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VAL Digest V1 #151



VAL Digest         Saturday, February 7 2004         Volume 01 : Number 151




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Topics in Today's Digest:

[VAL] RE: Window Frame
[VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant
Re: [VAL] Window Frame
Re: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant
Re: [VAL] RE: Window Frame
Re: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant
Re: [VAL] Stuff on the bottom of the bathtub
RE: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant
[VAL] Furnace and Fridge won't light
[VAL] Re: VAL Digest V1 #150 - Expanding foam for bathtub/shower stall reinforcement
Re: [VAL] model terminology
Re: [VAL] Stuff on the bottom of the bathtub
Re: [VAL] model terminology
Re: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant
Re: [VAL] Stuff on the bottom of the bathtub
RE: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant
[VAL] Re: Polishing FC
[VAL] cant have `em all

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 07:03:15 -0800
From: RJ.Dial@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: [VAL] RE: Window Frame

Only real solution is to take an existing window and your two remaining
sides to a metal fabrication shop (irrigation shops, machine shops,
etc., look in phone book under welding).  Have them duplicate the frame
profiles, referring to the parts you have, by welding up stock
extrusions.  I think it takes about five different extrusions (U
channels, C channels and flat stock).
Best of luck,
RJ
VintageAirstream.com

>
> Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 15:00:28 EST
> From: MrBSA@xxxxxxxxxx.com
> Subject: [VAL] Window Frame
>
> Can someone help me.   I have a 1963 Bambi.   One of the side
> window frames
> is missing two of its four parts.   The top part and one side
> leg is still
> intact.  The other side leg and bottom is missing.  So I have
> one half of a "L"
> and need the other half to make a complete square frame.
> Does anyone have any
> idea as where to get the two parts or a complete frame.  The
> size of the frame
> is approximately 28 3/4 x 18 1/4. I need to get a frame
> before I can start
> asking for help regarding the cranks and glass.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Harris Turner
> 1963 Bambi (with one missing window}

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 08:40:25 -0800
From: "Aaron Bratrude" <abratrud@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant

Hello to all of you!

My name is Aaron Bratrude and I live near Seattle, WA with my wife and 7
month old son. I am as GREEN as they come relative to Airstreams, but
make NO mistake about it, the passion is building exponentially. I am
very excited to be a part of this energetic community.

As for our newly acquired Airstream Travel Trailer (one week ago), we
purchased a 1976 31' Sovereign International Airstream that has been
meticulously maintained over the last 27 years by a retired Airplane
Engineer and Flight Mechanic. Everything is not only original and in
great working order, he had acquired a number of replacement parts for
the trailer over the years and they were included in the deal. And
speaking of vintage classics, we also negotiated in the sale the '77
Chevy Suburban he bought in '77 to tow this monster. Suffice to say
we're thrilled with all of it!!!

I do have a couple of questions and would be grateful for your insight:

1. I am confident that everything works on the trailer, but cannot seem
to get the furnace to fire up. In the '76 Sovereigns, does anyone know
if there is a manual way to fire up a 'pilot light'? I've scoured the
owner's manual and the furnace inserts and manuals and it simply says to
repeat the process of: turn main gas valve ON, move thermostat to start
fan, wait 15 seconds for fan to reach max speed, wait for furnace to
light etc. No warm air, no noise of the furnace gasses being lit, NADA.
Any tips?

2. Same applies to the refrigerator - I can easily view the igniter
flash through the peep hole window in the front of the fridge, but not
able to fire up the gas to test how well the fridge works (like
performing the 'does it make ice' test).

3. My Sovereign's undercarriage was coated with a foam insulation from
stem to stern (and the tanks too). Are any of you aware of any problems
this has caused, or may cause? From what I can tell it has actually
protected some portions of the undercarriage, but I wanted to ask the
experts! Yes, I do plan to restore the skin on this beauty, so 'someday'
this coating will all have to be removed... any tips for that?

