Help T5 Trident window stay

Does anyone know where I might get a replacement window stay for the small acrylic window in the side of my roof?

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It has a flexible rubber link and sould look like this:
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But it now looks like this because the rubber linkage has perished:
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I have searched on line to no avail.
Autosleepers spares dept can't help me, the company who manufactured the windows has gone bust (Parapress in Belgium)

Looks like a lot of yacht portlights, might be worth asking this lot as they are helpful. Will need the sizes.
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Just an idea looking at your picture.

You could try O'Learys who specialise in discontinued parts and surplus stock or look through this selection for something that will replace it..


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Thanks m8form8, I rang seatech this afternoon, very helpfull but sadly couldn't sort me out.

Thanks Paulmold, I've looked at all their online stuff previously with no joy but prompted by you I will phone them to see what they have hiding away in the back of the stockroom!

Main problem seems to be that window stays are normally fitted on the left and right hand which is why they sell them in pairs.

This is fitted at the bottom of the window.

Hi Marcus
I have the same problem in a 2005 Topaz. Both sides have perished, which is to be expected of a rubber component after 10 years. They have not parted but fold up when the window is closed and have to be persuaded to behave as intended,
I have been looking (without too much urgency) for some sheet rubber or (preferably)   neoprene of an appropriate thickness. We have a pattern to copy and it should not be too difficult to cut one out with a pair of scissors.
Keith

Think making some will be your only hope having looked at it and making the picture as big as possible.

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Yes, I think you're right Keith, here is a close up of the rubber.
Getting the right sort of rubber will be key and maybe some deft use of a stanley blade.

It's interesting Keith that yours have lasted 10 years, mine Trident is a 2009 reg and the rubber was starting to fail at 19000 miles! I expect other owners have the same problem.

To be continued.......

Lateral thinking required here Marcus - worth a try at least.

Nothing lost if this fails:--

Drill a hole into the broken face of each part and insert a short length of thick strimmer cord. Superglue it in as thoroughly as possible, squeezing the two halves together until set, and with no more than average luck you will have a durable repair.

If it fails you still have a perfect pattern to use when fabricating a new part.

Dave

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I tried google and all sorts of similar stays came up but nothing exactly like yours. See link above.

The window is part of the AS conversion so if you ring AS parts department they will know what was used (01386 853338). It may help if you have your AS build number that should be on a label in the back of the glove box.

From the photo they look like Para Press - if so I don't think you can buy the stays separately from A/S. I tried with my last van and was told then that you have to buy the whole window! Things may have changed since then, of course...

OP states in opening post that he has tried AS spares.

Paulmold wrote:OP states in opening post that he has tried AS spares.

I was so entranced by the quality of the photos that I missed that bit at the end.

There are a few stays on eBay. Might not be exact replacement but may fit?

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There are other lengths / styles etc if you search.

Is this the stay? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Rubber !    That stuff that starts to deteriorate as soon as its made....... as we know from our tyres.
Looks to be a weak point in an otherwise good stay, and
from the picture of it being open, every time it opens, it twists...so its not mileage on the vehicle here, but age and amount of use.
I expect that one could be fabricated, say from nylon, or plastic, or even hard wood, with a single rivet, or bolt joint that will swivel at the point where it has broken......therefore it will just twist when it opens.............just a thought to play around with, for a more permanent fix.    

Marcus
I have just found and ordered a piece of neoprene sheet on Ebay.
125 x 125 x 6mm for £2.95 including p&p
I measured the thickness of mine at 6mm.
I'll try making one and keep you posted.
Keith

So many suggestions from you good people, thanks. I am chasing the leads up but haven't struck gold yet.

Peter L: that reimo stay looks so similar doesn't it but it's definitely a handed stay minus the flexible link, I'll wager it was produced in the same factory! (smart dog btw)

Peter Brown: haha I'm glad you liked my photos lol.

logburner wrote:Rubber !    That stuff that starts to deteriorate as soon as its made....... as we know from our tyres.
Looks to be a weak point in an otherwise good stay, and
from the picture of it being open, every time it opens, it twists...so its not mileage on the vehicle here, but age and amount of use.
I expect that one could be fabricated, say from nylon, or plastic, or even hard wood, with a single rivet, or bolt joint that will swivel at the point where it has broken......therefore it will just twist when it opens.............just a thought to play around with, for a more permanent fix.    

You're so right logburner, it's a design that's destined to fail. Rubber is perishable. In this situation the rubber link has to bend in two different directions as the window opens but also it has to 'twist' and I think that's a big ask from a small bit of rubber.
 As you say, some sort of universal joint would be better.
It did occur to me that if the telescopic stay had been tubular (with the male tube able to rotate inside the female tube) then the linkage itself would not need to 'twist', it would only need to gently flex a bit.

Mark

KMRTOPAZ wrote:Marcus
I have just found and ordered a piece of neoprene sheet on Ebay.
125 x 125 x 6mm for £2.95 including p&p
I measured the thickness of mine at 6mm.
I'll try making one and keep you posted.
Keith

Good effort Keith, be interesting to see how it goes.

Mark

When my plastic 'bubble' developed a crack and started to fill with water I had to buy the whole window set, but was able to remove the 'bubble' and replace it with the one from the new window set.
Personally we never open ours , cos they can be a source of water ingress if you are caught out by a shower and the staining that could follow from this is just not worth it.
We use the Hekki instead.
frederic

Sorted at last!

Replacement window stay as per original now fitted.
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I was fortunate enough to discover a man by the name of Lewis Westbury. He is at AGP. Advanced Glass Products. (Droitwich, Worcestershire)

After a lot of work he sourced the available parts and made up the window stay for me. If I said he was helpful that would be an understatement. He phoned me and emailed me a number of times before coming up with the goods.
 
After having spent months searching the net myself and after having several wrong stays posted to me I was beginning to lose hope.

For any other Trooper or Trident owners with the same problem Lewis is happy to help and says give him a ring on 01299 851525.
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