I have finally finished the repair work on my damaged fuel bay door. It took two years to work its way to the top of the list of things to do, but, if I do it today, What will I do Tomorrow?
Another excuse for not getting things done in a timely manner:
https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=post;topic=43127.0;last_msg=433717
I'm learning how to work with polyester resin and glass cloth pretty much from scratch so my end goal is mechanically solid functional and presentable, in that order.
The repair, after cutting away the damage ended up being 55" by 12".
Good job, glass work is not for the faint of heart but looks like your heart is in good shape ^.^d
Hate to tell you, in case someone else hasn't, but the rest of your coach looks kind of crappy now compared to that beautiful fuel door. >:D ^.^d :))
So when do you start on the rest of your coach?
I look at it like re-chroming the trim on an old car. Once you stop it never ends.
We had a water line come out of a fitting, my fault, but the through bays got wet, and the power converter went to power converter heaven. So I installed the spare and ordered a replacement, and everything I still needed to install it on the chassis battery. Up until this point I had managed to fly under the radar.
Next on the list is to replace the air dryer.*
Then two more bay doors not so badly damaged.
Then remove the decals and re-spray the worn through gel coat.
*I'll be more comfortable riding around once that's done.
The first fiberglass project was repairing the roof around the skylight. By the time I stopped cutting I was up to 16 square feet. It's water tight and mechanically sound. The nicest thing I can say about appearances is that it's on the roof.
I'm satisfied with the appearance of the fuel bay door and only time will tell how it lasts.
Whatever went down the side did slightly less damage to the next bay door and the one after that.
I learn new things the same way a child does. I make a mess and learn from what I've done. I do a full critique after a few days, when things look better with the perspective of time, and develop a plan for what comes next based on what I've already learned.
It's either that or lie down and die.
Back up 50 ft and have a beer.
Forget about backing up. Just have the beer. Looks good and much more affordable than having it done by someone else with no concerns about the final project. I hope my fiberglass repair days have past. Great job IMO. So curious, the door was not removable so you could work flat?
Scott
As my screen name implies I'm a retired New England Toolmaker. I fix the stuff that gets broken*. Drilling out the rivets, or removing the gasket frame to get at the door bolts made too many chances for disaster. So a prop rod, a pair of vice grips, and a gallon milk jug re-purposed as a weight made the door a level work place.
*The machine operator doesn't know what happened. Did not make any adjustments. It was like that when I returned from break. No, I didn't try to fix it.
Too funny. I hear the exact same thing everyday at work.
Scott
My favorite:
"Yes the head is broken off. Can you fix?"
"did you try and fix it?"
"No, no not me."
"I'm an expert in these sorts of things, I went to school for this and I can say with some authority that's a tungsten carbide drill broken off in that bolt."
"Really?" he said, peering closely at the broken bolt.
"I" got busted after I drowned the power converter when the lights came back on.
"Why did we have a PD 9260 just lying around?"
At this point I have welding cable, copper lug ends, a brand new hydraulic crimper and the replacement power converter.
Honesty is my best defense.
"I bought it to keep the chassis battery charged"
Lynn didn't ask when, so I'm doing well.
"Why didn't we buy a smart battery charger?"
Uh Oh.
Don't say because this is better.
"This is also a smart charger than can act as backup for the house power converter and the engine driven alternator!"
I live to argue another day.