I cannot wait to hear back from you fine folks!

Regards, Aaron Bratrude

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 12:06:30 -0500
From: "Jim Stewart" <9stewart@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] Window Frame

A few weeks ago, someone posted a message about a Bambi that had been
heavily damaged in a jackknife accident. Does anyone know if that trailer is
going to be restored or used for parts?
Jim
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Greene" <drgreene@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
To: <valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 7:16 PM
Subject: Re: [VAL] Window Frame


> Harris, I doubt you will find a ' 63 window frame. Luckily, you have part
of
> one that would enable a fabricator to make the other missing parts for
you.
> That's the route I'd pursue.
>
> Jim Greene
> ' 68 Tradewind
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <MrBSA@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
> To: <valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
> Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 3:00 PM
> Subject: [VAL] Window Frame
>
>
> > Can someone help me.   I have a 1963 Bambi.   One of the side window
> frames
> > is missing two of its four parts.   The top part and one side leg is
still
> > intact.  The other side leg and bottom is missing.  So I have one half
of
> a "L"
> > and need the other half to make a complete square frame.  Does anyone
have
> any
> > idea as where to get the two parts or a complete frame.  The size of the
> frame
> > is approximately 28 3/4 x 18 1/4. I need to get a frame before I can
start
> > asking for help regarding the cranks and glass.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Harris Turner
> > 1963 Bambi (with one missing window}
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
> To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 09:52:17 -0800
From: "Gary Quamen" <g_quamen@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant

> 1. I am confident that everything works on the trailer, but cannot seem
> to get the furnace to fire up>

> 2. Same applies to the refrigerator

Hi Aaron, welcome aboard:

Silly question:  Since you have two appliances that operate on gas that
don't light, did you turn on the range top and light it to see if you have
gas available anywhere?  Whenever I have been away from the trailer for a
while I always run gas that way for a minute or two so I KNOW there is
working gas available for the other appliances before trying to light 'em.

GQ '67 Safari
4082 in CA.

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 12:49:48 -0500
From: "T o m" <tmeeker@xxxxxxxxxx.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [VAL] RE: Window Frame

A good aircraft maintenance facility that does 'side jobs' would be your
best bet in my book.

Tom
WBCCI 5303

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: <RJ.Dial@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
To: <valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 10:03 AM
Subject: [VAL] RE: Window Frame


> Only real solution is to take an existing window and your two remaining
> sides to a metal fabrication shop (irrigation shops, machine shops,
> etc., look in phone book under welding).  Have them duplicate the frame
> profiles, referring to the parts you have, by welding up stock
> extrusions.  I think it takes about five different extrusions (U
> channels, C channels and flat stock).
> Best of luck,
> RJ
> VintageAirstream.com
>
> >
> > Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 15:00:28 EST
> > From: MrBSA@xxxxxxxxxx.com
> > Subject: [VAL] Window Frame
> >
> > Can someone help me.   I have a 1963 Bambi.   One of the side
> > window frames
> > is missing two of its four parts.   The top part and one side
> > leg is still
> > intact.  The other side leg and bottom is missing.  So I have
> > one half of a "L"
> > and need the other half to make a complete square frame.
> > Does anyone have any
> > idea as where to get the two parts or a complete frame.  The
> > size of the frame
> > is approximately 28 3/4 x 18 1/4. I need to get a frame
> > before I can start
> > asking for help regarding the cranks and glass.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Harris Turner
> > 1963 Bambi (with one missing window}
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
> To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html

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

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 13:12:09 -0500
From: Daisy Welch <jtdjtd@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant

Welcome Aaron!

Aaron Bratrude wrote:


> 1. I am confident that everything works on the trailer, but cannot seem
> to get the furnace to fire up. In the '76 Sovereigns, does anyone know
> if there is a manual way to fire up a 'pilot light'? I've scoured the
> owner's manual and the furnace inserts and manuals and it simply says to
> repeat the process of: turn main gas valve ON, move thermostat to start
> fan, wait 15 seconds for fan to reach max speed, wait for furnace to
> light etc. No warm air, no noise of the furnace gasses being lit, NADA.
> Any tips?

