Posted by JamesB on Sunday, March 30, 2008 @ 02:10 PM:
My RF5B has a rubber seal between the canopy frames & fuselage. The round strip of rubber is encased in fabric, with the "tail" of the fabric glued to the canopy frame.
I assume the factory simply used a seal that was generally available rather than custom-making one.
Does anyone have suggestions for a source for this material? (Due to exchange rates, I'd prefer a U.S. source.) I want to get enough for two complete installations.
Any suggestions about what kind of glue to use to attach it?
Thanks.
Posted by Donald on Saturday, April 5, 2008 @ 06:16 AM:
I replaced the seal on my RF3 some years ago and from your description it was the same or similar. I'm in the UK and I'm pretty certain I got it here:
www.lasaero.com/article/a-bas180t# although the stuff I got has a solid foam rubber filler to the 'bulb', not hollow as shown in the current illustration so this may not be the exact same.
Another possibility is: www.sealsdirect.co.uk/bbCMS/shopping.asp?intDepartmentId=3
Again it's a UK supplier but I'm sure there will be a US equivalent.
I did not use any glue to attach mine mut simply trapped it between canopy and frame with the canopy screws. I would be very wary of using any adhesive on the plexiglas and my guess is the only one that might be safe would be Copydex. Don't know if you have Copydex in the US but I believe it's a water based latex adhesive which stinks while wet but is OK when dry. The key element here is 'water based', ie. not solvent based which would be very likely to craze the plexiglas.
Posted by JamesB on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 @ 10:36 AM:
Thanks Donald.
I had not found a good source, so I ordered 18m from EIS -- will see how well it matches the original. I agree about not using adhesive. I think just due to it's age, it was adhering to the surfaces surrounding it.
