R25 front port side window stuck closed

[River Bank]

I cannot get the side window to open.
Worried about breaking the glass if I force it much more.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[baz]

This has been a common problem for the R-25. It also is an issue on mine. Quite honestly I've not done anything about it, except I close it very carefully to not latch completely closed but closed enough to avoid water from entering. This makes it open in a jiffy without any struggle. It's important for having this window open quickly when you need to get a fender out/down on that side as most of us have a fender squeezed between the cabin and the first rail.

If you search the forum you should find postings about this and maybe solutions people have arrived at.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Hi Merlot:

I have the same problem on our R27 and a prior boat as well. I find it easier to release the window if you force it forward a little harder then you might usually do. When I do this I hear a clicking noise and then when I press in the handle to pull the window back it usually opens after a pull or two. It also helps to rinse the track out with fresh water from time to time and spray the latch with a high grade lubricant. Let us know how things work out.

 

[Tug@myHeart]

Wash out very well with water let dry.... then I use Roadmaster Heavy Duty Silicone RV lube. IT Drys dry. They stay lubed for a few months.

 

[Levitation]

Sil-Glyde - at auto stores, such as NAPA. Use a Q-tip to apply to the track

Use a bright light to be sure the latch is completely released.
Use a piece of soft wood, pine, as a twist block. 3/4" X 3" X 6"
Stick one end between the latch handle and the frame, hold the latch depressed with a finger, and twist.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

After having this forum discussion we had a stuck window over last weekend and no matter how hard I tried I could not budge the window open. When I got home I cut a piece of wood, as explained by Denny-O, and applied his technique using the piece of wood as leverage and the window opened with little effort. Thanks Denny for a great and useful tip for helping get our stuck windows open. I'll be adding the piece of wood to my onboard bag of tools.

 

[lbrown]

Check to see if latch is disengaging from window frame. I had to bend frame out slightly to release entirely.--Leonard

 

[HaraldG]

My R31 has the same problem. My wife can't open it at all. A bit of lift and jiggle then I can open it, but it is a royal PITA.

 

[Lone Star Ranger]

Take a big heavy rock and throw...oh wait, never mind!!! :lol:

 

[Gin]

We have the same problem on our port side forward most window. Ours is a 2013 R27. Can't help but wonder why everyone appears to have the problem on the port side . . . seems like an issue that the factory ought to weigh in on (Andrew? Kenny?).

We've tried the lubes that folks have recommended, but they haven't helped. It seems to be a function of the window being a bit out of square and "torquing" in some way that causes it the latch to jam when it is closed. Not sure that's it, but on ours, it seems more structural than an issue of a sticking track. And ours seems to be getting harder to open with the passage of time. Either that, or it is harder with the cold (we are going into our first fall/winter with the boat).

Guess we will be trying a soft wood block soon . . .

For Leonard - how did you go about bending the frame out? (Not that I'm anxious to try that . . . )

Gini

 

[PhilR]

I might as well join in.....my forward most port side window sticks something terrible! What must go on at the factory that afflicts only this window? Oh...I forgot, the window over the galley sticks too.

Phil

 

[Levitation]

I have not been suspicious of the frame being distorted as the cause.
What I am seeing is that the track gets tight and the window is not fully forward when you shut it - lacks 10 to 20 thousandths of an inch (sorry, I don't do metric being an ugly american)
This causes the latch to bind when you try to depress it to open the window.
Use the heel of your hand (or your block of wood) to bang the window forward.
Fully depress the latch (shine a light on it and make sure) and use the block of wood to pop it open (twist).
Now clean the felt well and lubricate (I prefer Sil GLyde and a Q-tip)
Should work smoothly.
If not - then I'm wrong 😱

 

[kevinflanagan]

We've had the same problems on all our windows. Tried cleaning and using lube(don't remember which), didnt make much of a difference.

Like someone said in a previous post, not totally latching the window completely works, but there are too many times I forget and slam it shut quickly. We need to try the piece of wood, I've used a spoon for leverage and that works also.

 

[Andrew Custis]

It is from the rubber on the inside where the glass meets. I would suggest using some sort of lubricant as stated earlier in the section and it should help out. I have also found if you don't slam the windows shut and close them gently, it makes it much easier to slide.

 

[wefings]

This is the "secret Weapon" for lubrication in the Wefings shop .
Great stuff . Works for a number of applications . Borrowed from the aircraft industry.......
Marc

 

[bluestreak]

Our auxiliary patrol boat has a sticky window, right side, and we have used "Liquid Rollers" from West Marine.
Leaves no residue or odor after application.

 

[baz]

It is from the rubber on the inside where the glass meets. I would suggest using some sort of lubricant as stated earlier in the section and it should help out. I have also found if you don't slam the windows shut and close them gently, it makes it much easier to slide.

Closing the port side Nav window gently has been my policy ever since it got stuck shut one day. Not had a problem with it since.

I suspect the issue is related to one having to use the left arm rather than the right arm for unlatching and sliding the window. So, it's maybe that 'lefties' don't have this problem.... just a thought. :lol:

 

[Gin]

Problem solved.

I followed this advice from Andrew:

I have also found if you don't slam the windows shut and close them gently, it makes it much easier to slide.

Got the window open, closed it by just gently pushing it past the point where it latched. It opened with almost no effort. For our boat, this works like a charm!

- Gini

 

[Kaptajnen]

Same problem on our 2018 R-31S.

I have tried lubricating with SIL-GLYDE and washing the track with Salt-Away… after that it opened just a tad…but now it is back not budging.

I guess I will try the block of wood…

 

[Kaptajnen]

Finally got the window opened. Culprit was a piece of plastic in the upper track and once I removed that the window is sliding back and forth very smoothly.
I have reached out to Ranger Tugs to find out the purpose of the item is.