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Topic: I've got more than one screw loose!! (Read 935 times) previous topic - next topic

I've got more than one screw loose!!

For those owners with the older coaches like our '89 GV you might want to go around the beltline (the molding just above the cargo compartments) and check the screws. Twenty-five of ours were stripped--so bad that turning them in had no effect.  The hole in the steel tubing, not the screw itself. They are #8 x 3/4" long pan head (tapered under the head) Phillips drive stainless screws.
I got tired of them backing out during the summer so I bought #10 x 3/4" long screws and they screw in tight!!

Now I only have one screw loose to worry about. >:D  >:D
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #1 –
Yes this is something I have mentioned on Forum a few times as I think most do not think about them at all. They are on coaches up to 2000 (as mine has them) and every 6 months I go over each one with a hand screw driver and fix or replace them. Luckily I now have all tight ones due to this regime. The roof ones are VERY important (even clearance light ones too)
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #2 –
Yup, next diameter up, same length, Stainless Steel.  Bed with some Boatlife polysulfide or similar on the threads.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #3 –
Good call guys, thanks for the heads up ^.^d going to check ours today.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #4 –
The #10 screws have a slightly larger head dia---.344 dia.
The #8 screws that are on our coaches have a .305 dia. head
The head on the #10 does stick up above the c'sink in the molding so some might want to try a different method of anchoring the old screws.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #5 –
Oval heads do stick up just a little, but are not obtrusive.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #6 –
It is not that the head sticks up "a bit" but the fact that on some of the holes a polishing rag or cloth can catch on the O.D. of the head because the c'sink isn't quite deep enough.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #7 –
Thanks, fellas - all of mine ('92) were loose...

Jim
'92 Grand Villa 36' w/8.3Cummins mechanical
ORED
Build#4062

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #8 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
The #10 screws have a slightly larger head dia---.344 dia.
The #8 screws that are on our coaches have a .305 dia. head
The head on the #10 does stick up above the c'sink in the molding so some might want to try a different method of anchoring the old screws.


 Are the hinges for the bay doors screwed into the same "steel tubing" as the belt line.

 There was a post that I saved about over drilling the hole and inserting a dowel piece to screw into. Should this be done for the bay doors  AND  the belt line. I know that I have to do this because about 1/2 of our belt line is visibly loose, I just don't want to do the belt line and then come back for the bay doors.
  Or is the oversized screw the better fix ????
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #9 –
Bob, I can't answer your question because the bay door hinges on our 1989 GV are on the bottom and are pop riveted on.
Hopefully someone else with your arrangement can answer your question.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #10 –
Bob, I too cannot really tell you but do a test and find out. I would first put some wooden tooth picks (broken in half with a drop of glue on too) into the hole then replce the screw. If it tightens up good you should be ok for 12 months when you do it all again.
My guess is that the door ones go into metal. Another way is to take a length of the trim off and see as this only takes a few minutes to do anyway.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #11 –
Bob
I don't know if your coach is the same as my 93 Grand Villa. There is no metal behind my door hinges or the trim piece. I had to drill oversize holes and insert dowels to secure my bay doors and the trim piece. I used glue on the dowels and silicone on the back of the door hinge and on the stainless steel screws.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Roland Begin –
Bob
I don't know if your coach is the same as my 93 Grand Villa. There is no metal behind my door hinges or the trim piece. I had to drill oversize holes and insert dowels to secure my bay doors and the trim piece. I used glue on the dowels and silicone on the back of the door hinge and on the stainless steel screws.

Roland
Roland. I believe your original post was probably the one that I saved. I guess I will find out what's back there when I try over drilling a hole.
  Just waiting to start. Wettest winter in the willamette valley since 1946.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #13 –
Before I did mine I used some painter's border tape and marked wglhere the holes were for the trim piece. Then I marked where I was going to drill holes for the door hinge. I found that Foretravel used very small and very few screws on the door hinge. They rely on the trim or molding scree to hold the door hinge in place. Only place on this coach that I have ever found too few screws.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: I've got more than one screw loose!!

Reply #14 –
I have removed and replaced the rear fenders on ours in order to replace the air bags. The rear bags are done and will start the front bags this week. I will try to post some photos of the screws behind the trim  piece. The rear fenders were screwed into the same metal as the trim piece. FOT used #8 x 1" phillips tapered flathead screws for the fenders and it appeared to be the same screws as the hinges but I did not remove the bay door hinges.
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota