Sagefemme
Advanced Member
I just (nearly) completed my first "significant" project on my new-to-me 2016 Hawk flatbed, which was removing the over the bed vent that had a broken lift arm, and replacing it with a Maxxair 4000K fan. The majority of the time spent was getting the old vent out, which was very well adhered to the roof.
I placed the new fan in the opening (after applying butyl tape to the underside) making sure to first tuck the wires into the opening. I skipped putting up the roof and inspecting the wires from inside the camper because I really struggle to pop it up alone (and I was doing this project alone). This despite having replaced the old gas struts with new 40 pound struts, which made the task easier but still not easy enough.
Well, the unthinkable has happened!! A loop of the white wire from the fan motor is trapped between the roof and the flange of the fan. I cannot believe I did this despite my best attempts to make sure the wires were free before I screwed the fan down. The fan is working fine, but I now can't install the so-called "ceiling garnish" on the inside of the camper, plus I'm concerned that the wire will be damaged by being trapped in between the roof opening and the edge of the fan. It's embedded in the butyl tape, too.
I am attaching a picture from inside, but you all can picture exactly the problem.
Unscrewing and prying up the whole device seems too onerous. I have already sealed the screws and around the edge of the fan with lap sealant. I could cut the wire right next to where it disappears to the outside connect the two ends. I won't have much slack on the motor side of the wire, but it would be enough.
If I thought I could remove just a few outside screws nearest the trapped wire and GENTLY insert two magic bars (small crowbars) to pry that portion of the flange up just enough for someone inside the camper to pull the wire in, I would do that. But I'm worried about cracking the whole unit, which would make me cry .
Any sage advice?
The black wire is emerging from the motor and going where it should. The white wire above the black is taking an excursion up and outside before coming back in next to the plus sign.
Ugh.
I placed the new fan in the opening (after applying butyl tape to the underside) making sure to first tuck the wires into the opening. I skipped putting up the roof and inspecting the wires from inside the camper because I really struggle to pop it up alone (and I was doing this project alone). This despite having replaced the old gas struts with new 40 pound struts, which made the task easier but still not easy enough.
Well, the unthinkable has happened!! A loop of the white wire from the fan motor is trapped between the roof and the flange of the fan. I cannot believe I did this despite my best attempts to make sure the wires were free before I screwed the fan down. The fan is working fine, but I now can't install the so-called "ceiling garnish" on the inside of the camper, plus I'm concerned that the wire will be damaged by being trapped in between the roof opening and the edge of the fan. It's embedded in the butyl tape, too.
I am attaching a picture from inside, but you all can picture exactly the problem.
Unscrewing and prying up the whole device seems too onerous. I have already sealed the screws and around the edge of the fan with lap sealant. I could cut the wire right next to where it disappears to the outside connect the two ends. I won't have much slack on the motor side of the wire, but it would be enough.
If I thought I could remove just a few outside screws nearest the trapped wire and GENTLY insert two magic bars (small crowbars) to pry that portion of the flange up just enough for someone inside the camper to pull the wire in, I would do that. But I'm worried about cracking the whole unit, which would make me cry .
Any sage advice?
The black wire is emerging from the motor and going where it should. The white wire above the black is taking an excursion up and outside before coming back in next to the plus sign.
Ugh.