There are three front windows in my old Avondale. The strips between the windows do get full of algae so now and again I open the windows to clean the strips. All was going well until the front offside widow slipped from its seal on the top hinge. Fortunately I held on to it and it is intact. Initially it wouldn't slide back in so I removed the seal and used some Lithium grease as a lubricant and have managed to refit the window. The Lithium grease I used contains some petroleum distillates. I know that petroleum distillates aren't good for rubber so maybe it will damage the seal. Can anyone advise what lubricant I should have used. Thanks
Thanks. That was my first go to thought. It didn't work so I tried the Lithium Grease that I use for my steadies. Not sure if it is right for seals. I've been doing a bit more research and looks like I should have used a silicone lubricant.
Try brake fluid BUT be careful it doesn't come into contact with the window ( I would suggest covering it up well) and only using sparingly.. methalated spirits will remove any residues
Thank you, I'm away in the caravan for a few nights shortly. As things stand the window is back in and secure. I appreciate all the advice and will have another look when the caravan is back on the drive.
Some of the recommendations above are absolute death to Acrylic windows! Contact with them will cause irreversible damage, either instant softening/clouding of the plastic or longer term crazing and weakening leading to likely mechanical failure!
Acrylic is not very resistant to most Esters, Ketones, Aromatic hydrocarbons, Chlorinated hydrocarbons, in layman's terms that's most things with a smelly solvent that evaporates quickly! As well as Brake Fluid and Methylated Spirits!
It may be too late to stop any damage as Lithium Grease is usually petroleum based! Best clean up thoroughly ASAP with nothing stronger than detergent, NO SOLVENTS!
Use detergent (washing up liquid) as a lubricant, or a Silicone lubricant, but be careful that doesn't have anything else harmful in it by way of propellants/additives in aerosols! Some silicone lubricants claim safe for use on plastics. Thetford's toilet seal lubricant is often recommended for stopping rubber seals sticking to windows, so seems to be OK.
As to the chemical resistance of the rubber seals themselves, that's a bit of an unknown, as many different types of rubbers out there, some more resistant than others, probably best to get the Lithium grease off and play safe!
I wonder what components are present in vehicle brake systems and what are the components made from...also what is the type of liquid is used to manufacture brake fluid?
Quote: Originally posted by Toad acaravan on 06/5/2024
I wonder what components are present in vehicle brake systems and what are the components made from...also what is the type of liquid is used to manufacture brake fluid?
It used to be a vegetable based oil, hence it's propensity to absorb atmospheric moisture and need frequent changing, but had a few cars in recent years with different and incompatible fluids to the old stuff - remember old style fluid stripping paint VERY effectively!!!! .... not sure about modern stuff.
One of the challenges with brake fluid is finding something with a consistent viscosity over quite a wide temp range, otherwise the brake peddle effort would vary greatly between cold and hot days, AND it has to not degrade/alter is characteristics when subjected to VERY high temperature from brake components when braking exceptionally hard!
The components in a brake system are made from steel, aluminium, synthetic rubbers, plastics and probably a few brass bits. Quite a range of materials to consider, and avoid chemical damage and electrolytic reactions by the fluid!
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Topic: Refitting Old Van front windows
via mobile 05/5/2024 at 9:43pm
