All Fixed Up

(Click on the pictures to enlarge) 

The weather was nice this afternoon, it warmed up from last night’s 39 degrees (F) so I tackled my big boo boo, to set it right.  Unfortunately, my helpers got hijacked by their mom to help her take down Christmas decorations, so it was a lonely job.  The nerve!

First, I bent the twisted metal back into position, getting it as straight as I could. 

Next, I had to drill out the remainders of the broken rivets that were pulled out when the metal bent by the slide closing.

I had to do some straightening of the metal around the compartment itself so I could pop in the new rivets.  A good use of my heavy, 5lb hand sledge hammer soon had the metal back in line.  I then put in new rivets.

Before I installed the new rivets, I put a healthy dose of RTV silicone sealant around the face of the compartment to waterproof it.  I put some extra rivets in to make the attachment of the metal face to the compartment box stronger.

Then I put another coating of the RTV silicone sealant all along the compartment edge to ensure a good waterproof seal.

After another sanding of the rusty areas, I coated the rust with a rust inhibitor.  It has to dry 24 hours before I can paint over it, so I’ll do that tomorrow if it doesn’t rain as forecast.

 

Everything lines up and closes properly, so all is back to normal.

Here’s hoping I can go a little (a lot) longer between doing stupid things.  ;c)

Next job is the water leak, the forecast calls for rain over the next several days, so I may just pull that slide in (I’ll move the chairs far, far away this time) until I can get the leak fixed.

Another joyful chapter of RV living on the road. :c)

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