Greg MacPherson:
We are about to install new door seals on the main doors (can’t afford the baggage door) of our 1978 Sierra. The appropriate page, 3-52a, is missing from our shop manual and the one on the BAC site. Any tips from those who have done the install? Recommended adhesives, removing old seals and adhesive, techniques?
Bob Steward, A&P-IA:
3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive is the ONLY way to go. Accept no
substitutes. There are other “red box” glues out there that are less
expensive, but they are not worth the 99 cent savings.
3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover (Qt cans) is a great solvent for old
glue. Most other solvents are too “hot” and will soften or remove paint,
and are hazardous to plexi. While I would not SOAK an aircraft window in
3M GPAR, it can at least be accidentally sloshed on one and wiped off without
ruining the window. (Ask to see my Tee Shirt from doing that…)
A Plexiglas scraper is a great tool for removing bits of glue and dried up
rubber after you pull/cut most of the seal off the door. A 1/2″ thick
block of plexi sawn into strips and cut/filed to a chisel point that is
knife sharp makes a great “aircraft” scraper that does not contaminate
aluminum with steel and is soft enough not to scratch aluminum, etc.