This is a job for the pros. You need to take the trailer to a regular RV 
place and have them service it. There are a lot of things that can go 
bad on a furnace that old and most of them are dangerous. This is not 
the moment to wake up dead on your first trip out.
> 
> 2. Same applies to the refrigerator - I can easily view the igniter
> flash through the peep hole window in the front of the fridge, but not
> able to fire up the gas to test how well the fridge works (like
> performing the 'does it make ice' test).

Does the cook stove work ? ie are any of these getting the gas they need 
?  You may need a new regulator, they are cheap and a lot of things get 
solved by replaceing it.

There is probably crud in there, few people clean in there...Again, let 
the pro's fix it, although the fridge is as dangerous as the furnace. 
This time find out what they did. It could be rust, soot, bugs clogging it.
> 
> 3. My Sovereign's undercarriage was coated with a foam insulation from
> stem to stern (and the tanks too). Are any of you aware of any problems
> this has caused, or may cause? From what I can tell it has actually
> protected some portions of the undercarriage, but I wanted to ask the
> experts! Yes, I do plan to restore the skin on this beauty, so 'someday'
> this coating will all have to be removed... any tips for that?

Never heard of that being done. Sounds like not a bad idea. Removing it 
requires knowing what kind of foam it is. If you scrape, you will 
scratch the aluminum. If you use the wrong solvent you will pit and etch 
the aluminum.  The skin of a '77 won't go as shiny as the 60's ones, 
it's a different kind of skin. And you should know that unless you have 
it professionally ($$$) clear coated, you will have to do this every 
year. Some folks get pleasure out of polishing, I don't get it.


Enjoy !

Daisy

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

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 13:17:53 -0500
From: Chris Elliott <celliott@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: Re: [VAL] Stuff on the bottom of the bathtub

They make a urethane foam gap filler that wont expand , any good lumberyard will
carry it . Cant recall a brand name , but theres a couple manufacturers , its
used for weatherizing .
chris elliott

Peter Ryner wrote:

>
>
> As far as the expanding foam, it works great, but you will have to do
> something to hold the tub in place.  As the foam expands it is very powerful
> and has the potential to lift the light tub rather than just fill the void
> between the tub and the floor.
> Pete
>
>
> >
> >  <I noticed that the bottom is covered with a Styrofoam type substance.
> Some
> > of it is missing and I would like to replace this as I think it offers
> > padding between the tub and the floor. Anyone out there ever replace this
> > "substance"?

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 10:45:44 -0800
From: "Aaron Bratrude" <abratrud@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: RE: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant

Great suggestions all around about the furnace and fridge. I left out
the fact that I had both the pilot light for the water heater going
(rear bath way back) as well as a couple of stove burners cranked. The
gas works and I replaced the regulator yesterday which improved flow
from the tanks... 

So it IS true that the furnace has an electronic form of ignition and
there is no work-around? 

- -----Original Message-----
From: valist-admin@xxxxxxxxxx.com
[mailto:valist-admin@xxxxxxxxxx.com] On Behalf Of Daisy Welch
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 10:12 AM
To: valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: Re: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant

Welcome Aaron!

Aaron Bratrude wrote:


> 1. I am confident that everything works on the trailer, but cannot 
> seem to get the furnace to fire up. In the '76 Sovereigns, does anyone

> know if there is a manual way to fire up a 'pilot light'? I've scoured

> the owner's manual and the furnace inserts and manuals and it simply 
> says to repeat the process of: turn main gas valve ON, move thermostat

> to start fan, wait 15 seconds for fan to reach max speed, wait for 
> furnace to light etc. No warm air, no noise of the furnace gasses
being lit, NADA.
> Any tips?

