Cobra trailer trim

I would like to replace the plastic bumper trim around the sides of my Cobra trailer. I did this to a Cobra a number of years ago and remember it being a nightmare. Has anyone done this and, if so, do you have any tips to make it easier. This is a ASH 25 trailer and is two feet longer than standard so will be quite a length to pull through the channel.
Thanks Dale

Call Rex and Noelle at Williams Soaring Center.
They are Cobra dealers. They have all the parts.
They have done this and helped people do it many times.

It's a tough job, and the extra two feet will make it harder. You will need to do the following:
- Remove any nicks or bumps anywhere on the aluminum extrusion, then clean or polish as necessary to make it as smooth as possible.
- Get the instructions from Spindelberger or Williams and use the exact type of dish soap they recommend for lubricating the track.
- Trim the leading edge to help it feed in the track.
- You'll need at least two good friends - one to spray lubricant in front of you and one to push on the trim and spray more of it where you have been. Also to spot areas where it as popped out of the track. You will need to reward them afterwards.
- Will also need some vise grips to grab the trim for pulling. If you have lower back problems don't even think of doing this. It's tough. If it slips out of the track you can use plastic auto trim tools to push it back in.
- After it's in, let it sit for a few hours to shrink back to normal shape before trimming the ends.
Looks good when it's done, but not sure I'd do it again. Plan B would be remove the glider, park the trailer over flammable materials... Never mind. That's probably illegal.
Good luck.

I tried changing the bumper trim on my new cobra trailer a few years ago due to sun rot. The red has turned a brittle pink. I purchased the replacement Cobra trim from Rex as well. I was too cool to read the instructions and have a big scar on my ankle to prove it. I cleaned up the dried dirt caked on in channel (taking 3-4 hours) as you should but didn't do the main trick...more on that later...

I could pull the trim through 2/3 of the way and then it was impossible to do more. Also thought of the vice grips idea. A few more feet but it was stuck. Got soap...another foot. Still 8 feet short. "Darn!" Keeping it clean since there were children present watching the debacle.

I had the brilliant idea to get a come-along and attach to the vice grips. 4 to 5 failed attempts later the channel plastic ripped out and the metal vice grips shot like a slingshot right at me and hit me in the ankle smack dab on the bone that sticks out at your sock line. Oh it felt so good!!! Speaking of socks, it turned quite read quite quickly.

So. Now what after the bleeding stopped 3 days later? Time to call Rex and ask what I am doing wrong. They asked, "You are soaking it in hot water right before putting on right?" Uhhhh, thanks....

Slid on like butter with no come-along the first try after doing it right. Duh! Sure made the trailer look like it was new. Have fun and yes it is well worth it.

Bruno - B4

On Thursday, August 29, 2013 5:27:27 PM UTC-6, wrote:
I would like to replace the plastic bumper trim around the sides of my Cobra trailer. I did this to a Cobra a number of years ago and remember it being a nightmare. Has anyone done this and, if so, do you have any tips to make it easier. This is a ASH 25 trailer and is two feet longer than standard so will be quite a length to pull through the channel. Thanks Dale

On Thursday, August 29, 2013 5:27:27 PM UTC-6, wrote:
I would like to replace the plastic bumper trim around the sides of my Cobra trailer. I did this to a Cobra a number of years ago and remember it being a nightmare. Has anyone done this and, if so, do you have any tips to make it easier. This is a ASH 25 trailer and is two feet longer than standard so will be quite a length to pull through the channel. Thanks Dale

Did it last winter by myself without much drama. The vise grip trick worked, as did the dish soap. Heating it might be a good idea. the key was getting the channel clean and soaped, and setting up a good system for feeding the plastic into the channel. I let it feed over the back of a folding chair. Good luck. TimOn Thursday, August 29, 2013 5:27:27 PM UTC-6, wrote:
I would like to replace the plastic bumper trim around the sides of my Cobra trailer. I did this to a Cobra a number of years ago and remember it being a nightmare. Has anyone done this and, if so, do you have any tips to make it easier. This is a ASH 25 trailer and is two feet longer than standard so will be quite a length to pull through the channel. Thanks Dale

wrote, On 8/29/2013 7:23 PM:
I tried changing the bumper trim on my new cobra trailer a few years
ago due to sun rot. The red has turned a brittle pink. I purchased
the replacement Cobra trim from Rex as well. I was too cool to read
the instructions and have a big scar on my ankle to prove it. I
cleaned up the dried dirt caked on in channel (taking 3-4 hours) as
you should but didn't do the main trick...more on that later...

I could pull the trim through 2/3 of the way and then it was
impossible to do more. Also thought of the vice grips idea. A few
more feet but it was stuck. Got soap...another foot. Still 8 feet
short. "Darn!" Keeping it clean since there were children present
watching the debacle.

I had the brilliant idea to get a come-along and attach to the vice
grips. 4 to 5 failed attempts later the channel plastic ripped out
and the metal vice grips shot like a slingshot right at me and hit me
in the ankle smack dab on the bone that sticks out at your sock line.
Oh it felt so good!!! Speaking of socks, it turned quite read
quite quickly.

So. Now what after the bleeding stopped 3 days later? Time to call
Rex and ask what I am doing wrong. They asked, "You are soaking it
in hot water right before putting on right?" Uhhhh, thanks....

Slid on like butter with no come-along the first try after doing it
right. Duh! Sure made the trailer look like it was new. Have fun and
yes it is well worth it.

I did it in full sun at 100+ degrees, so the vinyl stayed soft and
flexible. My wife stood in the shade and helped feed it into the track.
I think she felt lucky I didn't have her out in the sun, too (do I look
that stupid?).

I sprayed Pam in the track ahead of the strip I was pulling in, and Pam
on the stuff that was entering the track. It went well, even though my
trailer box is 30 feet long because it's for the one-piece wings on my
18 meter glider.

The downside of using Pam was stray dogs would stand around the end of
the trailer, licking Pam off the rear corners, as the excess seeped out
over the next few months.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

Thanks everyone for the tips. I won't need to be placed on suicide watch this time around

On Monday, September 2, 2013 10:01:59 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Thanks everyone for the tips. I won't need to be placed on suicide watch this time around

And, thanks for asking the question, Dale. I, too, have a Cobra for an ASH-25, but two feet longer than normal. I am stretching it for a 19 meter span, two piece wing plane I have. Why is yours longer than a "normal" 25 trailer? Just made long enough to leave the longer tips on in the trailer?

Steve Leonard
BSK, N5681 (19 meter stretch and mod of Glasflugel BS1)