Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Geodmann on May 17, 2022, 10:47:12 pm

Title: dryer vent cover
Post by: Geodmann on May 17, 2022, 10:47:12 pm
My dryer vent cover came off and it appears that it is only attached with some kind of adhesive and has no mechanical fasteners.  I'm wondering what would be the best product to glue it back on.  Does anyone know what the factory uses to install these?
Title: Re: dryer vent cover
Post by: Woody & Sitka on May 18, 2022, 10:10:20 am
My curb side "taillight cooler" came off this winter during a dump run in Q.  Amazingly, I found it several weeks later off the side of the road.  It was also factory affixed without fasteners.  I don't know what FT used but appears to be thickened epoxy product...adhesives have come a long way in 20 years...I glued it back on with JBWeld.  It's not coming off again and it looks OE except for the scratches and dents from it's brief life as a road frisbee.
Title: Re: dryer vent cover
Post by: Geodmann on June 08, 2022, 10:24:42 am
On the advice of the previous reply I decided to use JB Weld.  Careful masking so as to not make a mess.  Worked pretty well and seems extremely sturdy.  I've attached a photo showing the wall construction for those interested.  I will post a picture of the finished job when I get it.
Title: Re: dryer vent cover
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on June 08, 2022, 11:02:02 am
I have encountered that thick white adhesive stuff under every original part I have removed from our '93 model coach.  It must have been a very high quality product back in the day.  On our coach, even after almost 30 years of exposure to the elements, it is still flexible and extremely strong in "gripping strength".  I haven't found any chemical remover that seems to faze it - the only way I can get it off is by mechanically cutting and scraping.  The factory must have purchased that stuff in 55 gallon barrels, because the assembly line workers were certainly not afraid to apply it in copious quantities at every opportunity.

Title: Re: dryer vent cover
Post by: Barry & Cindy on June 08, 2022, 07:00:25 pm
RV manufactures use a lot of flat Butyl Seal that works very well, is sticky and tricky to clean off.

Amazon.com: Dicor BT-1834-1 1/8" x 3/4" x 30' Butyl Seal Tape : Industrial &... (http://tinyurl.com/2ae96dph)
Title: Re: dryer vent cover
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on June 09, 2022, 04:56:05 pm
I'm thinking that mineral spirits works on butyl. It's either that or acetone. One of the recent sail life videos on YouTube he talked about it. I'm not sure if that's one of the issues I have on my door. When I was inspecting the coach the for the first time the previous owner tried to tell me some crazy story about a repairman cutting his finger or something because the caulk around the bottom of the window on the door was red. Like as if something leaked into it. I just thought it needed new caulk. But then after getting the coach sanded down, all of the caulk removed around the windows for the painting in Mexico last year and then subsequently recaulked , this stuff is coming back . It's kind of a rust looking color but it's not rust. I'm assuming it's some adhesive that was used to help put the door together. Maybe? Either that or whoever put the motion windows in on my coach use something but it's only on the door window so I'm thinking the factory.
Anyone else ever experienced that?
Title: Re: dryer vent cover
Post by: Geodmann on June 09, 2022, 09:01:50 pm
as promised a picture of the re-installed dryer vent cover.  Not perfect, but pretty good.  Also very sturdy.  I don't think there's any chance of it coming off again.