Hey all,
I have two couches that need reupholstering and I would really like to take them out to have them done. Seems like the only way to get them in and out is through the windshield. I am trying to pick the less difficult of the two and proceed accordingly.
So, it's either have this upholstery guy do them in the bus for $300 each or my brother in law will do them really cheap but I would have to take them out.
Anybody ever pull their windshield. Also, I am in Minnesota so is ambient temp an issue with the adhesives???
Thanks,
Rick
Rick
I also have a couch that I plan to have recovered this fall. I haven't looked underneath the couch yet, but my hope is I can take the back off and then take the seat out separately from the back using the door. I anxious to read the responses you receive from the board.
My wife has already purchased the fabric to recover the couch, is the $300 number you referenced seem to be a fair and reasonable estimate to have a couch recovered?
Bob
5 years ago we bought a 6ft. long Flexsteel couch and got it in thru the door on my 5A. Had to take out the co-pilot seat. Had to try it a couple of different ways but finally got it in. Didn't want to take out the windshields. ;D I think we had to take part of the couch apart too.
Yeah, I've done it. Won't do it again if I can help it. I have insurance now, and let the good boys at C&J replace mine when they need it.
It's not a job for a single person. Suction cups work well (Harbor Freight).
I don't recommend you even attempt it unless you have the spline installation tool. With that, it's pretty easy. Without it, it's nearly impossible to get the
spline in. There are no adhesives. It's just a rubber gasket with a spline fitted into a groove around the outside of it, though you might need to put some
butyl caulk in it to get it sealed well to the frame. I have one that I can't get to stop leaking.
You should probably buy a new rubber gasket and spline if you do decide to pull it. They weather and get hard and are difficult to reinstall if
more than a few years old.
How about taking out a side window? Might be easier.
for what its worth.We rapped the couch real tight with handi wrap that reduced the size a bunch and took it out the door.
Hi Rick,
We just removed the sofa and 2 barrel chairs from our bus Saturday, through the RV door in the side of our bus. We took the arms off the sofa, removed the drawer underneath, and removed the metal frame. That left just the back and seat which were then light enough for Char and me to handle. Your brother-in-law will probably have to do some disassembly anyway to reupholster. We removed the furniture so we could replace the carpet in the living area. I had decided to remove a side window if we couldn't get the furniture out the door. Good luck with however you do it.
Sam 4106/MC 8
Rick,
To answer your question, YES, there is a lot of risk. Doable, yes. Tough, yes. We attempted to do ours. We broke our first attempt, and the bus shop installed the second one. We learned how to do it since then, so we are going to remove it to put the fridge, and couches in. Not to mention, the one side has a really big couple of cracks, due to a rock. We have two windshields on hand, incase we break one.
One windshield, $250. Two windshields, $500. Reupholster guy come out, $300. Take you pick.
God bless,
John
Like Craig, I changed out both windshields. Unless absolutely necessary I wouldn't do it again. Unless the rubber is in very good shape, you will need to buy new.
I had suction cups and I made a tool to put the spine in place, but it was still very time consuming. Side window could be an option.
Literally, if it ain't broke, don't change it.....
Iver.
Good advice one and all...
I'm leaning towards either having the guy redo them in the bus or taking them apart.
Side windows don't seem big enough but I'll do some measuring. Maybe I'll get lucky
The windshield stays in.
Just a heads up for those of you that know that I won't be happy until I repower the old girl.
God willing, I will have a new motor and transmission in by next spring.
I'm driving some 6V92 and some 8V92's over the next couple weeks to see what the difference the nearly 200 cubic inches is firsthand. I'm still unexplainably reluctant to go back to a wet sleeve 2 stroke even though I put 50k on a 6V92 in my last bus and she climbed every mountain I ever pointed her towards. Go figure.
Thanks for all the help,
Rick
When we needed to replace our refrigerator (that would not fit through the door), we opted to remove a side window. This was much easier and less chance of breaking it. Jack
Rick if ya just want to practice the windshield thing, I have a Setra here that needs 2 new windshields.
I'd be willing to let ya help learn on it!
But keep in mind the Setra windshields are much bigger than a 9! ;D
I do have the windshields in stock, so drop in anytime! After we do mine we can do yours!
Or you could just blow a hole in the side of the bus. Take the couches out, frame the hole, and once the couches are back in fill the hole with a slide out! ;D
;D BK ;D
What type of couches are they exactly? My Flexsteel folds down in to a bed and I have had it in and out several times. It fits through my door.
I could probably come over on the weekend and take a look at the issue.
Craig hit it bang on, pretty simple with the right tools, have done both of mine. We has a spline tool and a piece of rope, no sunction cups. I will echo what has been said, 2 man job at least. Pain in the ### if you still have you destination sign in. Also have to agree with Jack, the side window is way easier if you can get away with it.
