Need Help Replacing Servie Panel

ws...you may want to read thru this and see if anything fits your situation. Brian's basement

pjay9 wrote:
I think you did well...considering all the tiny spaces. Maybe too late to do but would it be possible to install the cover panels and use a gasket instead of sealant? Did you do any insulating while in there?

I left the original foam insulation and I will use some caulk on the cover panels. There was no caulk on the panels when I removed them and I think that since they are at the very bottom of the TC, it might be best not to caulk them so that they will drain freely. At some point in the future, I may replace the panels with plastic ones.

BillL1356 wrote:
Dissimilar metals in contact will cause galvanic corrosion. You need to dialectically isolate the connection. I would suggest using a bituminous coating on both the Al and galvanized steel. I would also use stInless steel hardware, preferably 316L.

Yeah, I thought about all that but the rig is nine years old and all of the original bolts and screws are galvanized into aluminum and there is absolutely no corrosion evident. I fiqure that my repair should last at least another nine years.

I think you did well...considering all the tiny spaces. Maybe too late to do but would it be possible to install the cover panels and use a gasket instead of sealant? Did you do any insulating while in there?

Dissimilar metals in contact will cause galvanic corrosion. You need to dialectically isolate the connection. I would suggest using a bituminous coating on both the Al and galvanized steel. I would also use stInless steel hardware, preferably 316L.

Finished this job up today. I rebuilt my service center yesterday. You will recall that when I dropped the belly panels, a peice of broken frame fell out. It was the front driver's side frame supporting the water and black tank. The welds at the top, bottom and side had all broken. The center verticle brace was also broken at the bottom weld. I repaired these using galvanized T and Angle brackets and self drilling hex heads. The locations were extremely tight so I drilled pilot holes with my Dremel with flex extension and then the self drilling bolts using a very small battery driver with as many as four driver extensions. Finally, just for insurance, I bolted a thick galvanized strap from the upper to the lower frame. I made a right angle on one end and a 90 degree twist to meet the lower frame. At one point, I thought that I would have to drop the tanks to do this repair, the dremel drill flex extention saved the day. Kind of like a dentist drill. I think that the set up is more solid than new. I screwed the belly panels back on and I will seal the joints later.

A sign shop can make vinyl transfer labels. Will look better than factory. How come you didn't wire a 12v or 110v outlet into the old phone jack? HEHE!!! LOOKS GOOD!!!

Spent most of the day rebuilding the service panel. I installed the new reinforced panel, replaced some crappy plastic water fittings with Shark bite bronze, insulated all of the water lines, glued in a liner of bubble wrap (old windshield sunscreen), installed a new outside shower. I will make some lables for the various valves. I am thinking about printing some decals for this, but I want something that will be water proof, maybe someone has a suggestion about this.
I will say that aluminum pop rivets are and portable drill/screw drivers are great inventions.
Tomorrow, I will tackle the broken frames holding up the water and black tanks. Here' the almost finished pic.

You can ask the Mod to remove the double posting! At least I got a double.

Hokey Smoke...