Sliding roof on princess v48 (2006) - problem

[brianmortensen]

I have a princess v48 with sliding roof (canvas) and there are 2 wires running down each side - my problem is that the wire on the starboard side have broken 3 times and I have mounted a new 2 mm wire 3 times now .... after a while the sliding roof wagon starts to "hang" a little so that the roof stop running equally - meaning that al of a sudden the roof despite being closed is open 5 og 10 cm's on the starboard side.

I am aware that the wire is sliding on the electric motor - that is caused by the resistance on the starboard track / wagon that starts to hang if I dont make sure to lubricate it very very often (weekly).

My problem is that the port side never have this problem - so right now
1. I am looking for spareparts
2. I am looking a manual that shows the list of spareparts
3. looking for a manual that tells me how the pressure should be on the wires

Observations

• The "sledge" is very easy moveable on the port side - the "sledge" on the starboard side is very hard to movw
• The 2 steel plates are from the port track / wagon - they are missing on the starboard track - think they might could have to do with the problem ....

Any comments / video's / anything .... much appreciated

 

[jfm]

Very hard to see the problem from your close up photos - don't know what I'm looking at.

It feels like simple mechanical problem. If starboard side has bits missing, replace the car ("sledge") on starboard side.

Manufacturer looks like Makefast.com in Wales. Ask them - they are very helpful and will probably sell you some new cars. Dave Newnham at makefast is a great person to start with.

firstnamelastname @makefast.com

 

[brianmortensen]

Agree it's hard to see whats going on - not easy to illustrate

my idea was also the replace the starboard sledge / all parts - problem is that Princess cant suplly them - but I will definately try to contact Dave Newnham at makefast

Thanks a lot.

 

[47GC]

Maybe Aquamare could help?

 

[brianmortensen]

Well - princess dont sell the sparepart and had some emails going back and forward with Dave at Fastmake - they dont sell any part but offered to sell a complete new set with "engine", tracks, sledges and wires - but that may be just a little to complex and expensive - Thanks "47GC" - I will try asking aquamare ....

If any others knows where to get parts parts (think the problem relates to the black sledges that runs on the track on starboard side "Image 7746.jpg" that seems to be the problem) or any suggestions - let me know ...

 

[roa312]

Hi Brian, I can't help you source the specific spare parts, but if everything else fails, I wanted to suggest an alternative. You could try having the parts designed in CAD and then use a online laser-cutting service where you upload the CAD file to have the parts printed in plastic, composites, or metal and sent directly to you. There are lots of online 3D printing or laser-cutting services to choose from and I'm sure you can find one local to you with Google.

If you're not proficient in CAD modeling, you could hire a freelancer - platforms like Fiverr allow you to send pictures and measurements to a freelancer for custom designs - there are many other freelance platforms to choose from as well. Additionally, if you check this forum thread on 3D printers, you'll see that many members have successfully created various boating gizmos and spare parts themselves.

In the video below (10:30), the same approach was used to construct a simple little metal spare part listed by the dealer at $135 and printed at c.$25.

 

[DinghyMan]

If you are just short of the metal plates is it worth starting by getting some of them made as a first step?

A bit of CAD, some laser cutting, and some bending would be way cheaper than buying the whole car

Second step investigate the black sliders

Is it the photo angle or is 7745 showing that its twisted?

 

[brianmortensen]

If you are just short of the metal plates is it worth starting by getting some of them made as a first step?

A bit of CAD, some laser cutting, and some bending would be way cheaper than buying the whole car

Second step investigate the black sliders

Is it the photo angle or is 7745 showing that its twisted?

Thanks for your input (no not twisted just the photo angle)

 

[brianmortensen]

Hi Brian, I can't help you source the specific spare parts, but if everything else fails, I wanted to suggest an alternative. You could try having the parts designed in CAD and then use a online laser-cutting service where you upload the CAD file to have the parts printed in plastic, composites, or metal and sent directly to you. There are lots of online 3D printing or laser-cutting services to choose from and I'm sure you can find one local to you with Google.

If you're not proficient in CAD modeling, you could hire a freelancer - platforms like Fiverr allow you to send pictures and measurements to a freelancer for custom designs - there are many other freelance platforms to choose from as well. Additionally, if you check this forum thread on 3D printers, you'll see that many members have successfully created various boating gizmos and spare parts themselves.

In the video below (10:30), the same approach was used to construct a simple little metal spare part listed by the dealer at $135 and printed at c.$25.

good idea - thanks for your input on this

 

[brianmortensen]

Ok - just an update on this - I am now an expert in sunroof parts for V48's

The overall problem with my sunroof was that the "slides" running down the track was so tight, that the wire eventually broke (has happened several times each season) and I was so fed up with this that I had to figure out a permanent solution to replacing wires"

The track is an Aluminum U-profile where the "slides" moves back and forward - I thought the slides were worn down or maybe I needed some guide-steel-slides "img 7742.jpg" that where missing on the starboard side - but what I found out was this:

In the bottom of each alu-track there is a 1mm thin steel plate that runs from one end of the slide to another - it is actually only hold in place by a screw in each end. The steel plate is in there for protecting of the alu-track, so that the steel wire that moves back and forward, does not come in direct contact with the alu-track .... however, time, heat and cold weather has made the steel plate expand just a little bit - being fitted very closely (40mm wide), has caued the middle of the steel plate to raise maybe 2 -3 mm - so that when the "slides" runs over the steel plate, the increased friction cause the wire to snap.

Solution: buy a new 3 meter x 4mm x 1mm steel plate and replace it with the original - price: US$ 35 .... the steel plate is actually replaceable with some caution without having to replace the wire ....

Hope this article and my solution might be helpful to others - thanks for you who contributed...