Today we remove and replace the back window; new butyl and wood framing attention.
I'm kind of a checklist guy. Generally, every morning I'll make a short (some days longer) list of what I want/need to do that day. And then if I'm not careful, I misplace the list somewhere. Usually by the radio.
Oh - I check the list all through the day! Every time I change the station when a tax relief or Proactive commercial comes on! At least it's not like the evening news when we get inundated with all the chemical commercials for medications, where we're supposed to put these wide variety solutions into our bodies to solve problems we haven't even thought about until marketers tells us we need to.
But that's what they make mute for. And then a clever person can watch those five minutes of marketing in between 30-60 seconds of news highlights, and make up fantastic stories about many lovely things - like camping and fishing and horseback-riding instead of the drugs they're selling. No we don't do cable - too costly. Over the air baby, over the air - that's where it's at!
Now where was I? Oh yeah, lists.
Sometimes, at the end of the day, I'll check the list and all those things I did that haven't been checked off? I'll check 'em off. Then I throw away the list. Because it's therapeutic.
But I guess the point is, I am doing multiple categories of stuff all day, everyday. Today's report is going to try and tame that.
ONE of the things done a few days ago was the back window. Oh it started out with much greater plans than JUST the back window, but for reporting purposes, I'll break it down, so you may see pic hints about other things under way too, and coming up later. We'll get back to those.
So I had stained the left rear wall. And the window needed to come out, because the paneling around it needed attention in the form of shoring up lifting veneer. Remember when I sanded? The glue wouldn't go into the grain from the surface? But I have to pull the left rear window in order to reach the aluminum inner decorative window frame mounting nails! Upon reassembly, I'll make either side removable, without disturbing the other side.
So I was going to...
- Pull they left rear window
- Sand the edge paneling
- Glue or otherwise shore up the lifted veneer
- Pull the rear window
- Pull the left front window (for a goal of the whole left side)
- Reseal the galley window
- Repair the left taillight backing boards
- Examine and repair the metal holes...
It went on from there. No, I didn't get the list done that day, but several things on it!
Here's where I'm working. Just ignore the other stuff, you'll get overwhelmed.
The back window has been leaking during our wet Spring. I've been raising the front, and letting the water roll off. The front cab-over window had a small leak, until lifting, then the back window gets it - bottom right if driving behind.
The eyebrow (rain diverter above the window) had one screw backed out, and rusty. The rest were great, and all tightened well with good bite. I use a hand nut-driver for control in testing bite, then I zip them all out with the power driver.
Pretty old butyl. Pretty dried out. Kind of leaky perhaps.
Then out came the window. Same story there, all screws tested good for bite. Little rust on the threads, except this one, and that one. But mostly pretty good, and like I said, good bite everywhere.
Then I could access the interior window frames and they got removed.
Soon, wood visible.
The framing was all good, but that one spot of veneer needed attention.
Out came the glue and clamps.
And you know, while that dries it's probably easier to sand the wall from outside while standing on my feet, than from inside on my knees while standing on my head!
Here's one of the worst spots.
So while the glue dried, I sanded around the clamped area, getting to it in the end. Some steel brush work, then 60 grit, 100 grit, 220 grit.
By this time I had also prepped the exterior for receipt of the newly butyled window. Butyled? Hey, we're making language here!
Then in the shop, the window got prepped.
And because they day dawned good, and no rain was forecast, and then showers developed, and serious downpour threatened, plans got changed. My jacket got taken on and off all day, but kept nearby.
Soon, it was done and ready for assembly.
Two layers of butyl tape seal...
Good screw bite, good squeeze and ooze.
Then a upper edge butyl trim and prep of the eyebrow to go up.
And window done (well except for trimming butyl in a few days).
Back Window. Check!
