Removing side windows

[mrdp]

Hi all, I've had a resonable search through the forum but can't find quite what i'm looking for. I want to remove the side windows at the rear of the camper(converted van) so I can remove brown stuff and repaint the frame. I understand that I remove the center piece from the seal and 'Pop ' the window out. Do you remove.refit the window from the inside or the outside? also can you use the string/wire method on converted vans? as I read somewhere that you couldn't. Any advise would be appreciated or even better a link to photo guide

[Titus A Duxass]

Remove the centre strip and, from inside, roll the seal over the edge of the window aperture. I use small wooden wedges (half clothes pegs) to stop the seal slipping back over the edge.
You will need a second person outside to "catch" the window as it comes out.

Refit from the outside with the washing line method, again a 2 person job.

Don't know about converted vans though so all of the above may of no use to you.

[jamesc76]

Remove the centre strip and, from inside, roll the seal over the edge of the window aperture. I use small wooden wedges (half clothes pegs) to stop the seal slipping back over the edge.
You will need a second person outside to "catch" the window as it comes out.

Refit from the outside with the washing line method, again a 2 person job.

Don't know about converted vans though so all of the above may of no use to you.

the above is more for factory windows!

For van conversion windows pull out the strip then with suckers attached to the window gently pull it out to re fit place in to hole and pull seal out from inside then refit centre strip

[mrdp]

so am I right in saying that on refitting, the seal is already on the window frame of the van ,then you push the window up against the van/seal from the outside pushing in towards the van and kind of prize the seal over the outside face of the glass and then refit the centerstrip using the special tool. or is it best to fit the seal to the glass and then push into position from outside the van and prize the seal over the window frame on the inside of the van.

[New Kentish Campers]

The centre insert tensions the rubber so that the glass cant fall out. You will have seen how loose the rubber becomes once the insert has been removed.

When you come to refit the glass,I find it best to have the two ends of your piece of string overlapping each other by a couple of inches each, at the bottom of the rubber. Offer the assy up to the van so that the string ends go inside the van. Let the assy.rest on the bottom mounting flange while you place pressure on the window with your hands; your helper then slowly pulls, at a 30 odd degree angle the first piece of string, taking it all the way along to the first corner and up the side by a couple of inches, then do the same with the other end of the string. You, while this is going on, need to very gently bang the glass with the side of your fist as the string gets pulled and this will help make the glass sink into place. Then, once its all in and the rubber has fitted properly all the way around, inside and out, replace the centre insert with the correct tool if you can get one. You can make one with a decent peice of strong wire if all else fails. Dont resort to using a screwdriver though, its too prone to slipping and scratching your paintwork. It might help too to put a little swarfega/washing up liquid on the rubber before your begin fitting everything so that everything slides more easily.

[jamesc76]

I have fitted hundreds of these style windows to plant/trains trucks and vans and never used string once on these style window rubbers!

[New Kentish Campers]

Maybe the apertures were all to large then

[mrdp]

Just took the center insert out and had a general quidge around. Seems to make sense. I didn't actually take the glass out but could see how i could with a bit of patients.Will leave that job untill i get back from France in a few weeks, just in case it all goes horridly wrong and I drop the glass!!! Thanks for the input i'll take some picture and post it when i do the job

[muley]

sounds like you have clayton wright rubbers, you dont need a string for these type of rubbers, take the insert out run a blunt screwdriver round the rubber (glass side) to break the seal then push the glass from the inside ( you might want a friend at this point) and remove the glass, sort the body out and when done fit the rubber to the body using masking tape, wet the rubber with some soapy water from a spray bottle, and fit the glass into the rubber working the rubber round the glass, be carfull at this point not to break the glass ( take your time ) once the glass is in seal the window and fit the filler strip, easy
oh and make sure the rubber body and glass is clean of all the old sealer and dirt or the sealer wont work and the window will leak, hope that helps

[muley]

I have fitted hundreds of these style windows to plant/trains trucks and vans and never used string once on these style window rubbers!

you fitted this type of rubber to a train ?
i have done many trains and trams myself but all were bonded, did fit a rubber window to a small plane once.