Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 09-06-2019, 08:36 AM   #1
Bus Geek
 
musigenesis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 6,995
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
Help with new LEDs

I bought six new Grand General 7" LED sealed lights for the back of my bus. My old lights were all leaking badly due to failed seals. The problem I'm facing is how to install these so that they will be watertight. The original lights consisted of the plastic face attached to a metal plate, with a gasket between this plate and the bus skin; the lights were attached with sheet metal screws into the skin.

These new lights do not have a metal backing plate (they're all plastic plus the gasket). The skin on my bus where these lights go is now slightly warped and floppy (from some rust on the inside), so to stiffen the skin and ensure a good contact with the gasket I'm putting a piece of 1/8" galvanized steel across the holes on the inside (I'll be riveting this plate to the skin). I'm then going to put tapped holes in this plate for attaching the lights.

My problem is that the four screw holes on the lights are outside of the gasket, so I think those holes may leak a little bit. I could use seam sealer on the holes, but then I would not be able to easily remove the lights if necessary. Maybe I should use rivnuts here instead of tapped holes?

What's the best way to install lights like this in a watertight manner?

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0408.png
Views:	4
Size:	633.8 KB
ID:	37160

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0409.png
Views:	3
Size:	507.0 KB
ID:	37161

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0410.png
Views:	3
Size:	565.4 KB
ID:	37162

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0411.png
Views:	3
Size:	519.7 KB
ID:	37163

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0412.png
Views:	3
Size:	555.0 KB
ID:	37164

__________________
Rusty 87 build thread
musigenesis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 12:42 AM   #2
Bus Nut
 
T-Bolt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 332
Year: 2003
Engine: DT530
Rated Cap: 84
Any auto parts store will sell sheet gaskets. They are for cutting your own if what you need is no longer available. Buy, trace, cut, install.
__________________
https://eternitybus.com
T-Bolt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 12:47 AM   #3
Bus Geek
 
musigenesis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 6,995
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
Quote:
Originally Posted by T-Bolt View Post
Any auto parts store will sell sheet gaskets. They are for cutting your own if what you need is no longer available. Buy, trace, cut, install.
My lights all came with gaskets. My problem is how to waterproof the screws (and screw holes) that hold the lights on.

Weirdly, BTW, when I was first trying to fix my original lights (where the gaskets had all failed and allowed serious leakage) none of the auto parts stores in my area had any sheet gasket material in stock.
__________________
Rusty 87 build thread
musigenesis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2019, 07:41 PM   #4
Bus Geek
 
o1marc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
Quote:
Originally Posted by musigenesis View Post
My lights all came with gaskets. My problem is how to waterproof the screws (and screw holes) that hold the lights on.

Weirdly, BTW, when I was first trying to fix my original lights (where the gaskets had all failed and allowed serious leakage) none of the auto parts stores in my area had any sheet gasket material in stock.
Why not replace the original gaskets, they are readily available for a couple bucks. The screws are self sealing, why the need for more waterproofing. It's how they did at the factory, mine are still good after 20 years.
o1marc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2019, 07:48 PM   #5
Bus Geek
 
musigenesis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 6,995
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc View Post
Why not replace the original gaskets, they are readily available for a couple bucks. The screws are self sealing, why the need for more waterproofing. It's how they did at the factory, mine are still good after 20 years.
The original backup lights were dead, and the other four were red (I wanted the turn signals to be amber) so I would have had to replace four anyway. My screws maybe intended to be self-sealing but weren't so the screw holes themselves are now corroded.
__________________
Rusty 87 build thread
musigenesis is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:30 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.