Re: Sivrtnge2'S 82 Eagle Model 10
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 5:30 pm
Ok eagle fans here is my number one complaint about the eagle bus construction. When these buses were built they used a nice piece of anodized trim to hide the midline seam. It looks good and is one of the distinguishing features of the bus. It has a nice pc. Of matched plastic base behind it.
The windows while giving the effect of being mounted on the skin are actually mounted directly to the bus frame. The frame was painted black to make the install look seamless.
This causes several problems. First if the window leaks, it puts water in direct contact with the frame. One ones I have torn down have only red oxide primer on the inside of the frame. Not very good rust preventive
The big one is that the skin is applied directly under the window. It is riveted directly to the frame behind that nice pc. Of trim. They used a sealer behind it. But a 40-45' coach does tend to twist and flex as it makes its way down the highway. In its service life that could be anywhere from 100k, to a million miles plus. Now that sealer is not bonded to the frame, but to the primer which will turn loose with the first sign of moisture. This only leaves the .093 skin and a few aluminum rivets to prevent all that water running down the windows from going inside. Did I mention the fact that during those miles and twists prompt what is called electrolysis? Aluminum acts as the sacrificial anode. A small current is created when two dissimilar metals rub together. The softer metal is slowly destroyed by the current. This means the rivets slowly give up. Then all that water can go all the way down to the bays!!
The converter actually put an aluminum skin over the frame around the windows. Problem is they butt jointed the upper and lower, then covered it with aluminum tape. I prefer to take the rivets loose from the top, and slide the aluminum under it, and lap over the lower skin. That way even if the rivets and sealer fail, the water will still be deflected to the outside of the bus.
The windows while giving the effect of being mounted on the skin are actually mounted directly to the bus frame. The frame was painted black to make the install look seamless.
This causes several problems. First if the window leaks, it puts water in direct contact with the frame. One ones I have torn down have only red oxide primer on the inside of the frame. Not very good rust preventive
The big one is that the skin is applied directly under the window. It is riveted directly to the frame behind that nice pc. Of trim. They used a sealer behind it. But a 40-45' coach does tend to twist and flex as it makes its way down the highway. In its service life that could be anywhere from 100k, to a million miles plus. Now that sealer is not bonded to the frame, but to the primer which will turn loose with the first sign of moisture. This only leaves the .093 skin and a few aluminum rivets to prevent all that water running down the windows from going inside. Did I mention the fact that during those miles and twists prompt what is called electrolysis? Aluminum acts as the sacrificial anode. A small current is created when two dissimilar metals rub together. The softer metal is slowly destroyed by the current. This means the rivets slowly give up. Then all that water can go all the way down to the bays!!
The converter actually put an aluminum skin over the frame around the windows. Problem is they butt jointed the upper and lower, then covered it with aluminum tape. I prefer to take the rivets loose from the top, and slide the aluminum under it, and lap over the lower skin. That way even if the rivets and sealer fail, the water will still be deflected to the outside of the bus.