In a message dated 15/05/2007 2:47:33 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes: What is the best way to lubricate the sliding door? Mine has gotten very noisy and feels like the wheel at the bottom is sticking or dirty.
Todd, what may seem like a simple job of lubricating the track the rollers ride on is not in fact the entire story. The rollers, three at the centre track and one at the bottom track all have replaceable sealed ball bearings in them. If the grease inside these ball bearings has dried up no amount of lubricating the track will help. The only way is to remove the rollers, clean them and if the ball bearing is still good pry off the seal, grease the bearing and re-install the seal. Otherwise replace the ball bearing. The tracks should be kept free of grease as that will aid in the accumulation of dirt, sand and other debris which will cause the rollers more problems. I spray the tracks with a light coating of Krown Rustproofing Oil and keep an eye on them for dirt build up. I am also now experimenting with covering the tracks where the rollers ride with plastic or nylon to keep the painted surface from being broken and causing rusting. So far this looks to be working but the rollers need to be reduced in diameter to allow for the thickness of the plastic material I'm using. Still searching for alternatives. Cheers, Frank Condelli Almonte, Ontario, Canada '87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )_ Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html) - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley_ Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm) _ BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10, 2007 |
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