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Sealing Roof Lights

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15 years 7 months ago #7984 by
Sealing Roof Lights was created by
Hello To All,
I was just wondering if anyone had any hints or tips of effective ways to seal the roof clearance lights and air horns on the roof of my truck from water?

I have bought new clearance lights and air horns, which all come with rubber gaskets to install with. Should I give them a good coat of silicone or sealant? The reason I ask is when I origianally stripped the cab back, everywhere on the roof where there was a CB antenna, sun visor, clearance light, or horn it was very rusty and water had been getting in.

Or is this something that is unavoidable? Especially on an ACCO! :D

Regards
Stuart

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15 years 7 months ago #7985 by podge66
Replied by podge66 on topic Re: Sealing Roof Lights
:)Go and buy some 3m drip check and put that around the holes and screws. Silicon or slastitic is acided and eats into the metal causing rust. drip check is also good in the gutters when you rip the old corking compond out. You can paint over it also. :D
podge

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15 years 7 months ago #7986 by
Replied by on topic Re: Sealing Roof Lights
Great!, Thanks for that, I'll be off to get some tomorrow!

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  • Swishy
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  • If U don't like my Driving .... well then get off the footpath ...... LOL
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15 years 7 months ago #7987 by Swishy
Replied by Swishy on topic Re: Sealing Roof Lights

Stewy
GuddayM8

Silicone cums in mainly 2 types
the proper names escapes me now
but one is for windows n showerscreens n very asidedik (spel it any way U like)
this one eats into metal
the other GP type of silicone is ok
but wot we have now moved onto is the black Eurathane th@ they use to fit windscreens to cars n trucks with
the problem everybody haz with silicone or the eurathane is it clings to u're finger n makes drag marks when tryn to smooth off

But B Tween U n me n nobody else
a little secret we have discovered if U use detergent n water dip u're finger in it n drag th@ across the gunk for a perfect finish
as it wont stik to water n detergent on your finger
to prevent rust in ACCO cab U might need to fully seal under the lights as any water sitn between cab n light will surely B a trap to water n cause rust
jist my 2 cents worth of dribble GST included
LOL
cya


[ch9787]

OF ALL THE THINGS EYE MISS ................. EYE MISS MY MIND THE MOST

There's more WORTH in KENWORTH

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15 years 7 months ago #7988 by Cunning Stunt
Hey stuart

Podge and the Swishster are right in what they say. Some silastics are acidic and you can pick it if they smell like vinegar. Go to Bunnings and buy some SIKAFLEX in a tube. It isn't acidic and sticks really well but don't get any on your hands as it is a bugger to get off.

Some play hard to get

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15 years 7 months ago #7989 by
Replied by on topic Re: Sealing Roof Lights
Thanks for the help guys.

I never knew that ordinary Silicon was such a no-no!

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15 years 7 months ago #7990 by kennymopar2
Replied by kennymopar2 on topic Re: Sealing Roof Lights
i 2nd sikaflex ..that sh@t is good although a little more expensive than ordinary silicone

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15 years 7 months ago #7991 by Rookie
Replied by Rookie on topic Re: Sealing Roof Lights
Not a huge fan of sikaflex for your purpose, and I use to fit windscreens for a living. If you want to remove the lights in the future you will be cutting them off. Rust will form under sikaflex if you have bare metal. VL commodore front screens are a classic example.

I think where a lot of the problem starts is where bare metal is exposed drilling into the roof. The exposed metal should be primed and painted before the light is fitted. I still think the rubber gasket is all you need, but if you want to seal the hole, I would be using butal mastic or 3M drip check.

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15 years 7 months ago #7992 by Eddy
Replied by Eddy on topic Re: Sealing Roof Lights
I 2nd wot rookie said.

Butyl Mastic is the go IMHO.

And don't overtighten the fitting. That'll deform the gasket.

Be it firearms or V8 engines, the question is not "why should you have them?"
, but "who are you to demand that I justify them?"

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15 years 7 months ago #7993 by Sarge
Replied by Sarge on topic Re: Sealing Roof Lights
Me too... I am a mastic man (there is a song about that... mastic mastic man... village people???) ;D ;D ;D

there is another product I used once apon a time on our caravan that was the bees knees called VALIANT but I think it was just a brushable mastic for the long roof joints etc....

Butaylmastic (spell it yourself) is the go, does not set or go off like Silly-Con.

Sarge :-X

Sarge B)
ACCO Owner, Atkinson dreamer.

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