Door repairs

[Pete Masterson]

Rattles ... yes, I have 'em... Lots of 'em ...

The previous owner obviously had gone to some trouble chasing after rattles as I've found bits of foam tape on edges of window blinds, and extra leg installed under the dining table (good job, I didn't realize it was an extra until I pulled the table out to install the new flooring), and other efforts noticed on close inspection. However, dishes and other things in cabinets -- and the cabinets themselves -- along with basement items and many other things all can vibrate and rattle.

I'm not particularly pleased to find the occasional screw or washer laying on the floor -- having fallen from who knows where! 

But, so long as I can turn up the volume on the radio sufficiently, the rattling isn't too bothersome. 

The one variable I've noticed is that prevailing winds can affect the rattles/wind noises. If the wind is generally from the right, one set of windows sings is song of joy ... wind from another direction will set up a different tune. While our car is generally one of the least noisy -- I've grown accustomed to the songs of the road sung by my 'bird and I often consider the comment of a more experienced RVer who reminded me, it's like having a Richter 8 earthquake in your home each time you drive the coach...

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jun 13, 2008, at 10:10 AM, David Brady wrote:

Let us know what you find out Pete. I assume that the plastic channel was
installed by Peninsula. It's possible that it was added later by BlueBird. Sure
does work. To cinch the screen I use a pen, or similarly skinny object, and
shift the plastic channel towards the rear of the bus. The channel then rides
up on the curvature of the window, at the corner, and forces the screen
upward "clamping" it into the window. My windows are silent. No high
pitch tones either. The trouble with this fix, as with any rattle fix, is that
we've just peeled the onion; i.e, those rattling screens cover up a lot of
other noises that you didn't know existed.

David Brady


Pete Masterson wrote:

That sounds like exactly what I need. There's a lot of rattling going on with a couple of the windows. But I also get wind noise (high-pitched whistle). Due to the age of my windows, the sealing simply seems to be worn down. It hadn't occurred to me before, but I'll contact Peninsula Glass and see if they have any ideas on how to renew the weather stripping.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jun 13, 2008, at 9:42 AM, David Brady wrote:

What makes noise on my side windows are the screens - they rattle
over bumps. I found that Penisula Glass put a plastic channel at the
base of my screens that slides in another extruded channel in the
window frame. The plastic piece is a few inches shorter than the window
frame. It's purpose is to cinch the screen into the extruded window
frame to prevent rattling. It works. If you don't have such an item,
you can probably get it from Peninsula. It's a simple matter to pop
out the screen, seat the plastic channel, and re-insert the screen.

David Brady,
'02 LXi, NC

Pete Masterson wrote:

I actually only replaced the outside edge, top and bottom but not the hinge-edge of the weather stripping. The hinge edge was more bother, so I put it off. I then noticed that the wind noise I was getting had gone away.

I also got rid of some wind noises in the door window by installing some weather stripping there, too. I used a kind of 'fur' stuff -- stiff fibers about 1/16" long that stick up from a 3/16" sticky tape.

I have a bit of similar wind noise from the driver's side window as well. Installing a bunch more of the fur-stuff is on my to do list. 

These kinds of things are endless -- I have several of the other windows that need troubleshooting for rattles and wind noise as well. Difficulty there is that it helps to be able to sit/stand near the window and experiment to find exactly where the noise/air leak is coming from. I can't do that while I'm driving. Wife won't drive the bus. So I need to wait for a day when there's gale force winds blowing so I can fiddle with the windows while parked... (We don't get many of those days around here.)

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jun 13, 2008, at 6:46 AM, Gregory OConnor wrote:

The most annoying noise resulting from wind at the entry door comes 

from atop the passanger seat. 1- opening up the airvent pressurizes 

the cab enough to keep air from entering.(close rear windows also) 2-

Saying "What,,, What,,,, What,,," is effective in reduction of seat 

noise.  I don't get the 'skin the cat anology' but these are two of 

those other ways.

Less weather strip is needed at the hinge side.  too much will lift 

the hinge and soon distort.  hollow strips seem to seal better with 

less pressure but when you distort the mechanics, you end up needing 

newspaper sticking out the jam. 

GregoryO'Connor

94ptRomolandCa

 --- In "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com", David Brady "dmb993@..." 

wrote:

Yes, that piano hinge doesn't help. It was okay on a school bus

(with 2 doors meeting in the center), but it's not quite good 

enough

on a single door motorhome. What we need is a true automotive

style door hinge, which pulls the door out away from the vehicle

rather than a piano hinge which severely pinches the weather 

stripping

adjacent to the hinge. Alas, we're probably stuck with it.

David

'02 LXi, NC

Pete Masterson wrote:

I've examined the door geometry very closely. It doesn't seem 

like 

there's any real solution -- it appears to be a "feature" (as in 

"that's not a bug, it's an undocumented feature")... When my 

weather 

stripping was failing, the door was easier to close, but then 

there 

were some air leaks and wind noise. Once I renewed the weather 

strip 

(with a profile that was quite similar to the original) then the 

door 

was a bit harder to close, but the air leaks and wind noise was 

gone. 

I've adjusted to it and have become accustomed to using a firm 

hand 

when closing the door. It's not really an excessive amount of 

force, 

but it is rather more than is required for most vehicles. I 

chalk it 

up to being a Blue Bird quirk.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

aeonix1@... <"aeonix1"@...>

On Jun 12, 2008, at 6:48 PM, brad barton wrote:

Pete, 

That is exactly what happens on mine.  Very frustrating.  Also 

no 

real way that anyone knows of to adjust it.

Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@... <"bbartonwx"@...>

    ------------------------------------------------------------

------------

    To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"

    <"WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com">

    From: aeonix1@... <"aeonix1"@...>

    Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:56:22 -0700

    Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Door repairs

    I'll note that the door on my coach must be shut with 

authority

    (like you mean it) or the automotive-type lock won't latch

    properly. This was the situation with the original weather

    stripping and with the weather stripping I installed. Once 

the

    automotive latch is properly activated, then the dead bolt 

lines

    up properly. 

    If you try to open the door with the dead bolt locked, then 

when

    the automotive latch releases, the pressure on the dead 

bolt is

    sufficient that the solenoid won't move it. Depending on 

which

    side of the door you're on, you either have to pull or push 

on

    the door to relieve the pressure on the dead bolt, then the

    solenoid will through the bolt.

    Pete Masterson

    '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

    El Sobrante CA

    aeonix1@... <"aeonix1"@...>

    On Jun 11, 2008, at 8:22 PM, Gregory OConnor wrote:

        Ryan, when I use the keyless on my '94 I have to push 

on the

        door to 

        line up the deadbolt. This is all done blind folded as 

I cant

        see or 

        feel what is going on in the jamb.  I think someone 

replaced the 

        seal with a too ambitious foam/rubber  product. fat 

seals endup 

        causing the door operator to slam and place a hard turn 

on the 

        lock.  One other issue is that the door on my 94 is 

alumnium and 

        swells more than the steel frame in the sun. just some 

things to 

        consider with your project

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