carolg
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Post by carolg on Jul 13, 2017 16:14:20 GMT -8
We just bought a 1985 Shasta with a (probably) original Fridiking air conditioner that is cooling but leaking into the camper. We've clean out the drain pan from the roof but it still leaks. We want to remove the facing on the inside of the air conditioner to see if we can find the problem. But we're stuck on screw removal. The screws on the insider seem to have round holes for the driver. We don't have the right tool to get those screws out without cutting them out. Any advice on what screw driver head is needed? Or a work around?
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Post by vikx on Jul 13, 2017 22:25:53 GMT -8
Welcome Carolg, the A/C gasket is shot:
The bottom plenum should be easy to remove with a few screws. Are those the ones that you can't get out?
Once the plenum is removed, there should be 4 bolts up inside the top portion of the A/C. Loosen them and the hold down bracket should be removable. There will be a plug or two for the wiring as well.
The seal on a roof A/C is a rubber gasket. You will need a new one and they are still made today if your roof vent is 14 x 14 inches. (otherwise make a new gasket out of appropriate material, approx. 1" firm foam, sticky on one side) Once everything is loose, lift the A/C and remove the old gasket. Move the A/C to the side and clean the roof opening. Inspect framing of course.
Place the gasket on the roof and lift the A/C up and onto it. The 4 bolts tighten the top unit against the bracket. Sort of a "sandwich" affair. Tighten each bolt as you go to insure the gasket is evenly compressed.
I hope this helps. If it really is the plenum screws that are stripped, not much hope, other than to use a multi tool and cut the plenum. The roof leak can be cured as above, you may have to figure out something for the plenum.
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carolg
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Post by carolg on Jul 14, 2017 4:07:06 GMT -8
Thanks, vikx, for a comprehensive answer. We were pretty sure it's the gasket. Our problem is that we can't get the plenum off. The screws aren't stripped but they aren't conventional screws we have today and seem to have an almost round center for the screw driver head. We can't find the right drive to remove the screws. Can you or another forum member point us to a vendor or website?
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Post by bigbill on Jul 14, 2017 11:10:56 GMT -8
Go to Harbor-fright and buy their large set of screwdriver bits they have many different style of bits to try. I wonder if you are looking at Torx screws or possibly clutch head screws. If can't remove the screws take a drill bit the size of the screws and drill just till the head pops off then hopefully you can get it apart. But try to find the proper screwdriver bit if at all possible. Torx Screws have a round hole with six small notches around the edge. Clutch head screws have a sort of figure 8 opening like 2 circles joined together. Not a very good description but hope it helps.
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on Jul 14, 2017 17:30:52 GMT -8
You should be able to find the correct bit. Show us a picture of the screw head.
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Post by vikx on Jul 14, 2017 21:46:50 GMT -8
I've never seen a plenum attached with anything but "normal" screws. (square head, Phillips, etc) I'm wondering if a PO riveted the plenum? If so, just drill them out and go from there...
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carolg
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Post by carolg on Aug 5, 2017 6:07:57 GMT -8
Thanks, all. We finally figured it out. For anyone else struggling with getting a Fridigiking hood off in order to change the gasket, the bolts holding the hood in place are under the plastic vents that direct the air. The vents just pop out (and, blessedly) in. Once they're off, it's easy to unscrew the bolts and lower the hood. We found a perfectly good gasket that the PO had put in upside down. As with the rest of the restoration, much of the work has been undoing his mistakes. We replaced the gasket, painted the hood, and got it back up on the newly papered ceiling yesterday. Works great, cools nicely, and doesn't leak!
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