Replacing Emergency Exit Cover

Trying to find the best way to remove/replace the old cover. Hard to see exactly how to remove the opening crank, especially how to get the end of the crank arm to slide off the crossbar in the middle.

REMOVE: unscrew the handle and then remove the two screws on the lift operator gear box (the vent cover will need to be opened a little). Unscrew the crossbar screws at each end of the cross bar and slip the bar off of the lift operator. The cover should flop open.

There should be a screw threaded into each side of the "C" hinge. Remove the two screws and slide the vent cover sideways off the "C" hinge. We sprayed the hinge with silicone lubricant and then used a block of wood and a hammer to get the vent cover off. If didn't come off easily because there was roof patch on the hinge. We removed a great deal of old roof patch material during the replacement.

We're a little confused because the new cover comes with a crossbar and new screws, but the crossbar is not installed. There is also one strip of weather stripping that is not installed. The other three sides are. Might be shipped that way to lessen damage...don't know.

To reinstall, do the same in reverse. Don't forget to replace the little screws in the hinge. It took several tries to get the hinge seated properly. Once we thought it was secure, we would open/close to make sure the hinge was seated right... and then started over because it would just slip right off. The crossbar isn't screwed in place because it has to thread back onto the lift operator. Once the bar is fitted back in place and screwed down, the piece of weather strip can be stuck on last. I do not like the foam weatherstrip. I want to replace it. Probably sometime this spring.

It's not a hard job but it was a bit time consuming for us. Once the cover was reinstalled, we repaired all the roof patch that we removed. It needed it anyway.

I have since added 12vDC fans to the vent. It does not function as an emergency hatch or roof access. But it does open and it doesn't leak. The vent cover doesn't quite close completely due to the fans, so I need a different STYLE of weatherstrip.