This is a job for the pros. You need to take the trailer to a regular RV
place and have them service it. There are a lot of things that can go
bad on a furnace that old and most of them are dangerous. This is not
the moment to wake up dead on your first trip out.
> 
> 2. Same applies to the refrigerator - I can easily view the igniter 
> flash through the peep hole window in the front of the fridge, but not

> able to fire up the gas to test how well the fridge works (like 
> performing the 'does it make ice' test).

Does the cook stove work ? ie are any of these getting the gas they need
?  You may need a new regulator, they are cheap and a lot of things get
solved by replaceing it.

There is probably crud in there, few people clean in there...Again, let
the pro's fix it, although the fridge is as dangerous as the furnace. 
This time find out what they did. It could be rust, soot, bugs clogging
it.
> 
> 3. My Sovereign's undercarriage was coated with a foam insulation from

> stem to stern (and the tanks too). Are any of you aware of any 
> problems this has caused, or may cause? From what I can tell it has 
> actually protected some portions of the undercarriage, but I wanted to

> ask the experts! Yes, I do plan to restore the skin on this beauty, so
'someday'
> this coating will all have to be removed... any tips for that?

Never heard of that being done. Sounds like not a bad idea. Removing it
requires knowing what kind of foam it is. If you scrape, you will
scratch the aluminum. If you use the wrong solvent you will pit and etch
the aluminum.  The skin of a '77 won't go as shiny as the 60's ones,
it's a different kind of skin. And you should know that unless you have
it professionally ($$$) clear coated, you will have to do this every
year. Some folks get pleasure out of polishing, I don't get it.


Enjoy !

Daisy

- -----------------------------------------------------------------
When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text

To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html

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

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 14:00:35 -0500
From: Dick Kenan <as5368@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: [VAL] Furnace and Fridge won't light

Aaron:

         I went through the same kinds of anxiety when trying to light the 
refrigerator on my '72 Safari.  I had everyone in the camp trying to fix 
it, with no luck.  Later, to my eternal embarrassment, I discovered that 
there was a shutoff valve underneath the trailer, hidden from view by 
another gas line that passed in front of it.  Have you looked *thoroughly* 
for shutoffs beneath your trailer?  They're nice to have, if present, for 
when you have to do maintenance, but an aggravation if you forget about 
them, as I did.  I hope your problem is as simple as that.

- - Dick
(5368)

"The trouble with most folks isn't so much their ignorance, as knowing so 
many things that ain't so."
- -- Josh Billings
- ---------------------------------------
Dick Kenan Tel: 770-451-0672
Retired and loving it!
WBCCI # 5368, 28' 1995 Excella
Atlanta
mailto:as5368@xxxxxxxxxx.com
http://www.mindspring.com/~as5368/ 

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 13:30:46 -0600
From: waymark1@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: [VAL] Re: VAL Digest V1 #150 - Expanding foam for bathtub/shower stall reinforcement

The trick here is to only partly fill the space with the right amount of
foam, then let it expand to completely fill the space. Experience is
helpful in estimating how much to use. Fill a small area in the center,
then wait for it to finish expanding before you fill the next ring out a
little way, then let it finish expanding. It will expand into the least
resistance as long as it isn't pushing against too much of itself. Take
your time and don't get into a hurry.
I have seen house windows where someone used too much foam and it bowed
the sides of the frame in as it swelled.

Al

> Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 20:15:56 -0500
> From: "Peter Ryner" <pryner@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
> Subject: RE: [VAL] Stuff on the bottom of the bathtub
> 
.........................................................................
..............................
> 
> As far as the expanding foam, it works great, but you will have to do
something to hold the tub in place.  As the foam expands it is very
powerful and has the potential to lift the light tub rather than just
fill the void between the tub and the floor.
> Pete
> 

