Leaking fantastic fan - Fiberglass RV
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Old 09-25-2009, 09:15 AM   #1
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On my Casita about a year ago, I had some water that dripped a little bit at corner of the fantastic fan. I looked on top and some of the caulk didn't look as good as I thought it should and re-caulked. Seemed to be ok since then until recently driving in rainstorm. Leaks again.
Is the only way to seal this correctly is to remove it and put a new butyl rubber gasket? I'm not even sure where to get that. Is it in a roll and you put it in place and smash?
Rather not get into that and wondered if maybe there were screws on inside that might be loose or something? Seems like there should be an easier way.
If I need to remove is there an assembly sequence somewhere I can look at?

Thanks for the help, Chris
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Old 09-25-2009, 09:26 AM   #2
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Hi Chris!

I had a leaking FF on my '02 Scamp 16. I was awakened in the middle of the night by getting dripped on in a steady stream! My solution during the night was putting a plastic grocery sack over the vent, and cranking it down... and that did the trick; but in the morning, closer examination showed that the dollops of silicone sealant on most of the screws had lost their adhesion, and the rainwater was just dripping through the screw holes.

Check for obvious signs of poor adhesion of the sealant around the perimeter, but if you roll your fingertip over the screw head sealant, you'll undoubtedly find one or more that have loosened up.

I'd recommend replacing the factory silicone sealant on and around the vent with RV roof acrylic sealant available at most RV stores... you shouldn't have to remove the vent or the existing gasket to do that.

Roger
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Old 09-25-2009, 11:25 AM   #3
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Roger.... thanks
I'll definitely try the outside lke you say.
By the way, there are 4 screws holding the trim plate (garnish) up, inside the camper. What are these threaded into? One of the 4 of mine just pushes into the hole and is hanging in there by almost nothing. Is there just foam or something up there? I tried and tried to get it to grab somethig but no avail.
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Old 09-25-2009, 11:29 AM   #4
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Hi Chris!

I'd recommend replacing the factory silicone sealant on and around the vent with RV roof acrylic sealant available at most RV stores.
Chris...

The manufacturer recommends (and uses) Dicor Lap Sealant 501 LSW. It's a self-leveling lap sealant. I had mine installed with this product last May...no leaks so far.
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Old 09-26-2009, 06:44 PM   #5
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On my new to me Casita I had leaks there too.
I got on the ladder and discovered what looked like 2 or 3 tubes worth of Silicone blobbed all over the fan install.

I took my trusty Fein tool(unbeleivable what this can do) and made short work of removing the entire mess.
I cleaned the area as well as I could and resealed with GE 100 percent silicone per Victors advice.

Today,less than 1 week later I drove with it thru Kentuky,Georgia and Florida in the worst rain I have ever driven through.
I am sitting right now in a campground in Ocala typing this and not a drop got through.

I am even amazed!
It is about how well it is sealed not how much.
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Old 09-27-2009, 01:42 PM   #6
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What is a Fein tool? It sounds like it might be a useful addition to a camper's toolbox.
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Old 09-27-2009, 03:34 PM   #7
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http://www.fein.de/fein-multimaster/us/en/main/

This is a truly amazing tool.
I don't use it every day but when I do it is because nothing else does exactly the same job.
REALLY!

I have had one for years but I noticed they are now on Infomercials too.
Nothing can ruin a good reputation as fast as an infomercial to me but despite this the tool is one serious problem solver.
Along the same lines......Little Giant ladders.
Really worth the money and weight for the utility and security they provide.
But I digress.

The Fein will take off silicone with the scraper like no other method I have tried,and I have tried all of them that I have heard of.

Very pricey but most decent tools are.

Ed
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Old 09-27-2009, 09:35 PM   #8
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Hello,

My neighbor who had an RV repair service for 20 years taught me his way
of installing roof vents and skylights. Whether it is a membrane surface,
fiberglass or metal roof the same method works great.

-Clean the surfaces with denatured alcohol.
-Mount the vent using butyl tape and screws. Make sure the tape is soft and plenty oozes out to trim off.
-Last and most important, use Dicor lap sealant self leveling caulk on all edges and up on vent flange lapping over onto the screw heads.

I have been using this method for years and have never had any leakage
problems.

