Siezed Hymer rooflight winding mechanism (1 Viewer)

[paddymcc]

The windup parallelogram skylight on my Hymer has become very stiff. I had applied grease to the external cogs but this hasn't helped. I think I may need to access the mechanism on the inside. I need to take off the surround with the light fittings. Does this just prise off? Any advice appreciated as always (apart from despair and give up!)
Paddy

 

[Lenny HB]

Unclip the end panels and side trims and you will find the Torx head screws that hold it in place.

 

[Detnor]

Paddy, on mine it was the vertical shaft from the handle, it was just seized from a build up of muck and lack of lubrication, although the gear at right angles needed a good clean and lubricating. Yours may be different, but all I had to do was take the handle off and I was able to push the spindle up, be careful, that needs to be watertight. I took a toothbrush and soapy water to the plastic cogs and it freed them up, then lubricated well.
Norman

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[nomade690]

The rooflight mechanism seized up on my hymer caravan and it was caused by rain leaking into the tube surrounding the winding handle mechanism. It was rusted solid.

 

[Wagoneer]

I had a seized winder on a 2002 Hymer.

I accessed the vertical winder from the outside. Detached the arms from the winding mechanism and supported the skylight with blocks of wood. This allows you to disassemble the gearbox and extract the vertical shaft (after unscrewing the handle). Cleaned the shaft and outer tube, both of which were slightly corroded and repacked with grease.

After reassembly, don't forget to remove the blocks of wood....I became very close to breaking the skylight

 

[DavidG58]

Just before you dismantle anything sometimes ours appear to stick but is the seal if not used for a while or in hot weather can stick

Apply pressure upwards with your hand while winding, ours releases with quite a twang sometimes

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[mitzimad]

Just before you dismantle anything sometimes ours appear to stick but is the seal if not used for a while or in hot weather can stick

Apply pressure upwards with your hand while winding, ours releases with quite a twang sometimes

we were told by the engineer on hand over, to always push it up when opening as it stops the gears taking the weight

 

[paddymcc]

Thanks everyone. Task less daunting now. I think it probably is the spindle from your comments.
Paddy

 

[paddymcc]

Tried to access the spindle but it appears I will have to remove the cogs. and because the skylight doesn't open much I will probably need to remove the circlips. Are these a standard part from motorfactors?
They are about 8mm (eyeball rather than a caliper measurement)

Paddy

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[Manic]

Not sure about Motorfactors but found these.

Starlock Washers For Shaft Retaining Push On Clips A2 Stainless Steel | eBay

Starlock Washers For Shaft. High quality Starlock Washers made of A2 Stainless Steel and toAN 82 standards. A2 Stainless Steel. MACHINE PAN HEAD. FLANGED BUTTON HEAD. BUTTON HEAD. Individual features such as text on the head may vary.

rover.ebay.com

 

[paddymcc]

Thanks Manic - I didn't know what to call them so that's really helpful.

 

[paddymcc]

Just an update. Managed to squirt some WD40 into the vertical spindle from above (that the handle attaches to on the inside) by using the flexible tube. Left overnight and today was able to wind all the way up. Suspect I may need to regrease the spindle but at least working for now. To avoid breaking the handle I took it off and used a mole wrench.

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[LPB]

Tried to access the spindle but it appears I will have to remove the cogs. and because the skylight doesn't open much I will probably need to remove the circlips. Are these a standard part from motorfactors?
They are about 8mm (eyeball rather than a caliper measurement)
View attachment 316716
Paddy

paddymcc what size starlock washers did you use when you put the rooflight back on please?
Were the originals easy to remove?
Thanks,
Lloyd
Lloyd

 

[Manic]

I used 8 mm star lock washers (best get stainless ones), if you hold old ones with pliers and twist them they break.


 

[paddymcc]

Hi LPB I didn't need to remove the roof light in fact as it was slightly open and I was able to get the WD40 tube to the spindle from above. I left it overnight and then was able to gradually increase the movement. It has moved freely since - Good luck!

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[Paddywack]

If its plastic gears, although the WD40 may have freed it off, use some proper grease. WD40 and plastic is not a good mix - it causes it to swell.

 

[LPB]

Thank you.

 

[JockandRita]

I use 3in1 oil for the metal tubes and threads, then silicone spray oil for the plastic crown gears.

As advised by Omnistor/Thule at Menen, I also use silicone oil spray on the plastic working parts and guides of the large wind out awning.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[Houlie]

This thread has been really useful today, when I found my Hymer caravan roof light has seized solid over the past year.
I’ve had to drill a 3mm hole in the side of the plastic roof light to get some aerosol lubricant into the gear shaft. If that doesn’t work, it’ll be time for a more radical approach and Starlock washers ....

 

[JockandRita]

This thread has been really useful today, when I found my Hymer caravan roof light has seized solid over the past year.
I’ve had to drill a 3mm hole in the side of the plastic roof light to get some aerosol lubricant into the gear shaft. If that doesn’t work, it’ll be time for a more radical approach and Starlock washers ....

Good luck with it Houlie.

