Community Forums

davydee · 06-09-2009, 07:27 AM

OK - so newbie here finally realizes that the interior trim around the cutouts for the sildes in the Excel is held by a gazillion of those trim fasterners / screws.

(The

is because I spent an hour and a half checking the exterior ones and then notice those interior ones when I moved a slide.) What's the best way to reach them? Bump the slides so I can get a screw driver in there, but leave enough room to use a step stool so I can reach over the top of the slide? David

MakinSmoke · 06-09-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davydee

OK - so newbie here finally realizes that the interior trim around the cutouts for the sildes in the Excel is held by a gazillion of those trim fasterners / screws.

(The

is because I spent an hour and a half checking the exterior ones and then notice those interior ones when I moved a slide.) What's the best way to reach them? Bump the slides so I can get a screw driver in there, but leave enough room to use a step stool so I can reach over the top of the slide? David

David,
I've been watchin your thread off and on all day...I think you have stumped the techies!!! I love it.

Your approach is exactly what I do and by the way, a very worthwhile project because I found many of them loose. No one told to do this but I started using the lightest grade Loctite so I could slow down the backing out.

Workshop · 06-09-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "John Galt"

David, I've been watchin your thread off and on all day...I think you have stumped the techies!!! I love it.

I saw the post this morning and didn't have time to reply...

David, this seemed so easy__thought you were setting us up!

Here are two pictures of the interior trim around my slide. One is of the side wall and the other is above the slide.

For simplicity...I have checked my interior screws with the slides in or where the screws are comfortable to get to. The sofa slide if available on both sides. The entertainment slide, has the kitchen counter/stove obstructing easy access unless the slide if fully in.

The second photo is what you have already figured out...move the slide out far enough to reach the screws. In my case about a foot or so. Using a small ladder or step stool, check the top screws.

Sides where comfortable__top where you can reach. I use a Bosch Drill/Driver alot ( couldn't link for some reasom !!!) and any type with a cluch should work. I set the clutch to where I have the screw seat but not hard enough to possibly strip the grip if there is 'soft' wood. Remember mine isn't new. Makes fast work checking screws. You just have to find your 'setting'.

For infomation...was there a reason for checking your screws.....or was it all the talk on the Forum about screws? If you pull 10 exterior screw out on my 2001 model, you might find some level of rust on 8 of them. The one area that I've found that were the worst was behind the vinyl trim inserts.

If you look at the short wall above the slide...you will see prior water damage to the interior panel. Prior owner had some repairs done to the area between the entry door and slide. Didn't notice this area showing effects until after I purchased the unit. Everything seems 'solid' but this is the project that I have been putting off until I have enought "Oak Leaf' to get it done correctly, since it might take some time and not knowing what to expect. This is the reason I wanted the paneling from behind the sofa when I did the storage extention project.

Any advice I can give is keep you RV sealed...its not an Excel thing...they all do it and you have to inspect these things all the time.

MonacoMama · 06-10-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

...Sides where comfortable__top where you can reach. I use a Bosch Drill/Driver alot ( couldn't link for some reasom !!!) and any type with a cluch should work. ...

Work...
Would this be the photo?

davydee · 06-10-2009, 07:27 AM

Thanks!!! Yep - the reason for checking was that I found one missing, so off I went. I believe I tightened a couple of dozen and replaced two. Just wasn't expecting the inside ones! David

Workshop · 06-10-2009, 07:40 AM

MM this is the one I use when checking screws...and for general fasteners 'driving'. Have two of the others when more muscle is needed?!?!

Don't know why I couldn't link the site yesterday as it alway worked before, somewhat easier now than the older software when linking. I just pasted this picture, not knowing if I could__but there it is.