How do you clean cabin door tracks
- Thread starter chazaroo
- Start date
- Oct 12, 2006
- 1,974
- Boat Info
- "On Vacation"
2006 40 Sundancer
Raymarine E125 & HD Radar + Garmin 5208
- Engines
- QSB5.9 380 Cummins
There are a few posts on this topic but to summarize my process... I first vaccum whatever I can from the tracks. Then I use either a water hose (low pressure) or an air compressor and nozzle to get the rest of the gunk out of the top and bottom tracks. Once dry, I apply a track lubricant designed for the purpose of lubricating tracks, slide the door back and forth a few times, then apply some more lube whereever I can on the track and door pickups. I stay away from WD40 and similar 'wet' products as they will attract more of the gunk and not really help. Found the track lubricant in the RV section of Walmart. $6 for a large can. I think the key is to keep it clean (preventative maintenance) so that you avoid breaking the thing.
- Oct 3, 2006
- 4,404
- Boat Info
- 280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
- Engines
- twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Don’t feel bad.
I also used WD-40 in the past. At first it works very good. The issue is it attracts black junk and then this junk seems to come out the track at the end. It makes a mess and I had to wipe the area often.
I tried different lubricants. Silicone did not seem to attract the junk but it did not work well either. Ditto with Teflon spray lubricant.
Eventually I came across lubricant for roller blade wheels and it worked well and has not attracted black junk and does not leak out the end of the track. I also found it at Wal*Mart.
This is the first I have heard of the RV track lube. Excellent idea. :thumbsup:
I also used WD-40 in the past. At first it works very good. The issue is it attracts black junk and then this junk seems to come out the track at the end. It makes a mess and I had to wipe the area often.
I tried different lubricants. Silicone did not seem to attract the junk but it did not work well either. Ditto with Teflon spray lubricant.
Eventually I came across lubricant for roller blade wheels and it worked well and has not attracted black junk and does not leak out the end of the track. I also found it at Wal*Mart.
This is the first I have heard of the RV track lube. Excellent idea. :thumbsup:
- Oct 12, 2006
- 1,974
- Boat Info
- "On Vacation"
2006 40 Sundancer
Raymarine E125 & HD Radar + Garmin 5208
- Engines
- QSB5.9 380 Cummins
WD40 is great but not for every application. If the lube stays wet (which WD40 does) it will attrack dust and dirt and lose effectiveness in the track. Some lubs work as dry lubricants. Teflon and sime silicones work this way. When at the store, do a test - spray it on your forearm or some other smooth surface and wait a minute. If it is still wet, it's not the right lube for this job.
Asureyez
New Member
- Apr 22, 2007
- 1,535
- Boat Info
- Sea Ray 460 Sundancer Hardtop 2001 - SOLD
- Engines
- Cummins 450 Diesels
Track Cleaning
I spray the track with my blue cleaner (Zep Non Amoinia Window @ 10:1) and run the door in and out several times. Then I use a water hose, with a slow stream and at the same time wet vac the water out about as fast as it hits the track. I have a small wet/dry vac by DeWalt that works great for so may boat projects it's earned a permanent place in the hold.
If that doersn't ge tit all on the first pass I use old tooth brushes to add some agitation and repeat the process.
After the track is dry I often don't need any lube, if I do I use dry CRC silicone spray.
I spray the track with my blue cleaner (Zep Non Amoinia Window @ 10:1) and run the door in and out several times. Then I use a water hose, with a slow stream and at the same time wet vac the water out about as fast as it hits the track. I have a small wet/dry vac by DeWalt that works great for so may boat projects it's earned a permanent place in the hold.
If that doersn't ge tit all on the first pass I use old tooth brushes to add some agitation and repeat the process.
After the track is dry I often don't need any lube, if I do I use dry CRC silicone spray.
