Replace A/C gasket as preventive maintenance?
I'm new to travel trailer ownership and have a 2006 Cherokee 28DD. I am not experiencing any problems but was thinking of replacing the A/C gasket as preventive maintenance. Unless I should leave we'l...
Forum Discussion
Very good question and I'm not much help...But I think PM to a/c mounting bolts (ie make sure they are tight) and the actual a/c gasket gets replaced when to compressed at a certain point but not every PM you give it.
Right now we have 2 RV's. On one of them has the "old" style gasket and I remember directions said to replace when gasket was 1/2 way compressed. (I guess I should of measured to see what full size was when it was brand new, so I would know where 1/2 way is). On other RV has a replacement gasket that is different style and has little plastic tabs, those directions said to tighten until gasket bottoms out against the tabs. And I don't remember seeing when to replace that type.
I do know the a/c gasket is on my annual maintenance check list. Six sided bolt, and every year I tighten up (turn bolt) until a new side of the bolt takes the place of the side I just tightened. Or I turn the bolt 1/6 of a turn every year. Our Arctic Fox has a pretty high crowned roof and I easy to see where gasket has a difference of compression between the low side to high side. Also easy to see where a gorilla tightened the high side to much they pulled in the bracket some. I had to beef up the brackets that bolts go through with large fender washers.
I do know next time I need an a/c gasket, the type without the plastic tabs is more user friendly atleast to me.
If you do replace the gasket be very careful of the plastic parts in a/c. I broke one of the plastic "louvers" (the things that direct air flow) and had to special order and paid like $35.00 for a another cheap plastic ONE. And they do get brittle with time. Hope some of this helps.
Right now we have 2 RV's. On one of them has the "old" style gasket and I remember directions said to replace when gasket was 1/2 way compressed. (I guess I should of measured to see what full size was when it was brand new, so I would know where 1/2 way is). On other RV has a replacement gasket that is different style and has little plastic tabs, those directions said to tighten until gasket bottoms out against the tabs. And I don't remember seeing when to replace that type.
I do know the a/c gasket is on my annual maintenance check list. Six sided bolt, and every year I tighten up (turn bolt) until a new side of the bolt takes the place of the side I just tightened. Or I turn the bolt 1/6 of a turn every year. Our Arctic Fox has a pretty high crowned roof and I easy to see where gasket has a difference of compression between the low side to high side. Also easy to see where a gorilla tightened the high side to much they pulled in the bracket some. I had to beef up the brackets that bolts go through with large fender washers.
I do know next time I need an a/c gasket, the type without the plastic tabs is more user friendly atleast to me.
If you do replace the gasket be very careful of the plastic parts in a/c. I broke one of the plastic "louvers" (the things that direct air flow) and had to special order and paid like $35.00 for a another cheap plastic ONE. And they do get brittle with time. Hope some of this helps.
