bobreg1
Quebec
New Member
Joined: 09/29/2011
View Profile
 Offline
|
Hi,
I own a 2005 Roadtrek 210 with the Air Conditioning unit enclosed in the roof, at the back of the RV.
To access the A/C one needs to remove the access panel that is attached to the roof and to the back of the RV.
When the panel was removed by a repair chop this summer, they stripped most of the screws that retain the panel.
Now I need to also remove the panel to seal a leak around the A/C. I would like to find a way to properly re-install that panel by adding some mechanical mean instead of screwing directly in the fiberglass. Since I cannot access underneath when the panel is in place I cannot hold nuts to install a bolt.
Does anyone have any idea how to fit something to screw in under the panel, a kind of edge clip or else?
Thank you for your help.
Bob
|
pulsar
Lewisville, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 12/30/2001
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Moved from Forum Technical Support.
|
retraite
Wanderin' about
Senior Member
Joined: 04/08/2005
View Profile
|
A sawzall and a good size maul oughta take care of it.
That said, others may have a much better idea.
Cheers.
|
FLSTFI
USA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/12/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Take a look at "nutserts". They work good on thin metal.
If it is fiberglass a molly bolt might work.
|
1775
NY
Senior Member
Joined: 09/30/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
This may be just too obvious, but why can't you use a larger diameter sheet metal screw in the holes that were stripped? What did the repair shop use to replace the panel? Small toggle bolts might work - when you remove the panel after that they will fall into the shelf below the A/C unit but I believe you should be easily able to retrieve them there and just slip them through the holes after that for reinstall- trick is finding stainless steel toggle bolts that won't rust. Possibly, look for these where marine hardware is sold.
Roadtrek 190 Popular 2011
Meryl and Me Hit the Road
|
|
|
Handbasket
Asheville, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 01/17/2003
View Profile
|
There are a lot of tricks for stripped holes... heck, I've used split matchsticks & Elmer's to tighten up woodscrews.
Unfortunately, I don't have a clear picture of how RT put that cover on, never having had the one on my '02 C190P off. If the stripped hole is in a thin tab or edge of fiberglass, I'd maybe try filling the hole with good-quality 5-minute epoxy, letting it set, then drilling a small starter hole in it. If I wanted to go more elaborate, I'd thicken the underside of the tab or edge with some small pieces of woven fiberglass cloth soaked in epoxy, if it's accessible.
Jim, "Get yer haggis right here! Chopped heart and lungs, boiled in a wee sheep's stomach! Tastes as good as it sounds!"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison (aka 'Loafer's Glory') www.tigervehicles.com
|
WaterDaisy
Beaufort
Full Member
Joined: 01/15/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
You have to glue something to the underside of the stripped out hole. If much mechanical stress was involved, there are several types of stainless fasteners that would work. No more strength than to just hold these covers in place, I would caulk small blocks of good quality wood under the holes and run the screws into them.
Neal 05C210P "Daisy II"
"fast enough to get there.....slow enough to see" JB
|
bobreg1
Quebec
New Member
Joined: 09/29/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Hi, I finally can come back to my post.
Thank you all for your answers.
I used the wrong word when I wrote stripped. In fact they pushed some of the nuts inside which fell into an inaccessible place.
I like the ''Nutsert'' approach. I didn't know it existed. I'll try to find some at the hardware store. If I do not find them I may, as suggested, plug the hole with some epoxy and screw directly into the epoxy or drill other holes and screw in the fiberglass. However, I am concerned it won't be strong enough. What do you think?
Thank you again.
Bob
|
CJBill
Rockville Md.
Senior Member
Joined: 10/09/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I guess I don't understand this. I have a 05/06 190 Popular and reading postings about removing and replacing the A/C covers my understanding was that they are held on by something called "well-nuts" and that Home Depot calls them
"expansion nuts fine thread" #10-32 x 1 1/16" 4 B Steel Rubber. Since I have read more than one post indicating that these are what are needed and that if the cover is removed that one should use new nuts when reinstalling the covers I purchased a set. I have been intending to but have not actually removed the covers yet so I can not say personally that this info is correct but I have seen this info posted more than once in response to this problem. It might be worth while to go to Home Depot and look at one and see if it is what you need.
Bill
CJ is the better half.
05/06 Roadtrek 190 Popular
Rockville MD
|
