GM Buffalo Window Gaskets

richard5933 · September 01, 2020, 03:49:35 PM

I want to start replacing the window gaskets which seal the push-out side windows against the body of the bus. These are the ones which are basically U-shaped and which push into the channel around the perimeter of the window frame. The two sides of the U-shape are what lay against the body to make the seal.

Today I called Luke, and he's got them. But, they are not as wide as the ones which came on my bus from the factory. They'll be about 3/16" to 1/4" narrower.

Has anyone used these new rubber gaskets to reseal windows on a Buffalo (4905, 4108, etc)? How did they work in resealing things? I'm slightly concerned that they won't be wide enough to contact the body at the proper point and will allow the windows to come in too far, resulting in a less-than-watertight seal and resulting in a window which rattles.

dtcerrato · September 01, 2020, 05:32:57 PM

What kind of $$$ does it take to replace a full window gasket? Just wondering, it's on our to do list...

richard5933 · September 01, 2020, 05:47:43 PM

Quote from: dtcerrato on September 01, 2020, 05:32:57 PM
What kind of $$$ does it take to replace a full window gasket? Just wondering, it's on our to do list...

I think about $50 per

luvrbus · September 01, 2020, 07:11:49 PM

Get the right gasket there is a guy on F/B that used the narrow rubber seal and has leaks he to is searching for his 4905 if he finds the right gasket I will post the info for you

richard5933 · September 02, 2020, 01:01:50 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on September 01, 2020, 07:11:49 PM
Get the right gasket there is a guy on F/B that used the narrow rubber seal and has leaks he to is searching for his 4905 if he finds the right gasket I will post the info for you

Do you know if he found the right gasket anywhere? I've been searching but have found nothing even close.

Right now I'm exploring having a die made so that I can have some extrusions done and get the correct size gasket. If the guy on FB never found them perhaps he wants to get in on this if I go that route? Or, anyone else need these for a Buffalo? The more involved, the lower the cost each.

buswarrior · September 02, 2020, 10:30:06 PM

Richard, call Luke. On FB, after the guy threw him under the bus, Luke explained there are two sizes, it depends what you already have, those ones may be correct for your bus, and your search will be over.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

richard5933 · September 03, 2020, 01:11:46 PM

I got the new gaskets today, and they are definitely narrower than what's on their now. Is it too narrow to work? That's hard to say. I'm guessing it is but Bill over at Luke's shop says they'll work.

Right now I'm thinking that this might be a project for next spring. With everything else I've got going on, I might just let it sit and attack this next year.

My initial thought on these gaskets is that they might sit too low in the channel around the perimeter of the aluminum window frame, and thus the rubber 'wings' that make contact with the bus body won't be wide enough. Perhaps it will help to first put a 1/8" band of neoprene in the bottom of the channel to keep them from sinking as low.

From what Bill said, GM went back and forth with the width of these gaskets, staring with the narrow and then going to the wider gaskets for a time with the Buffalo models, eventually going back to the narrow.

The only ones that are available now are the narrower ones. Would require custom order for the wider ones.

We'll see.