Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 08:28:56 -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: <CAEwp_cR0yzTVec8gcU8UQfJTgt0Ouo2zGzjyx8wJkb4T3qA5Nw@mail.gmail.com>
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What happened to me with the front seal is I pushed it too hard and ended up rolling it off the edge, which opened the clips too far. Easy to pinch back down though. And yes, it does shrink a bit, and I used black window sealant to cover the gap. The only thing better about the original seal is it was one piece, but the steel clips were short lived.
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Marc Perdue
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2014 7:33 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Seeking advice for installing poptop seal
Jim, the rubber hammer is only for standby, really, and gentle nudging to
push it on the rest of the way. Not enough force to spread the metal clip.
Stuart, when I bought my seals quite a few years ago now, the one for the
front of the popup did not have metal in it. The one for the luggage rack
and the one for the back part of the popup do.
Tom, right about not cutting it short, but I think it's the rubber strip
for the front of the popup that shrunk on mine. If I do it again, I think
I'll put weatherstripping sealant between the two to hold it together and
make it look better; that or black caulk...
Marc
On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 11:36 PM, Tom Buese <tantonbz@gmail.com> wrote:
> I installed this on my westy several years ago, make sure to cut it long,
> so that if/when it shrinks/expands from the temp being cold or hot, you
> don't end up w/ a gap at the ends. You can always trim it if too long, but
> not if you pulled it too tight & it isn't long enough.
> Worked slick w/o any glue, etc & just a rubber hammer to firm it up to the
> poptop.
>
> YMMV,
>
> Mr. BZ
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 9:08 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > 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
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Tom Buese
>
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