Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 18:08:12 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Seeking advice for installing poptop seal
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk2tO-2YzvFGy7DqGRd-+2=TNh4-p0PWTvDkvLqD8iwybg@mail.gmail.com>
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According to the BD site, the front top seal does have metal clips. You can use a rubber hammer on the bottom seal and just work the top front seal on with your hands. You will not need to pinch it on with pliers, unless you screw up, and then you'll need to pinch it back into shape when it's off the top (BTDT).
Do not use any sealant, and the metal clips are aluminum, not the steel that rusted out on the original seal.
Now is a good time to remove the top, clean it inside and out, re-paint it, replace the skylight seal, replace all the fasteners with stainless steel, add gas assist springs, and add a new three window canvas. Oh, right, you only have four days . . .
But then again I did all this in four days.
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Jim Felder
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 5:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Seeking advice for installing poptop seal
Thanks, Marc. I have leave in the Westy for four days on Thursday, and wanted to install the new seal on wednesday before I left. I just didn't want to open a can of worms that would jeapordize the trip.
In observing the new trim, I see that the metal reinforcement comes to a crease at the bottom, where hammering it on to the thickness of the fiberglass top is going to spread the sides out away from the top. I can see where you would have to crimp around with pliers after hammering it on and spreading the sides apart. It would be better if it were made in a tight-fitting U-shape, I think, but it looks good and I can deal with it.
My present seal is ripping loose from the padding, leaving especially the back open to the suction of driving. That pulls air in and baloons my poptop inside up front, and probably lets in more noise than I know. Not to mention sucking in rain to the canvas sides while I drive.
Thanks,
Jim
On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 7:27 PM, Marc Perdue <mcperdue@gmail.com> wrote:
> Jim,
>
> A rubber hammer is the right tool, if you need it. My experience was
> that the weatherstrip was slightly loose, very easy to get on, even at
> the back of the poptop. Once installed, I squeezed it slightly with
> pliers taking care not to damage the weatherstrip, to get it to crimp
> on. It has metal inside. You shouldn't need any kind of gasket
> sealer/weatherstrip cement to hold it in place. Where I would use that
> is on the rubber weatherstrip at the front of the poptop; that one
> comes off regularly and doesn't have metal in it to grip the fiberglass.
>
> Marc Perdue
>
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 7:10 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Just received my new Bus Depot poptop seal. Anyone done this
> > recently who can give me some advice as to how to install, what to
> > look out for? Looks like a rubber hammer is the tool of choice, but
> > wondering about getting
> it
> > right around the rear of the poptop.
> >
> > TIA,
> >
> > Jim
> >
>
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