Sticking, creaking, barely-opening center front window...

Sunbeam · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 4:05 pm Post subject:

Hi Joe,

I think that's just dirt from the oil I used, then subsequently trailered the boat and road dust stuck to it. I've never had the window open all the way (and it doesn't look like anyone else ever has either), so probably not a wear spot. I probably cleaned that one spot reaching under there last time I washed the boat (and of course now I realize I need to get under there an do a better job).

My impression is that the sticking/creaking is coming from the pins/hinge interface (that's where I can hear it). The symptom comes right away when the window is opened - so only about a 1" gap at the bottom at that time. I believe it's possible for Delrin to swell, so my guess is that's what's happened and then was exacerbated by the window not having been opened for many years. However, I appreciate your input and I will inspect it all more closely. (Probably should have cleaned off the hinge before photographing it, but it was getting dark and I was feeling lazy.)

Sea Wolf · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 4:11 pm Post subject:

Sunbeam-

Well, if all else fails, you can always take out the entire window, including the frame, and send it back to /Diamond Sea-Glaze for a rebuild!

Joe. Laughing

Sunbeam · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 4:21 pm Post subject:

True, although I'm hoping not to need a new window, or to remove the existing one. But good that the company is there if need be.

I just noticed this in your last post:

thataway · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 5:23 pm Post subject:

Delrin is tough, but not always dimensionally stable. Water, and oils can cause it to swell. Temperatures also will cause change. But they are minimal. The low co-effecient of friction is one of the reasons this is used for hinge pins. It is hard to know what would have caused these to swell--which appears to be the issue.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 7:50 pm Post subject:

If, indeed, it is simply a case of swollen hinge pins made of a somewhat "plastic" material, drilling out the center core of the hinge pins could relieve much of the swelling, reducing the binding enough that the pins don't need to be driven out and replaced………….= home free after carefully drilling only a few holes!

Sounds almost too good to be true! Laughing

Joe.

Foggy · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:34 pm Post subject:

Why not try cleaning them up with an old tooth brush, toothpaste. If you can get the pins out and clean them too, I'd rub on some paraffin wax, reassemble and get on my way. The paraffin stops the noise and acts as a lubricant. Applying oil products to hinges seems to attract dirt and grime, per your photos.

Aye.

Sunbeam · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:42 pm Post subject:

Will-C

Try warming the aluminum with a hair drier to let the aluminum expand as it might make the pin removal easier.
D.D.

Bill K · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:13 am Post subject:

Is there any chance you have somebody near your home that could ship your punches to you ?

Bill Kelleher

PS: I looked up a roll punch - that looks like it would work really well, and better than a dowel because of having a tapered end. Just for the record, this is now the approximately 307th time I've regretted leaving my set of centering punches at home. I even had them in the van, but then decided I was just taking too much along and put them back in the shop Cry

Sunbeam · Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 8:45 pm Post subject:

Just thought I would give a little update. After the "greenhouse" maiden voyage yesterday in 80º temps (side windows wouldn't open either, although I fixed that today by cleaning out the tracks and will lube them with dry Teflon™ after they dry), I decided to work on the window a bit more.

I still don't have a metal punch (not that I won't get one), but just wanted to go a small step further with what I had on hand. So, I used a slightly smaller wooden dowel to pound a bit more, this time with the window open a few inches to its "point of least resistance" as advised by Diamond Sea Glaze. I pounded to the point of overwhelming the dowel (it's fairly small though) and did not budge either pin.

Next I used the recommended dry Teflon spray and tried to lube the pins. If I ignore the creaking and binding the window *will* open all the way, so I gritted my teeth and my buddy sprayed the lube while I worked the window. After about a 100 cycles of lubing/working the window, I could detect no difference in the creaks and binding. Maybe that will change after it sits awhile, but I'm skeptical. On the other hand, it didn't break during that process, so that probably means I can use the window without breaking it.

I am 99.99% sure there is no misalignment or binding problem in the window/frame relationship. All seems to fit as it should. My guess is still that the Delrin type plastic has swelled over time, or just that it's dry but the fit is too close to allow very effective lubing.

So the good thing is that I can use the window now; I just have to mentally grit my teeth because of the horrible creaking noises (which say to me: "Geez, maintain that window would'ja!"). I think the next steps would be one of the following:

1) Get a metal punch so the pounding force is transferred to the pin without just deforming the punch as happens with the wooden dowel.

2) Drill out the current pins with a small enough drill bit so as not to damage the frame, but large enough to leave just a "husk" of the old pin that can then be removed (I did check and the new pins DSG sent me look to be the correct diameter).

But I think I will save that for after Powell, just in case something does go completely awry, since the window is functional now. For now I'll try not to operate the window at 3 a.m. in a quiet anchorage Wink

Sunbeam

Sunbeam