck my arm out the slider and held it until I got stopped. We are on the road somewhere in South Dakota on our first outing this year. I will call Prevost Parts in the morning, and try to get a new gasket or whatever holds that glass in the frame. This is the first day of a four week trip, so would like to be able to fix it. So if anyone has done this, would like some specific advice, thank you.
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9 Replies
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that window glass should be held in with sika. I’ve never heard of one falling out. The Sitka needs to be heated to use then once installed should set 24 hours before traveling.
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As Jeff said the window is “glued” in place with Sikaflex. You will have to scrape the old Sikaflex from the glass and the coach frame.
You apply a bead around the perimeter of the frame behind the window, place the glass in place leaving a uniform gap between the perimeter of the glass and the frame. Then the gap is filled with Sikaflex.
You need a good scraper, masking tape, and a caulking gun. It is an easy fix but like Jeff says you have to let it cure for 24 hours and you have to be real careful while it cures because even slamming the door can push it out.
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It is behind your view. Remove the glass and store it safely away. Make a cardboard or plywood replacement and tape it in. Your view and trip willl not be spoiled.
Repair correctly when getting home.
JIM
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That is interesting! Mine did the same thing a couple of years ago. I too had to reach out the toll window and hold it until I could stop and rig up a strap to hold it for the 3 hour trip home. My maintenance manual has complete step by step replacement instructions so I ordered the material from Prevost and installed it myself. So far it has stayed in!!
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Thank you, that is exactly what I needed. If Prevost can get the sikaflex to Mt. Rushmore tomorrow, I will be there long enough for the cure. Otherwise Yellowstone a few days later. Thanks again.
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Prevost got two tubes of sikaflex 255fc to Mt Rushmore next day (22 dollars for stuff, 84 dollars shipping). Cut and scraped for hours the old stuff off the glass and frame. Followed the book of Jon, and have it in place. We will be able to give it 40 hours before we move again. Then Yellowstone, Glacier, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Edmonton, Calgary – Stampede, Home.
In reflecting on this failure, I attribute it to cabin pressure. We were running 65 ground speed into a 30 knot head wind with otr running.
Is it ok to travel with one of those pop out side windows open to vent?
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Dan,
A properly installed window isn’t going to come loose. I had one come loose on the first coach, replaced it as described and it never was an issue again.
When I scraped the rear of the frame the window seats against I cleaned it as well as I could and used a whole lot of Sikaflex to the point where it oozed out against the inside of the window all the way around the periphery of the glass. Then I sealed the gap and scraped the excess. We had OTR and we drove in winds that were as strong as you describe and never again had a issue.
I never had an issue on our 97 coach with the same window installation method. I think your coach and my 87 just suffered from a poor initial installation.
BTW, your OTR should have all outside air entry dammed off by a plate on the evaporator side just behind the opening in that door. If that is in place you are unlikely to have excess internal coach pressures. If the baffle is not in place however you can create enough inside the coach pressure ot make closing the door difficult when the OTR is running.
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Yes the otr outside air entry on the drivers side is plated off and always has been.
Have you ever run with a side window open a little bit?
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On rare occasions I have run with the slider open. If I remember the window frame would interfere with the mirror view so I didn’t do it much. I don’t think it brought in any fresh air so I think I just did it out of boredom. Too much noise.
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