This discussion was started in another thread (will come back and post link), but since that thread was originally about some completely different windows, and since I have an update, I figured I'd start a new thread to make it easier to find (thread title will show up in search, is obvious).
The windows this topic applies to are the single pane Concourse windows used (just) prior to when they went to double pane, which I think was around 2000. I'm pretty sure I have heard of this style on at least 1997, 1998, and 1999 Concourses; not sure if they would apply to other years or to Premier windows.
On this window style, the screen does not ride in its own track, like is often the case. Instead, it rides on the inner rim of the main track (that the opening window pane rides in). Nothing holds it in place except for small plastic clips. No clips, no screen stay in - it just falls out and you have a screen/frame in your hand (or on the floor...)
When I got my rig, the sink side window had a full complement of clips (six, although seven might be even better). So I could see how it should be. The stove side screen was (sort of) held in by mounds of tape. I found one precious clip on the floor behind the club chair. I then carried this clip around for two years, stopping in to every new/old/dusty RV place I could find. No-one knew a thing about it. I also scoured the web (Google, Pellandent, Interstate Metals, and on and on). No dice. I also called Aubrey's RV, and they seemed to know the clips I was referring to, but said they had never been able to get them, even though they had tried.
All this time, although I was looking at any and all clips, I thought the windows were SE-GI brand. That's because there was a SE-GI glass pamphlet in the big book of instruction manuals and the like that came with my Chinook. And for while I thought SE-GI was out of business. (Then VTSweetPea here set me straight). Here is what we are talking about:
So we talked about what markings were on the glass. It's "Janel" glass. He said they did use Janel glass, but then so did other companies, such as Hehr. He said the true ID label would likely be on the inside of the flange, so only viewable if removing the whole window from the coach. Usually Hehr has a small red logo, but mine don't have that. He also said that in that era, Trail Wagons went back and forth between Hehr and SE-GI, so that might explain why the SE-GI brochure was in with my Chinook manuals by mistake. (SE-GI now makes their own glass, but at that time they were using Janel glass, like is in my windows). My windows also have "buttons" screwed into the top track to limit how far you can open the window. These buttons are listed as a Hehr part (I found later). SE-GI uses a piece of plastic laid in the lower track for the same function.
So even though it doesn't look like I have SE-GI windows, he was super helpful and has now sent me out some track pieces that, while clearly not the correct ones, might be modified to fit. What great customer (or in this case, not-even-a-customer) service! I don't have the clips yet, but they should arrive later this week.
Meanwhile, as soon as we got off the phone I did another search, this time concentrating on Hehr, and within two minutes had found my clips. DISCONTINUED!
Parkin (who distribute Hehr stuff) has them on their website (second row on left), but have removed the part number and put the word discontinued there instead. Darnitall! I also then found threads with several other folks looking for them, all to no avail. The only slight success was that someone found a few in an RV salvage yard, but they were brittle/broken.http://www.parkin-acc.com/page52.html
There is another Hehr clip that on first glance looks similar (and is still made), but actually the flanges go the wrong way, so not useful looking.
I will contact Hehr though just to see. Maybe they do have some old dusty ones, or if nothing else, maybe a drawing that could aid in 3D printing some new ones.
In the meantime, I took inspiration from RetiredTim here, and the fellow at SE-GI, and tried making my own. I don't have much with me for that type of raw materials, but I cut up a fat drinking straw and managed to make some that do at least hold the screen in place as I sit here in camp. Cross ventilation!!!! I don't think they will stand up to either driving or sliding the screen, but it's a start. They are definitely not putting any stress or distortion on the screen, which I worried that something like hose might, although maybe it doesn't (that's what RetiredTim used). Thanks to Tim for the idea of making something - having seen the real clips, which have a thin, complicated extrusion shape, I couldn't envision making something (maybe he never saw the real clips, so had a more open mind?).
I will keep folks posted, but wanted to start this thread now since we were all just talking about these.
If you have this style window screens/clips, it would be great if you could post your year and model of Chinook, so we can identify the range (my guess is 1997-1999 Concourse for sure, maybe 1996. Premiers?).
Here is a link to the previous thread, which was actually started about a completely different style of windows (in a 1994 Concourse) but morphed into talking about the screen clips:
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=461
the windows are in such great shape - as well they should be as 15 years is not a long lifespan for a window - that it's somewhat irksome they would make critical parts obsolete. I have Hehr windows in an early 1970's trailer that are still nearly as good as new, so come on!)