> To: valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com
> Subject: Re: [VAL] Stuff on the bottom of the bathtub
> 
> 
> > I also have this same question, as I have removed the tub to replace
a section of floor in the bathroom.  I was considering taking it to one
of the local "nu-surface" establishments, that restore shower stalls,
tubs etc.
> > Chris in Austin
> > '63 Ambassador
> >
> >  <I noticed that the bottom is covered with a Styrofoam type
substance.
> Some of it is missing and I would like to replace this as I think it
offers padding between the tub and the floor. Anyone out there ever
replace this "substance"?
> 
> Chris & Ed,
> Acrylic hot tubs are thermoformed out of large sheets of acrylic, then
reinforced with fiberglass applied to the back surface. Urethane foam
blocks and spray on Urethane foam are often used to insulate and to
create a flat surface on the bottom of the tub. Urethane foam is
compatible with polyester resins and epoxy resins (styrofoam is not)
commonly used in fiberglass construction so you are able to glass right
over the shaped foam without worrying that the foam will degrade. I don't
believe that urethane foam blocks are available at the retail level but
you can buy it in a  sprayable form. Look in the insulation dept of any
home renovation store for the sprayable "gap sealer" for homes. You will
be able to spray this stuff onto surfaces and it will expand
considerably. Once it has hardened you can shape it with common hand
tools like saws and rasps. Covered with fiberglass, it turns into a
structural element.
.........................................................................
................................
> Hope this helps out,
> Colin
> (Building monocoque composite accessible vehicles in my other life.)

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

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 13:49:19 -0600
From: "David R. Warner, Jr" <david@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: Re: [VAL] model terminology

What does "Overlander" mean.  We have a 78.

Thanks

_DAVID WARNER

At 05:33 PM 2/5/2004, you wrote:

>Chris Koehn wrote:
>>Hi all-
>>I have a 1979 31'
>
>
>International = Trim Package
>
>
>Land Yacht = Sounds classier than "trailer"
>
>
>Sovereign. = "Sovereign of the Road".  Largest model made that year.
>
><snip>
>
>Matt Worner
>'75 Sovereign et. al. (Queen of the Fleet)
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
>To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
>http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
>
>

===========================================================

David R. Warner, Jr.
19507 485th Lane
McGregor, Minnesota 55760
Phone 218-426-3900
Cell 218-838-4972
David@xxxxxxxxxx.com

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 14:23:10 -0600
From: "Dean L." <dean@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] Stuff on the bottom of the bathtub

Keep checking it for lifting out for the next few hours.
It will keep expanding for a long time..
You may have to fill the tub with some sand in
bags to keep it down.. It will lift hundreds of pounds.


See You On The Road
Dean L.
WBCCI 2486



On Feb 5, 2004, at 7:15 PM, Peter Ryner wrote:
>
> As far as the expanding foam, it works great, but you will have to do
> something to hold the tub in place.  As the foam expands it is very 
> powerful
> and has the potential to lift the light tub rather than just fill the 
> void
> between the tub and the floor.
> Pete

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

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 13:23:43 -0700
From: "Maxwell" <maxwell@insideout-design.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] model terminology

"Overlander" would be the model name describing the 27' model for 1978.

- -- 
Shari Davis
'64 GlobeTrotter - "Maxwell"
WBCCI #1824, VAC
www.insideout-design.net/maxwell


David R. Warner, Jr wrote:

>What does "Overlander" mean.  We have a 78.
>
>Thanks
>
>_DAVID WARNER
>  
>
>===========================================================
>
>David R. Warner, Jr.
>19507 485th Lane
>McGregor, Minnesota 55760
>Phone 218-426-3900
>Cell 218-838-4972
>David@xxxxxxxxxx.com

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 15:49:58 -0700
From: "Bob Hightower" <rhightower@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant

On my '76. I have to light the furnace pilot manually. Open the access
panel, and go through the routine of setting the valve to pilot, then hold
it down, hold a flame to the pilot, and wait for the thermocouple to warm up
enough to sustain the flame. Or, alternatively, open the valve all the way
and just light the main flame. This isn't really a good alternative, but
since I'm mostly bald anyway, I do it from time to time. The first time you
hear and see the "WHOOSH' of the main burner, you can decide if you want to
do that again or not :^)

My auto light (if there is one) for the refer doesn't work, so I go through
the same process. It can take a while for the pilot to light, so I use a
stick to wedge under the little red button and hold it open until the pilot
flame is good.