Good Luck, Larry H
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Old 11-08-2009, 07:42 AM   #9
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Last month in Dallas, we came back to our 2007 13' Scamp and the area of our bed directly below the FF was wet. The next day I borrowed a ladder and sure enough, the sealant covering the rivets has lost it's adherence to the roof/rivets. I went to a RV dealer and he recommended a tube of C10 adhesive( it's in a RED tube). I totally removed the sealant from around the rivets and around the base of the FF. The C10 is self leveling and really did a nice job of neatly covering the rivets and putting a bead around the base of the FF. When traveling home to Iowa, we were in several rain storms so strong we had to pull over on the shouder of the interstate because we couldn't see 10 feet ahead of us. The interior stayed perfectly dry and I inspected the repair job when we got home and everything is stuck down tight. The C10 is great stuff and made to stick to fiberglass. Some of the other sealants are made to stick to rubber roofs so it's important to choose the right product!
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Old 11-20-2011, 11:56 PM   #10
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may try the C10!
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Old 11-21-2011, 10:06 AM   #11
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In a way we all are like dentists. They do not add filling nor caulk around a tooth, they remove the decay down to good and then rebuild. That is what you should do. Remove the unit, clean away the old caulk and apply butyl tape and reinstall. You can seal the screw heads with a dab but the butyl tape should handle any issues. The inside 4 screws just hold the trim in place and are attached to the upper unit. Adding caulk and sealant to an existing leak is fruitless, remove and rebuild the vent opening. Here is a Fein copy cat for a lot less- http://www.harborfreight.com/oscilla...ool-68303.html
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Old 11-21-2011, 10:39 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Z View Post
Roger.... thanks
By the way, there are 4 screws holding the trim plate (garnish) up, inside the camper. What are these threaded into? One of the 4 of mine just pushes into the hole and is hanging in there by almost nothing. Is there just foam or something up there? I tried and tried to get it to grab somethig but no avail.
Just installed a FF on my Trillium 4500. I used stainless steel counter sunk 6-32 machine screws, and nylock nuts on the inside. I was a bit surprised to find that the garnish mounting holes line up exactly with the corner holes on the fan. I ended up using extra long machine screws on the corners and domed nuts. I also used nail polish on the nuts to keep them from getting loose.
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Old 11-21-2011, 11:33 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
In a way we all are like dentists. They do not add filling nor caulk around a tooth, they remove the decay down to good and then rebuild. That is what you should do. Remove the unit, clean away the old caulk and apply butyl tape and reinstall. You can seal the screw heads with a dab but the butyl tape should handle any issues. The inside 4 screws just hold the trim in place and are attached to the upper unit. Adding caulk and sealant to an existing leak is fruitless, remove and rebuild the vent opening. Here is a Fein copy cat for a lot less- Oscillating Multifunction Power Tool
Very right! The seal is made in the lap. If that seal is no good, no amount of glop around the edges will keep the water out for long. This is why care during installation is so critical. One product that has saved me some work though is Capt. Tolleys Creeping Crack Cure. It wicks into the lap and fills the capillary where the water gets in. It has proven quite permanent and leaves no exterior mess.

David
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Old 11-21-2011, 07:52 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
In a way we all are like dentists. They do not add filling nor caulk around a tooth, they remove the decay down to good and then rebuild. That is what you should do. Remove the unit, clean away the old caulk and apply butyl tape and reinstall. You can seal the screw heads with a dab but the butyl tape should handle any issues. The inside 4 screws just hold the trim in place and are attached to the upper unit. Adding caulk and sealant to an existing leak is fruitless, remove and rebuild the vent opening. Here is a Fein copy cat for a lot less- Oscillating Multifunction Power Tool
I smell a Christmas present!
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Old 11-22-2011, 07:38 AM   #15
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Chris, The only way to do this job is like some have said, take the fan out and do it right the first time. I did this to my Scamp this summer, with butyl tape then caulk over the screws like Larry said. By the way I have a Fein tool also and have used it for many projects they work great. Chris the whole project won't take you that long to do either.
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Old 11-27-2011, 09:58 AM   #16
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I agree with everything said about going down to the bare FG and installing the fan the right way. In my case I called the company (Fantistic folks) and got their advice along with a free installation kit (lifetime guarantee means lifetime guarantee). I recommend making the call even if you don't follow the advice they give you. They're just nice supportive folk to talk with. I also want to point out that "good enough tools" (AKA Harbor Freight) sell a knockoff of the vibrating tool for under $20.
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Old 12-09-2011, 08:53 AM   #17
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As a heavy use tool guy that owns the Fein and the Harbor Frieght (my loaner to friends. I don't loan my Fein). The Fein is the best commercial version. The Harbor Freight is the lowest quality but useable. Many other companies make Multi Tools now. Names like Bosch, Porter Cable, Dremel, Rockwell, etc. All work well and are well worth owning for any true DIY type person. No other tool replaces this concept. Name brand blades are expensive and do wear out for cutting. Find one on sale and you will wonder what you did without it. Buy your blades at HF.

A current sale is the Sears cordless model that looks good here:
Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more
$49 on sale.
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Old 12-10-2011, 03:08 PM   #18
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Re: Fein tool

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Originally Posted by Ed Harris View Post
Ed,
I'm not sure which attachment you'd be using for taking off old excess silicone from the outside rivet caps. i LOOKED AT YOUR attached link but really couldn't see something that made sense to me...seemed to be mostly a cutting or sanding tool. Help me understand this a bit better, since I'd like to buy a tool that works for taking off old rock hard sillicone caulking...I've got a bunch of it that I'd like to attack, with my trailer just waiting form me in my garage!
Any help is appreciated!
Barbara
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Old 12-10-2011, 07:05 PM   #19
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Barbara,
The Sears model is cordless and easier to use on the roof. Each attachment has a specific purpose and the instructions will tell you which item will remove paint or tile. Practice on something until you are comfortable with the tool and then use it. They are will turn any labor intensive job into an easy one.
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Old 12-11-2011, 09:02 AM   #20
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Jim & Ed,
Thank you both for your postings back to me, BUT I STILL would LOVE to know WHICH specific attachment you two used (on the Fein, Sear's or Harbor Freight's multi-use tool) in orderto 'sand' off the globs of old ROCK-HARD silicone from rivet caps and the gel-coat fiberglass surface of my trailer WITHOUT HARMING the fiberglass gelcoat. I don't think the manufacturer will specifically name silicone and working on fiberglass when printing directions to use their product. NAME THAT AttACHMENT for me, please!!!!! And anything I should be aware of in trying not to damage (sand, saw or grind through my FB gelcoat).
Thanks!
Barbara
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