weatherstrip question/leaks

[ermil]

Okay, 'nother noobie question:

My 70 D100 leaks (bad) when it rains. I traced it down to the cowl vent area, sealed that up good, and thought I fixed the problem. Last rain storm, big puddles (both sides) again! So I did the old hose leak test and found that by putting a stream of water on the roof, it overlads the drip rails and runs down the side of the doors at the upper edge where they close. No big deal, right? I have brand new precision weatherstripping......but I must have installed it incorrectly because the water is seeming to leak right past the weatherstripping - what did I do wrong?

[nfury8]

It is possible that is is more an issue with the doors, than the weatherstrip.
I have test fit most of my door weatherstrip and noticed much the same thing.
The doors aren't coming close enough to the cab. Some of it can be adjusted,
but some can't. These old trucks weren't too hot in the fit and finish when new.

To compensate, I am going to install some generic rectangle shaped weather strip
behind the molded stuff, to space it out and make better contact. Easy to do now, but
but so much if already glued on good.

You might also try loosening up the top of the window frame and see if you can tip
it in towards the cab more. This helped me some, but some areas still need more.

[ufo]

Another possible location is the sealer (or lack of) between the roof skin and the upper framework.Looking from the top ,around the outer edge of the roof you should see some seam sealer.

[ermil]

ufo - I saw what you are talking about...the sealer that runs along the roof is all dry and cracked, so I went over it with silicone already......no help.

nfury8 - how do I adjust the door frames? That sounds like it might help.

[jimmy]

I pulled what is left of my hair out with this topic. I installed all new weather stripping and my trucl leaks terrible. When I bought my glue the guys at the shop told me to apply the glue and let it get tacky. Once the glue is tacky and the weather stripping is holding in place close the door to hold it over night. So I did. One all four doors.

DON"T DO THIS.
What I found is When you close the doors and the glue is not compleatly dry, the weather stripping rolls a little and you loose valubal sealling surface. The suggestion from the guys were for weather stripping that slide on a rail or lip.

So to make long story short I ruined four weather stripping sections, and have to cut all this back off buy new and try it again.

Like enfury8 said try to adjust the upper window frame inward. On the front door jam their are two bolts toward the top of the door skin and on the rear thier is one up high and one down near the bottom of the back jam. You only need to loosen the bolts to adjust. I found that lowering the window a bit helps move the frame with out the pressure of the glass on it.

[Jeffc]

Be sure that the strip is installed with the right edge against the door, large (tall side) goes to the cab, short side to the door!
Installed backward will make a poor fit.......
Also-- I use contact cement (just like the factory did) brushed on both surfaces to be glued,
the trick is to get it right the frist time since it really sticks when tacky and 2nd chance, once
pressed down, is not going to happen easy..... most of the stuff they sell in the tube does not
work as well as good old contact cement....

As above adjusting the upper door frame will help, but if the door has not been off, or the upper door frame has not been off, since new,
then you may over adjust and it is more of a weather strip install issue

[nfury8]

I have also learned ( the hard way ) that it can be very valuable to temporarily
mount the weather strip with double stick tape and just see what everything
looks like before gluing! It is too awkward to just try and hold in place and check.

[ermil]

Jeffc: Uh-oh......sounds like I installed the weatherstrip backwards......Does it look that way to you?

[ufo]

Look at the bright side ,it's now water tight if you fill the cab.

[ermil]

Doh! I take it that means I DID install it backwards?..........oh, well, $100 down the drain (get the pun?).........It WOULD make a good aquarium!

[ufo]

Wait for a more qualified person to answer.You might be able to clean the glue with a cloth and some thinner.

[nfury8]

Yip that is backwards

Here is a down and dirty cross section.

section.png (8.85 KiB) Viewed 420 times

[teamblend]

im saving that image!

[hampstead38]

I'm not sure I understand the cross section.

[surfnuke9]

the top cross hatched part is the roof rail

the bottom cross hatched part is the door

the black part is the weatherstrip

[nfury8]

the top cross hatched part is the roof rail

the bottom cross hatched part is the door

the black part is the weatherstrip

[hampstead38]

So, the drawing is the correct installation... right? I'm going to have to save it. :)

[jimmy]

yes, the tall side of the stripping should close on the cab.

[Jeffc]

Jeffc: Uh-oh......sounds like I installed the weatherstrip backwards......Does it look that way to you?

Yep! backwards.......

[Russ]

Doh! I take it that means I DID install it backwards?..........oh, well, $100 down the drain (get the pun?).........It WOULD make a good aquarium!

Don't feel bad, it's an easy mistake. I think it happens fairly often. (spoken from experience).
I've posted cautions about this mistake before but it's been a while so maybe you missed it or had forgotten.
That 3M weatherstrip cement is messy and difficult to work with. I am going to look into using contact cement, as someone suggested, when I replace mine. Anyone else have thoughts on this? I already have a new replacement, just waiting on warmer weather and the mood to do it.