Grant
what is a spline tool and where to get one or how to make one pics thanks john
I tried to find a pic of one but can't seem to find one. I'll try to describe it I guess. It is a hand held tool that simply pushes the rubber strip into the gap into the bigger rubber seal. Hmmm.... Once the winshield in in place , in the bigger rubber seal you have to place a rubber strip into a gap in the larger seal, this keeps the windshield in place tightly and seals the deal. It is next to impossible to simply just push it in so this tool is simply a handle that has close to a 90 degree piece that goes approx 1 inch to either side of the bottom of the handle. One end gets placed into the groove of the rubber seal already in place spreading it allowing room for the rubber strip you need to install. The rubber strip is placed though a hole in the back part allowing the rubber strip to fall into the gap that the front part is allowing for it. You push this tool through this area all the way around the windshield installing the rubber strip. You will need to use lots of window cleaner during this process to keep both rubber pieces lubed so you can actually get through it. Some of the corners are hard to get around. I hope this helps as I know I didn't do a great job of decribing it
Grant
2nd item on this page is a photo of a spline tool (there are several different sizes available). 1st item are the tools used to work the windshield into the main rubber gasket. Jack
http://www.reidmfg.com/installation.html (http://www.reidmfg.com/installation.html)
little different than the one I used, this one is probably newer, much better than my desciption, thanks Jack
Grant
I did glass for 15 years...
So the question was how hard is it to take out the windshield to remove two couches for reupholstery?
The question was put out there after I reassured you all that the couches wouldn't fit out the window....
Okay, lesson #1:
They put RV furniture together with the densest grain, dryest oak known to man that our little pneumatic staplers don't have chance of driving a staple into.... and that our fiercest robo-grip locking pliers can't pull them out of without the puller sustaining a hernia or bypass surgery!!
Lesson #2
Before... let me say that word again BEFORE you start taking apart the above mentioned sofa from hell to get it out of the window that you are quite sure it won't fit out of without disassembly, take a minute and recheck your measurements because otherwise you might find like I did that your couch will indeed fit out the window. EASILY... (with your wife watching oops!) at which point you will hear and I'm quoting here:
"I thought you said that the couch wouldn't fit through the window assembled"
followed closely by
"So you didn't need to take that arm off after all huh?"
followed by the proverbial insult to injury:
"Man, that sure seemed like alot of uneccessary work".
And all God's people SAY!!!
Duh????
Let's just say that my wife is gonna get some mileage out of this blunder!!!!
Sometimes the bear get's you.... and that's all I have to say about that.
Rick
Did you go back and read the top of this thread BEFORE you started on the couch? I think someone up there suggested you see if it might fit out a side window. :D
Craig,
Do you have ....say... 5 or 6 bottles of that raspberry wine left? I just need them for an hour or two???
Oh, and you'll have to come pick up the empties ;D ;D ;D
Sometimes, folks, even Busnuts are just plain stupid. Hey, I resemble that remark.
Gumpster I knew there was no way on God's green earth you were gonna let that go without busting my chops!! I would expect no less from you my friend.
I have to say in my defense I did measure... I just didn't measure well.
Anyone need any help with framing or intricate woodworking.... Yeah, I didn't think so.
Rick
That's ok. I really didn't think you'd ever get all that furniture in your van, either.... or get it out... which BTW, you never did say if you got it out. Is it still in your van?
Sorry, all outta raspberry wine. I have plenty of banana and carrot wine though. ::)
You're gonna start making wine out of tree bark and grass.... ;D :D
We did move the furniture in that very evening. Poor neighbor's kids... I don't know if they'll ever walk upright again.
RB
Quote from: RickB on November 10, 2009, 09:36:27 AM
You're gonna start making wine out of tree bark and grass.... ;D :D
RB
That's alright as long as it is Sassafras & Blue Grass! ;D LOL!
;D BK ;D
Quote from: RickB on November 10, 2009, 09:36:27 AM
You're gonna start making wine out of tree bark and grass.... ;D :D
Close. I tried dandelion last year, and have a sunflower wine going now. The sunflower has a real earthy smell and taste. :P
Quote from: gumpy on November 10, 2009, 10:55:56 AM
Quote from: RickB on November 10, 2009, 09:36:27 AM
You're gonna start making wine out of tree bark and grass.... ;D :D
Close. I tried dandelion last year, and have a sunflower wine going now. The sunflower has a real earthy smell and taste. :P
Is that sorta like saying it tastes like dirt?! ;D
;D BK ;D
Earthy... rough translation tastes like doo doo
Knowing you Craig it'll probably taste great but let's be honest when you and John Z were in the middle of your mysterious "strokes" last month you weren't real picky about the flavor. It was quantity over quality at some point in the evening.
Funny how the effects of those "strokes" seem to be much worse in the morning....LOL
Every time I went to the coach for another bottle, I chose the highest quality wine I had. Quantity was second, but we decided there just wasn't enough quantity in each bottle! :D