Turning on the gas at the stove and lighting all the burners for a minute or
so seems to help with the flow to all the appliances if the trailer's been
sitting for some time.

Bob Hightower
'76 31' Sov

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Aaron Bratrude" <abratrud@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
To: <valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 9:40 AM
Subject: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant


> Hello to all of you!
>
> My name is Aaron Bratrude and I live near Seattle, WA with my wife and 7
> month old son. I am as GREEN as they come relative to Airstreams, but
> make NO mistake about it, the passion is building exponentially. I am
> very excited to be a part of this energetic community.
>
> As for our newly acquired Airstream Travel Trailer (one week ago), we
> purchased a 1976 31' Sovereign International Airstream that has been
> meticulously maintained over the last 27 years by a retired Airplane
> Engineer and Flight Mechanic. Everything is not only original and in
> great working order, he had acquired a number of replacement parts for
> the trailer over the years and they were included in the deal. And
> speaking of vintage classics, we also negotiated in the sale the '77
> Chevy Suburban he bought in '77 to tow this monster. Suffice to say
> we're thrilled with all of it!!!
>
> I do have a couple of questions and would be grateful for your insight:
>
> 1. I am confident that everything works on the trailer, but cannot seem
> to get the furnace to fire up. In the '76 Sovereigns, does anyone know
> if there is a manual way to fire up a 'pilot light'? I've scoured the
> owner's manual and the furnace inserts and manuals and it simply says to
> repeat the process of: turn main gas valve ON, move thermostat to start
> fan, wait 15 seconds for fan to reach max speed, wait for furnace to
> light etc. No warm air, no noise of the furnace gasses being lit, NADA.
> Any tips?
>
> 2. Same applies to the refrigerator - I can easily view the igniter
> flash through the peep hole window in the front of the fridge, but not
> able to fire up the gas to test how well the fridge works (like
> performing the 'does it make ice' test).
>
> 3. My Sovereign's undercarriage was coated with a foam insulation from
> stem to stern (and the tanks too). Are any of you aware of any problems
> this has caused, or may cause? From what I can tell it has actually
> protected some portions of the undercarriage, but I wanted to ask the
> experts! Yes, I do plan to restore the skin on this beauty, so 'someday'
> this coating will all have to be removed... any tips for that?
>
> I cannot wait to hear back from you fine folks!
>
> Regards, Aaron Bratrude
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
> To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html

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

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 18:04:26 EST
From: JSmith1805@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: Re: [VAL] Stuff on the bottom of the bathtub

I have seen people blow out the bottom of fiberglass boats with that stuff I 
f you are not sure what you are doing leave the foam alone This stuff is not 
for amateurs Besides the fumes it gives off are not caliculated to do anything 
io help your good health. 
Jim Smith

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

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 19:04:11 -0600
From: Blair <hitek_airstream@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: RE: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant

You may have a carboned ignitor or a bad furnace board.

First remove the ignitor.  two screws in the front of the furnace
where the two wires connect to the furnace.

Mine was very carboned due to a faulty regulator letting too
much air in the mixture.

A repair man came out and tried to sell me a new furnace.  Said the board 
was shot.

Thanks to Walt and this list two minutes scrapping some carbon saved me a new
furnace.  Since the regulator was replaced I've had no carbon for the last 
18 months full timing.

Check that first...

On your frig, make sure you have 12 volts at the back of the frig. AND that 
there are no
spider or wasps nests in the frig or the furnace burner.

