|
|
04-21-2015, 07:35 AM
|
#1
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
|
Finding roof leaks
Heavy rains last week demonstrated some issues, and it looks like most are seams, as they all stopped when I moved the bus uphill - all but one. The one dripping on to the driver's dash. The primary suspect is this guy. Not sure what it is or purpose, or even what problems I will cause if I caulk it/remove it?
|
|
|
04-21-2015, 07:49 AM
|
#2
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
|
That should be a vent to let bus breathe, on mine when I removed it, it had a lip upwards about 3/8 inch high, so a leak from there not likely UNLESS the rivets are leaking
can you look inside of it and see if it has a lip?
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
|
|
|
04-21-2015, 08:25 AM
|
#3
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 584
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: I.H.
Engine: DT360
|
Spray some koolaid on the suspected leak spot and see if the color appears inside. Just my 3 cents.
|
|
|
04-21-2015, 08:52 AM
|
#4
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
|
not sure how to look inside of it?
this is what it looks like on the inside.... directly below
looks like mold?
|
|
|
04-21-2015, 09:01 AM
|
#5
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Maryland / Boulder
Posts: 347
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: CAT 3126b Rotella-Chugger
Rated Cap: 72
|
I had one of those. Supposedly it is to allow air in / out for expansion and contraction of the air when the bus is in the sun and for day / night or whatever. Unless your bus is super airtight I don't think it is necessary. I took mine out and patched over it. No issues yet. Mine had that nasty mold under it on the panel not necessarily from leakage but probably just years of air / condensation coming through.
To find leaks, I simply went out in the bus when I had the interior totally stripped (ceiling panels out too) during a heavy rainstorm and made sure I had some bright halogen lights on inside. I had probably 6 or 7 different leak spots on mine, several from the roof hatches which I replaced with units from another member here and resealed. Some were leaky rivets which I just gobbed silicone over. Others were seams at the sheet metal. I used some gooey rubber roof caulk from Home depot to seal ALL seams on the roof (if you PM me to remind me I will link it to you). Finally, I used elastomeric roof paint to paint the roof white (heat reflection) and used a 4" brush over the riveted areas on the roof, and just slathered the pain on there real thick. All the other areas I just rolled it. That took care of all but one of my leaks which came from a side panel gap in an area where a lot of water was running down the side of the bus. That one I just undid / broke off the screws (Thomas built bus which uses screws instead of rivets in many places) and riveted it into place with some automotive seam sealer.
|
|
|
04-22-2015, 06:43 AM
|
#6
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
|
so I simulated a repair, and a rainstorm yesterday, with no leaks. Maybe I will leave the repair and wait for the next rainstorm? I hesitate only because I fear results of removing the vent. Would that not cause MORE moisture?
|
|
|
04-22-2015, 06:50 AM
|
#7
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
|
I have a similar vent that leaks horribly.
My solution was to buy a new rv roof vent. Yeah it requires cutting. But I figure one can't have too much ventilation.
|
|
|
04-22-2015, 08:43 AM
|
#8
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
|
Just remove that that roof vent. It's not needed.
You would be better off adding a vent in the rear cap of the bus at the highest point.
Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."
Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
|
|
|
04-24-2015, 04:15 PM
|
#9
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
|
Well I got to cuttin and pryin today........
then I had to administer a beat-down, to make the roof "flush" for the new patch.
post beat down
patch installed, lotsa sticky jelly underneath and around edges
remnants
results tomorrow after the storms
|
|
|
04-24-2015, 05:08 PM
|
#10
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
|
Great pics.
I like the steps shown in pics form.
Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."
Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
|
|
|
04-25-2015, 06:13 AM
|
#11
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: hills of sw virginia
Posts: 889
Year: 1996
Chassis: thomas
Engine: 8.3 cummins
Rated Cap: 11 window
|
great job,doing the same to mine
|
|
|
04-25-2015, 09:26 AM
|
#12
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
|
so the storms came at 4am, so I dragged my ass out of a warm bed to see the drips, and if I had conquered The Holy.
Results:
Front drip over the dash? GONE
3rd Passenger wind drip? GONE
2 of the 4 rear leaks? Gone, but only 2 of them.
the 2 remaining drips are most likely due to the fact I skipped some rear seams, and was stingy on the other rear seams to conserve the 212 - yes, I knew what I was doing. So I have to crawl back up there, but at least I am confirming the 212 works.
|
|
|
05-03-2016, 03:25 PM
|
#13
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Yarmouth Maine
Posts: 43
Year: 2007
Chassis: Ford E450 Super Duty
Engine: V8 6.0
Rated Cap: 30 animals and 1 human
|
Thanks for your post Dredman ,I'm going through the exact same thing with mine and was debating about the vent and if it had a purpose.
|
|
|
05-03-2016, 05:19 PM
|
#14
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
|
I just do what I am told
|
|
|
05-03-2016, 06:03 PM
|
#15
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
|
So do you take instruction from just about anyone or only Mrs dredman or dredwoman?
|
|
|
05-03-2016, 08:56 PM
|
#16
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
So do you take instruction from just about anyone or only Mrs dredman or dredwoman?
|
HAHA, not back then, that might be why she split?
|
|
|
05-03-2016, 11:03 PM
|
#17
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
|
That seems to be the theme in most of our lives.
I'm happy to be free again. Free like a salmon that finished his work.
|
|
|
05-04-2016, 06:00 AM
|
#18
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
|
When my 1982 model started making too much noise I traded her in for a 92' with a lot less miles.
|
|
|
05-04-2016, 08:57 AM
|
#19
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Birmingham Al
Posts: 602
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Blue Bird
|
Noise was never a real problem with my old '74, she just smoked a lot, and just sat there when you stepped on the gas? But she was comfy - maybe TOO comfy. It got so comfy in fact, it was hard to even get in past all the thick upholstery. Currently looking for a newer, more responsive sports model with low miles.
|
|
|
05-04-2016, 10:13 AM
|
#20
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
|
My 59 thought she was just as good as a newer model. Same equipment my butt.
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|