Leaky roof vent
I've got a vintage Kamp-Craft trailer with a vintage roof vent that leaks. The vent assembly isn't easily replaced and my only option has been to replace the plexiglass in it.
Its a bit different than most, the entire vent is steel other than the very top which has a slight recess and a plexi glass insert glued in place. When I got this thing the plexiglass was missing, someone had it tarped over with Gorilla tape. I cleaned and soda blasted the frame, measured and cut a new 3/16" piece of plexiglass to fit. For the first few weeks all was well, till the sealer let go.
I used marine grade urethane the first time, when that let go I tried the black urethane they glue car windshields in with but it too came unstuck from the plexiglass. Finally, just before winter I sealed it with Butyl rubber tape and it lasted only 4 months, the plexi glass blew off the minute the temps dropped below freezing.
I've cleaned both surfaces with alcohol, the metal frame is primed with self etching primer and each sealer adhered fine to the painted surface, its the plexi it won't stick too.
I'm at the point where I'm thinking of just cutting a steel panel and welding in a metal cover. If the plexi fit over the vent, it would have half a chance but the plexi glass just sits on top in a recessed ledge.
Replacing the whole vent would be nearly impossible since this the surrounding frame or reinforcement in the fiberglass roof is about 26"x22" and its corrugated to match the shape of the roof.
All of the newer style vent covers are flanged and fit over or contain the hinge, on this one the hinge and lifting frame are all part of the main assembly.
At this point I'm thinking welding on a solid top may be the only option if I can't get something to make the plexiglass stick to the steel. So far its blown off in the yard, its never made it to the road yet. It seems like the adhesive just can't take extreme temps.
Does anyone have any suggestions before I fire up the welder?
Its a bit different than most, the entire vent is steel other than the very top which has a slight recess and a plexi glass insert glued in place. When I got this thing the plexiglass was missing, someone had it tarped over with Gorilla tape. I cleaned and soda blasted the frame, measured and cut a new 3/16" piece of plexiglass to fit. For the first few weeks all was well, till the sealer let go.
I used marine grade urethane the first time, when that let go I tried the black urethane they glue car windshields in with but it too came unstuck from the plexiglass. Finally, just before winter I sealed it with Butyl rubber tape and it lasted only 4 months, the plexi glass blew off the minute the temps dropped below freezing.
I've cleaned both surfaces with alcohol, the metal frame is primed with self etching primer and each sealer adhered fine to the painted surface, its the plexi it won't stick too.
I'm at the point where I'm thinking of just cutting a steel panel and welding in a metal cover. If the plexi fit over the vent, it would have half a chance but the plexi glass just sits on top in a recessed ledge.
Replacing the whole vent would be nearly impossible since this the surrounding frame or reinforcement in the fiberglass roof is about 26"x22" and its corrugated to match the shape of the roof.
All of the newer style vent covers are flanged and fit over or contain the hinge, on this one the hinge and lifting frame are all part of the main assembly.
At this point I'm thinking welding on a solid top may be the only option if I can't get something to make the plexiglass stick to the steel. So far its blown off in the yard, its never made it to the road yet. It seems like the adhesive just can't take extreme temps.
Does anyone have any suggestions before I fire up the welder?
Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum width.
