Changing vent lids
Long overdue, I got busy and changed all three vent lids. It was surprisingly easy, taking less than an hour each.
We have two of these common vents, one with a fan.
When buying a new lid, there is no need to measure anything - they are all 14 inches square but vary in the hinge type. Get a closeup photo of the hinge and you will have no trouble finding the right replacement. Mine have a roll of sheet metal on the lid that slips inside a slightly larger roll on the base.
Removing the lid requires some disassembly from inside to free the arm that raises the lid.
- take out the four screws holding the outer plastic trim frame to the ceiling
- one screw holds the crank handle
- two screws holding the screen can be removed so the screen comes off (great time to debug it. I soaked mine in water to soften the tree sap spots)
- remove two more screws holding the barrel of the crank mechanism
- then the arm can be moved to allow the top end to be pulled out of the metal slide on the lid, through the enlarged opening at one end of the slide
From the roof, my roll in roll hinge has twists of the metal on each end of the roll - one has to be adjusted to allow the lid roll to be pushed out of the base roll.
The new lid came with the metal slide part unmounted; just two small bolts to hold it in place. The new lid slips into the base in the same way the old one came out and needs the twisting with needle nose pliers on both ends.
The Fantastic fan vent cover is a little different. One RV store had no lids in stock and was having trouble finding one for my old model in its catalogs when I gave up. The second RV store had one in stock that apparently fit all manual Fantastic Fans with no rain detector. This lid is removed entirely from the roof - no need to take apart the inside end unless you want to clean the screen.
I just removed the four screws on the hinge and pried the hinge out of the caulking. With the lid free of the base I easily slipped the lift arm out of the slide. Just the reverse for installing the new lid.
What is the difference between a $20 standard lid and the $50 Fantastic lid?
Well, they are the same size and shape. The difference is the metal slide for the lift arm is screwed onto extra plastic bases on one side. (Also two plastic posts that aren't used in my old Fantastic fan.). Perhaps pieces of wood or plastic could be made and glued onto a regular lid to turn it into a fantastic one.
We have two of these common vents, one with a fan.
When buying a new lid, there is no need to measure anything - they are all 14 inches square but vary in the hinge type. Get a closeup photo of the hinge and you will have no trouble finding the right replacement. Mine have a roll of sheet metal on the lid that slips inside a slightly larger roll on the base.
Removing the lid requires some disassembly from inside to free the arm that raises the lid.
- take out the four screws holding the outer plastic trim frame to the ceiling
- one screw holds the crank handle
- two screws holding the screen can be removed so the screen comes off (great time to debug it. I soaked mine in water to soften the tree sap spots)
- remove two more screws holding the barrel of the crank mechanism
- then the arm can be moved to allow the top end to be pulled out of the metal slide on the lid, through the enlarged opening at one end of the slide
From the roof, my roll in roll hinge has twists of the metal on each end of the roll - one has to be adjusted to allow the lid roll to be pushed out of the base roll.
The new lid came with the metal slide part unmounted; just two small bolts to hold it in place. The new lid slips into the base in the same way the old one came out and needs the twisting with needle nose pliers on both ends.
The Fantastic fan vent cover is a little different. One RV store had no lids in stock and was having trouble finding one for my old model in its catalogs when I gave up. The second RV store had one in stock that apparently fit all manual Fantastic Fans with no rain detector. This lid is removed entirely from the roof - no need to take apart the inside end unless you want to clean the screen.
I just removed the four screws on the hinge and pried the hinge out of the caulking. With the lid free of the base I easily slipped the lift arm out of the slide. Just the reverse for installing the new lid.
What is the difference between a $20 standard lid and the $50 Fantastic lid?
Well, they are the same size and shape. The difference is the metal slide for the lift arm is screwed onto extra plastic bases on one side. (Also two plastic posts that aren't used in my old Fantastic fan.). Perhaps pieces of wood or plastic could be made and glued onto a regular lid to turn it into a fantastic one.
