Slide cable seal - what do you do?

[Scott in Michigan]

Has anyone arrived at a solution to sealing the area at the slide gaskets where the slide cables pass in and out of the trailer? I'm referring to the approx. 1" slits cut in the slide gaskets that allow cable transit.

Ours came with small rectangles of a rubber like material attached to the slide gasket on the outside, but all of them pulled off quickly.

I tried auto body gasket adhesive and a few other methods, but nothing has lasted. They just pull off the slide gasket and ride along the cables.

Scott

[chuckster57]

Try cleaning them real good and use crazy glue.

[Canonman]

Same thing happened with our slides. I've had pretty good luck using 3M Black Super Weatherstripping Adhesive. I had some strips of black rubber from an old pad that I cut and used. It doesn't need to be anything special.I just cut a slit to let the cable pass through and glued it to the wiper seal where it attaches to the frame of the slide out.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/3M-Black-...SABEgLWHfD_BwE
It's not completely permanent, but it's cheap, easy and as good as the original,IMHO

[Scott in Michigan]

Tried superglue before the supposedly stronger auto trim adhesive. Both, no go.

[Canonman]

I think it helps to clean both surfaces with alcohol before gluing.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Canonman

I think it helps to clean both surfaces with alcohol before gluing.

CLEAN is key.

[jxnbbl]

This is what I've used with some waterproof patch glue:


https://a.co/d/dvNNGlG

[Sulphur1]

I made rubber ' buffers' with a cable hole and cut to allow placing over the slide cable. The glued onto outside frame with an adhesive sealant called T Rex. It's SMX technology manufactured by Soudal boasting a max strength of 320 tonnes/ square metre. It works! Problem solved.Soudal supports the Tour de France so would think it would also be in the US. Cheers

[dutchmensport]

I just gave up and decided to not worry about that little hole any more. Those rubber pads gave way 5 years ago. I attempted to glue them back on, nothing worked. I finally just gave up. So far, I've had no apparent water intrusion anywhere. Maybe, it's because that hole is just that, a cut in the rubber and the rubber seals itself back around the cable. Anyway, that was my solution.... do nothing any more.

[jsb5717]

I agree that clean is the key. I made sure all previous sealant/glue was totally removed. then cleaned thoroughly with alcohol. Then siliconed back on with a little painters tape to hold them snuggly in place until dry. It works, although it still might not be a permanent solution. I just repeat as needed.

[LHaven]

I'd avoid superglue, the stuff crystallizes and cracks off flexible material.
My first thought would be contact cement; Weldwood, or if you have it, the special cement used to reglue pipe insulation when you have to split it to install it around existing pipe.
I have one of my four rubber pads that has left the building; at some point I will find a chunk of old tire sidewall or something to replace it and try out the contact cement idea.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by LHaven

... at some point I will find a chunk of old tire sidewall or something to replace it and try out the contact cement idea.

No need to use a "tire sidewall" as it's much too stiff to mold against the slide seals and slide flange.

Go to any hardware store and ask for a sheet of "rubber gasket material". Available in sizes from 6"x6" and larger, just use scissors or a razor knife/box cutter to cut off the size you need and glue it in place. I use "tire repair kit cleaner" and then contact cement (not the latex based type). Seems to work for a couple of years, then as they start peeling, I pull them off, clean everything up (or cut a replacement) and start over....

I don't think there's any way to "do a permanent repair" that will last indefinitely. At best, expect maybe a couple years before your repair starts showing signs of deterioration.

ADDED: It's been my experience (for what it's worth) that the "silicone gasket material" doesn't adhere any better than the "silicone caulking"... If given a choice, use rubber or Neoprene, not "silicone" sheeting......

[dutchmensport]

You might try using "Mounting Tape" on the rubber cover. I've used this stuff on several projects on my Montana, and it's held great through all types of weather.

I have no guarantee it will work on rubber-to-rubber, but as sticky as this stuff is, and as tough as it is, I think it's a good contender instead of attempting to use glues:

Click here

Or, if you want to get a smaller quantity, they now have these available:

Click here also.

[Kirk's Keystone Outback.]

I replace the rubber pieces every year from a roll of neoprene rubber, because they get so beat up, and I just use black RTV, which only lasts 3-6 months before having to reapply.
I'm not overly annoyed at doing this, because it allows me to closely inspect the seals.