Description
The CRL Model Number FW623R is a Dual-Vent Window for the Sprinter Van 170/170EXT Van.
CRL (CR Laurence) has stuck to its roots regarding the installation method of the window. Clamp Ring installation, developed in the 1970s, utilizes a factory urethane-bonded aluminum frame as the main structural frame of the window.
To seal your FW623R Dual-Vent Window, an EPDM rubber seal is pre-applied to the aluminum frame. Once the window is installed, this seal will be compressed against the outer wall of the van, creating a weather-tight seal.
The Dual-Vent, which opens, also features a rubber seal. That way, when the vent is cranked shut, the vent glass compresses on the seal to keep moisture and air out. Since the vent glass utilizes less pressure than the main seal, there can be slight water entry when using a high-pressure hose. (For example, when washing your van, we recommend simply utilizing a shower setting to avoid access). Also, under extreme wind conditions, slight air noise can occur. The vent can generally open around 45 degrees to allow airflow.
Regarding the FW623R Dual-Vent screen, the fiberglass mesh is attached to a powder-coated aluminum frame and easily clips into the vent opening, allowing for easy attachment and removal of the screen to clean and maintain the window.
The two main components that make the magic happen for the Dual-Vent glass to tilt out are the gearbox and the torsion bar, also known as the torque bar.
The GearBox is fixed to the center cavity between the two bottom vent glasses. The gearbox is attached to the crossbar above the vent by a single rivet, and a Philips head bolt and nut combination secure the bottom of the gearbox. The gearbox has a metal spine to which a T-Handle is attached, and this is the handle you will turn to open and close your vent.
The torsion bar is a hollowed cylindrical bar that has a notch to slip into the gearbox on one end and slips into a fixed pivot bracket on the other. Two welded arms extend from the bar and have small wheels on the ends; these wheels incorporate into channel brackets attached to the vent glass. As the gearbox is turned, the bar spins and the arms extend outward or retract back into the window while the wheels glide up and down the channel to control the vent glass. To ensure the vent glass works smoothly and does not flop around, a heavy-duty spring is interconnected to the torque bar providing some pressure for a smooth, effortless function.
The Clamp Ring or Trim ring of the window is attached to the main frame of the FW623R window from the interior side. When the hole is cut in the wall, the window's main frame extends to the interior (about 1") from the outside. The clamp ring caps over the main structure are attached by #8 x 3/4" black pan-head screws. The basic idea is your van's sheet metal wall is sandwiched between the rubber seal and aluminum frame on the outside and the clamp ring on the inside.