Let us know how you get on please.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[cjbrooker]

I have the exact same roof light as paddymcc on my Hymer C class. I've removed the surround inside and still couldn't rotate the spindle with mole grips. I've got on top of the van and removed the star lock washers that hold the roof light to get to the winding mechanism and crown gears. Cleaned them up and sprayed some WD40 to the top of the spindle but it still won't budge. Any ideas?

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[GBL]

I’ve got exactly the same problem as cjbrooker with my 2008 Hymer 504 SL. Completely jammed and silicone not helping. Any other ideas? I’m travelling to Portugal tomorrow and cannot get any motorhome specialists to help.

 

[paddymcc]

I used a monkey wrench on the metal spindle to get it moving. The danger is that this can crush the splines. It seized up again this year and I ended up taking the skylight off as the sealant was leaking. I took the spindle our completely to clean and grease it. It's been fine since and moves freely

 

[GBL]

Thanks for the prompt response. I’ll get a monkey wrench and try that. I’m aware of the need to avoid stripping the spines, so will be extra careful. Did you take the spindle out from above (ie on roof) of down into the cabin?

Fingers crossed. It’s very hot in Portugal just now and max ventilation needed.

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[paddymcc]

You have to push it up but it can only go up once you have removed the horizontal rod that forms part of the winding mechanism. If the skylight is closed you will need to take this off by removing the Star washers. If it's in the raised position you might be able to undo the nuts that connect the horizontal rod from outside without removing the skylight.
The star washers are 8mm and you will need new ones if you have to take the skylight off

 

[GBL]

Thank you. Your help is very much appreciated. A local motorhome repair shop told me that the star washers are non-standard and can only be bought from Hymer; it was said almost with glee! So, if needed, I’ll get the 8mm you referenced. My roof light is locked in the closed position and I will feel much more comfortable removing it to access the mechanism. Thanks again. (I’m 72 and not a natural mechanic….so your advice is all the more appreciated).

 

[paddymcc]

Hope you can loosen it up okay.
It wasn't easy getting the star washers back on. I used a socket wrench that fitted over the metal spindle, probably 12mm. I also had to stop the skylight moving when hitting the spindle and fashioned a length of wood to brace against the skylight frame to stop it moving.

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[HariSeldon]

GT40 is a good lubricant and cleaning agent, used a lot on bikes, PTFE based and its typically about £2.50 to £3 online.

 

[wfdTamar]

I've just pulled my whole skylight off to reseal it and lube the mechanism. It's quite easy. If you have everything you need, you can do it in a day. You need:
- 4x8mm starlock washers/clips (NOT star tooth washers). I wanted stainless, but couldn't find them, so got spring steel ones which I think might be stronger anyway. They were so hard to get on I had to bend the teeth a bit with needle nosed pliers, but I've noticed they've backed off the shaft a bit, so you really want to try to get them on as they are. DO NOT LEVER against the skylight to get them off or on or you'll crack it.

Amazon product ASIN B07FS7QY8R
- Mastic strip and/or a tube of sealant (and a cartridge gun). I used 19mm wide mastic and sealant around the edge.

- A barrier to put between the steel winder brackets (steel) and roof (aluminium) to prevent corrosion damage to the roof. I had some left over Eternabond (extremely sticky tape with one smooth surface).

- Scaper and 'Sticky Stuff Remover'. This stuff is great for removing the remains of sealant after you've used a scraper to get the worst off.

- There is an O-ring on the shaft which you'd like to replace ideally. I didn't as I didn't know about it until I got it off and couldn't wait for a new one. It was in ok condition anyway.

You may have damage to the roof from the bracket rusting. To fix that after you've cleaned up the sealant use wire brush, wet & dry paper. If it's really bad you may need to fill the damage, but given you'll be putting the bracket back over it, you don't need to be too fussy, as long as it's cleaned and sealed properly. Mine had been there 20 years, had some damage which cleaned up ok. I painted it with a Fiat White paint touch up kit.

The inner beige plastic trim around the whole opening is very brittle. You don't really need to take it off anyway if you only want to reseal the skylight and fix the mechanism.

I would say based on my 20 year old Hymer, if you're taking the mechanism off to clean and lube it, you very well might as well take everything off the roof - skylight and winder mechanism brackets as they very likely will be leaking or close to and the steel brackets rusting. I wire brushed and sanded the rust off the brackets and put anti rust goo on. Painted them, then put fresh sealant and the barrier tape I mentioned on them before reseating them. Pulled apart all the gears and cleaned them, lubed with silicone spray. Resealed the skylight with the mastic and sealant. It winds up and down as good as new now.

Even managed to get the dead flies out of the centre of the skylight while I had it off (just tilted till they hit the little hole, the pried the out with a needle). I wish I'd had the can of white Plastic-Dip spray I ordered when I had it off, as I plan to spray the top for summer.

 

[GBL]

We are on the move, so this is just a brief note of appreciation for the excellent suggestions and insights. I am still trying to free up the spindle as I am very nervous about getting the roof light itself off. I went up to study the star washers and concluded it’s beyond my pay grade to get them off and new ones refitted without doing damage. I think a local motorhome company will take a look, but in the meantime I’ve got a mole grip which I will use from below to try to shift it. I can’t understand how it has become completely immovable in the space of a few months since I last used it; it was not turning easily but it’s now as though metal has fused to metal. I’ll report back in due course. Thanks again.

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