[T2] Sunroof

[Al Brase]

My ex wife worked for a big industrial company that had a chem lab.
Sometimes, they would analyze things that, well, were not really company
business.
They analyzed WD-40: It is kerosene and a fragrance. That's all. Nice
fragrance (Not as nice as the Sunnen Precision Hone people put in their
spray lube for piston pin assembly, tho.)
Why this is important? Kerosene is a light oil and nearly totally
volatile.After it evaporates, where will you be?
Maybe, just fine, if the lube has redistributed.
I know this: In 1990, I bought a 1982 Vanagon with a sunroof. I used it a
lot. I'd clean out the conifer (spruce) needles yearly from the drains. I'd
carry an extension ladder up there and a couple time the rope got caught in
the closing. WHOA! I stopped cranking. (I'd often be closing it while
underway.)
In about 15 years of use, I never lubed anything, nor did it feel like it
needed it. And it never failed. I know that is a bit bigger panel and  more
turns stop to  stop from a T2 sunroof, but pretty close relative. When they
are right, they work very well.
Good to know about your success.

On Wed, May 29, 2019 at 12:43 PM Chris Dreike <cdreike at gmail.com> wrote:

>  Hey guys,
> After a lot of cleaning and puzzling and installing new freshly greased
> cables and as many new plastic covers as are available, my sunroof was just
> not working well at all. I even had new plastic front slide pieces made via
> 3D printer.  I had used silicone supergrease as suggested by the folks on
> The Samba. It would slide open a bit stiffly but closing would require
> pulling the roof forward while turning the crank. Without the pulling, the
> roof did not move well at all and it would not lift into the fully closed
> position. So I invited another mechanically inclined friend over for a
> troubleshooting session who has a beautiful orange shorty bay window bus.
> We spent about 2 hours studying what was there and looking through the
> Bentley manual to try and figure this out. I suggested that the cables were
> not sliding smoothly through the corners in the stainless guide tubes. Dave
> finally said, "Let's spray down the cables with WD-40. What have we got to
> lose?"  Out came my coveted can of original WD-40 with propane propellant
> (it's about 30 years old and still sprays like new). After a bit of
> spraying and working the roof open and closed, the cables started running
> free and easy. The roof now opens and closes and moves into its parked
> position about as smooth as a baby's behind.
>
> I suppose the supergrease is just too heavy and sticky. Need to use
> something lighter.
>
> Cheers,
> Chris
> 64DD Kamper Kit
> 71 Sunroof (and it works now!)
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