Blair

Hangin in Llano Grande

Because Time Fly's




At 10:45 AM 2/6/2004 -0800, you wrote:

>Great suggestions all around about the furnace and fridge. I left out
>the fact that I had both the pilot light for the water heater going
>(rear bath way back) as well as a couple of stove burners cranked. The
>gas works and I replaced the regulator yesterday which improved flow
>from the tanks...
>
>So it IS true that the furnace has an electronic form of ignition and
>there is no work-around?
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: valist-admin@xxxxxxxxxx.com
>[mailto:valist-admin@xxxxxxxxxx.com] On Behalf Of Daisy Welch
>Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 10:12 AM
>To: valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com
>Subject: Re: [VAL] New '76 Airstream Owner and VAL participant
>
>Welcome Aaron!
>
>Aaron Bratrude wrote:
>
>
> > 1. I am confident that everything works on the trailer, but cannot
> > seem to get the furnace to fire up. In the '76 Sovereigns, does anyone
>
> > know if there is a manual way to fire up a 'pilot light'? I've scoured
>
> > the owner's manual and the furnace inserts and manuals and it simply
> > says to repeat the process of: turn main gas valve ON, move thermostat
>
> > to start fan, wait 15 seconds for fan to reach max speed, wait for
> > furnace to light etc. No warm air, no noise of the furnace gasses
>being lit, NADA.
> > Any tips?
>
>This is a job for the pros. You need to take the trailer to a regular RV
>place and have them service it. There are a lot of things that can go
>bad on a furnace that old and most of them are dangerous. This is not
>the moment to wake up dead on your first trip out.
> >
> > 2. Same applies to the refrigerator - I can easily view the igniter
> > flash through the peep hole window in the front of the fridge, but not
>
> > able to fire up the gas to test how well the fridge works (like
> > performing the 'does it make ice' test).
>
>Does the cook stove work ? ie are any of these getting the gas they need
>?  You may need a new regulator, they are cheap and a lot of things get
>solved by replaceing it.
>
>There is probably crud in there, few people clean in there...Again, let
>the pro's fix it, although the fridge is as dangerous as the furnace.
>This time find out what they did. It could be rust, soot, bugs clogging
>it.
> >
> > 3. My Sovereign's undercarriage was coated with a foam insulation from
>
> > stem to stern (and the tanks too). Are any of you aware of any
> > problems this has caused, or may cause? From what I can tell it has
> > actually protected some portions of the undercarriage, but I wanted to
>
> > ask the experts! Yes, I do plan to restore the skin on this beauty, so
>'someday'
> > this coating will all have to be removed... any tips for that?
>
>Never heard of that being done. Sounds like not a bad idea. Removing it
>requires knowing what kind of foam it is. If you scrape, you will
>scratch the aluminum. If you use the wrong solvent you will pit and etch
>the aluminum.  The skin of a '77 won't go as shiny as the 60's ones,
>it's a different kind of skin. And you should know that unless you have
>it professionally ($$$) clear coated, you will have to do this every
>year. Some folks get pleasure out of polishing, I don't get it.
>
>
>Enjoy !
>
>Daisy
>
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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 20:39:49 -0500
From: "Patricia V. Raimondo" <praimond@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: [VAL] Re: Polishing FC

I'll be lucky if I get "Pearl" polished by the International, hopefully 
before the VAC rally at The Garden Of the Gods. I was hoping to be able 
to pick her up the end of Feb., but she won't be finished.  I'll only 
have weekends before Lansing, so I doubt I can get it done. Need be, 
I'll take her half "cooked" !

Patti

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

Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 21:38:16 -0500
From: Chris Elliott <celliott@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: [VAL] cant have `em all

One of  em`s  gotta go , So....My caravel is for sale , thought I`d give the listies
a chance first before I post it elsewhere . Or just check it out anyway and see
where I hang out in the summer . www.midcoast.com/~celliott  The thumbnails get
bigger if you click thru them .
   Need to devote the time and money to my other trailer which WILL be ready for
summer.
Chris

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

End of VAL Digest V1 #151
*************************


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