09-20-2024, 07:50 AM
Overnight the 12v pump in my Aquahot bay was running frequently so off I go on the quest to find the leak/leaks. I found 3 pinhole leaks in the bedroom slide out along the topside of the slide. This probably occurred from a metal shaving falling on top of the slide after replacing all of the vent fans on the roof.
What you need:
1. Spray bottle for spraying leak finding solution: The smaller size works best for tight areas. Something like this https://shorturl.at/01Ebm.
2. Leak finding solution: Kids Bubble solution or make your own using 1/3 dish soap, 1/3 glycerin (https://shorturl.at/Vne9O) & 1/3 water.
3. Rubberized super glue (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CB51...UTF8&psc=1)
4. Small putty knife or something to apply the glue. Preferably one that could be bent slightly.
Finding & Fixing leak:
I would think it is more likely to get a puncture on the top of the seals due to debris falling on top of the slide-outs so I would check there first. For the inside you may be able to hear it if you turn off anything making noise. You may need to bring in the slide to remove the valance. Bring in the slide enough to pass the seam in the ceiling and remove the valance by pushing up towards the ceiling removing it from the french cleat bracket. put the slide back out and re-inflate the seal. You may need to remove other trim and the debris brush covering the seal to access. I only needed to remove enough screws to pull them back and access the area. If you hear the leak spray it with the leak finding solution to find the leak.
2. Once you find the area creating the bubbles you found the leak. Mine had 1 on the side (inside) and 2 on the bottom. Clean the area with 90% isopropyl alcohol and the surrounding area. You will want to deflate your seal and clean the bottom part of the seal. While you have access, clean the matting surface to make sure there is no metal debris to damage your seal again. Once the seal is clean & dry, mark the areas with a sharpie marker. I also put some marks above the seal to help me find the area again as it is hard to see the marks on the black seal.
3. Prepare the rubberized super glue by shaking it real good. For leaks on the bottom of the seal (area that mates with the slide), place the amount you think would cover the leak on the tip of your putty knife. Apply to the leak area and try to work it in a little. You may need to bend the end of the putty knife a little due to the convex shape of the seal under vacuum. working it in may help pull some of the glue into the puncture area since it is under vacuum. I had 2 on the bottom close to each other so I covered about a 1/2" square. Take a dry paper towel to remove the excess glue. You may need to wrap the paper towel around the putty knife to get to it. Leave it alone for about 10 minutes then re-inflate placing a folded wet paper towel between the area with the glue was placed on the seal and the slide to prevent any wet glue from sticking to the slide. Check for leaks. Try reapplying if you didn't get it the first time or missed the leak.
4. For a leak on the side the process is similar. After cleaning the area re-inflate the seal and remove the fuse for the 12V compressor. Allow the inflated seal to release enough air through the leak to still hold it's shape. At the point the air stops leaking air out of the puncture you can apply the rubberized super glue to the leak. Work the glue into the area and leave a little extra on top of the leak, but not so much that it will drip or run. Deflate the seal activating the vacuum pump to pull some of the glue into the puncture. Make sure there is no glue between the seam line and the area where the seal mounts to so the seal is not glued to itself when compressed. Wipe the area with a dry paper towel and allow it to remain under vacuum for about 10 minutes.
This method worked for me YMMV. I'm not sure what a new seal costs, but it can't be cheap with install. This only took just over an hour to do this repair and has been holding for about a week now. This is a widely unknown method of inner tube repair many have used on cars, trucks & bicycles with regular super glue. I have used it on inner tubes holding up to 110 psi. As these seals are inflated at half that pressure, I figure it should do the trick and work even better with the rubberized super glue and combination of being put under vacuum.
Good luck with this repair should you give it a shot. Hopefully it can save you a few thousand dollars, hours of being in the shop and the overall headache of finding a location to do the repair.
What you need:
1. Spray bottle for spraying leak finding solution: The smaller size works best for tight areas. Something like this https://shorturl.at/01Ebm.
2. Leak finding solution: Kids Bubble solution or make your own using 1/3 dish soap, 1/3 glycerin (https://shorturl.at/Vne9O) & 1/3 water.
3. Rubberized super glue (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CB51...UTF8&psc=1)
4. Small putty knife or something to apply the glue. Preferably one that could be bent slightly.
Finding & Fixing leak:
I would think it is more likely to get a puncture on the top of the seals due to debris falling on top of the slide-outs so I would check there first. For the inside you may be able to hear it if you turn off anything making noise. You may need to bring in the slide to remove the valance. Bring in the slide enough to pass the seam in the ceiling and remove the valance by pushing up towards the ceiling removing it from the french cleat bracket. put the slide back out and re-inflate the seal. You may need to remove other trim and the debris brush covering the seal to access. I only needed to remove enough screws to pull them back and access the area. If you hear the leak spray it with the leak finding solution to find the leak.
2. Once you find the area creating the bubbles you found the leak. Mine had 1 on the side (inside) and 2 on the bottom. Clean the area with 90% isopropyl alcohol and the surrounding area. You will want to deflate your seal and clean the bottom part of the seal. While you have access, clean the matting surface to make sure there is no metal debris to damage your seal again. Once the seal is clean & dry, mark the areas with a sharpie marker. I also put some marks above the seal to help me find the area again as it is hard to see the marks on the black seal.
3. Prepare the rubberized super glue by shaking it real good. For leaks on the bottom of the seal (area that mates with the slide), place the amount you think would cover the leak on the tip of your putty knife. Apply to the leak area and try to work it in a little. You may need to bend the end of the putty knife a little due to the convex shape of the seal under vacuum. working it in may help pull some of the glue into the puncture area since it is under vacuum. I had 2 on the bottom close to each other so I covered about a 1/2" square. Take a dry paper towel to remove the excess glue. You may need to wrap the paper towel around the putty knife to get to it. Leave it alone for about 10 minutes then re-inflate placing a folded wet paper towel between the area with the glue was placed on the seal and the slide to prevent any wet glue from sticking to the slide. Check for leaks. Try reapplying if you didn't get it the first time or missed the leak.
4. For a leak on the side the process is similar. After cleaning the area re-inflate the seal and remove the fuse for the 12V compressor. Allow the inflated seal to release enough air through the leak to still hold it's shape. At the point the air stops leaking air out of the puncture you can apply the rubberized super glue to the leak. Work the glue into the area and leave a little extra on top of the leak, but not so much that it will drip or run. Deflate the seal activating the vacuum pump to pull some of the glue into the puncture. Make sure there is no glue between the seam line and the area where the seal mounts to so the seal is not glued to itself when compressed. Wipe the area with a dry paper towel and allow it to remain under vacuum for about 10 minutes.
This method worked for me YMMV. I'm not sure what a new seal costs, but it can't be cheap with install. This only took just over an hour to do this repair and has been holding for about a week now. This is a widely unknown method of inner tube repair many have used on cars, trucks & bicycles with regular super glue. I have used it on inner tubes holding up to 110 psi. As these seals are inflated at half that pressure, I figure it should do the trick and work even better with the rubberized super glue and combination of being put under vacuum.
Good luck with this repair should you give it a shot. Hopefully it can save you a few thousand dollars, hours of being in the shop and the overall headache of finding a location to do the repair.
Jim Buchanan
7+ Years of full time RV'ing in 5th wheels & coaches...Full timing again!
45' Newell #612 (Dale Earnhardt JR’s old coach), Bath & Half 3-slides
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