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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Having trouble getting windscreen on

So putting my screen back on with a new seal but I'm having a bit of trouble getting it down. I put tie down straps on each side as per Guy's suggestion but can't quite get it down. The front hook is through the hole for the top guard bolt. I've got a lot of pressure on it but still about 2mm short on the LHS and perhaps 4 or 5mm short on the RHS. It's been like it for a week and we've had some warm weather, mid 20's but I still can't get and more pressure on it. I think the seal could be fully compressed.

And more suggestions?

Greg H

Hi Greg,
I am surprised that hasn't worked! You have actually got better anchorage points for your straps than I found, but I was doing mine with the front wings in place.

You have probably tried this, but because of the bow in the bottom of the screen frame, the angle that the screen stands at also effects the compression of the screen to scuttle rubber seal. Tilting the screen down to a lower angle (rake) gives more clearance in the centre and this may help. The ratchet straps may be pulling the screen onto the body, but may at the same time be making it stand up too vertical.

Once you have the first bolt in on each side you can then re-angle the screen to match the quarter lights and get the second bolts in place.

Sounds easy doesn't it! ;-0
Guy

Maybe reversing the straps so that the ratchet mechanism is behind rather than in front of the screen may help?
Guy

I did have the straps reverssd but as the buckle end shortened it was pulling the top down not into the body. I thought at the time this wasn't what I wanted as it wasn't working too well. But if I want it raked back more I'll have another go with them swapped around.
Greg H

There seems to be a mid point that works. Rake too much and the outer screen "feet" lever themselves up from the scuttle; rake too little and the centre becomes fully compressed before the fixing legs have aligned with their bolt holes.
The other thing that may help is to use a heavy screwdriver poked into one of the pair of holes and used as a lever to pull down and align the second hole. But I would combine that with the strap arrangement - just use it for fine adjustment.

Its one of those jobs that either just seem to work first time, or one struggles on with for half a day! Good luck!
Guy

"The other thing that may help is to use a heavy screwdriver poked into one of the pair of holes"

What you need is a podger!

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

I swapped it around no real difference but what did work was that and a variety of screwdrivers in the bottom hole to leaver it down and back a bit. Managed to just get the top bolt screwed in. So you've got me 25% there. The bottom of screen is too far fwd so next bit is to pull the top of screen fwd to get the bottom hole back a bit. Unless there's another trick?

Malcolm what exactly does that podger look like? I suspect they come in a variety of shapes and size. I think I've got the right size somehwere, just have to find it. Would a 20 pounder be too big?

Half a day? More like over a week. It really is about technique and know how. We have 35degC forecast for the weekend so not sure if that'll mean soft rubber and a bit easier to do or no work on car and having a drink somewhere hiding from the heat.
Greg H

I think I remember watching Mark Evans on "an MG is born" soaking the seal in hot water first to soften it up...
C L Carter

Podger, actually a specific tool used in steelwork assembly and in the theatre. Basically a rounded metal spik that you push through the hole to align things. the one pictured is a ratchet podger, which has a ratchet socket built into it. Very handy bit of kit as they can be turned to all sorts of unsubtle purposes: hammer, chisel, scraper, marker, ... as well as the intended ones!
-Craig

C Robertson

Greg,
not what you want to hear now and it might not apply in this case anyway – I’ve found the profile and even size of some other aftermarket seals can vary

but

although many on here have managed to get the screens back on without too much fuss as Guy has said there are other stories like yours were it’s a real pig of a job, yours might just be one of those
Nigel Atkins

I found that using some carwash shampoo on the seal helped and as above a tapered bar pulling through the lower mounting hole. I also had to trim some of the pillar seal to get the screan down enough.
S BREEZE

I had great trouble with mine. It wasn't a new seal, but was a newish one (it had been replaced a few years prior). Took 3 of us much levering with screwdrivers and several hours, not to mention a lot of choice words! I hadn't heard of the ratchet strap method at that stage, so haven't tried it.
Andrew F

I have done this job on the same car, 3 times. The first time I really struggled and it took ages. A few years ago I fitted a new glass in the windscreen. I used ratchet straps to compress the frame channels around the screen seal and glass as they provided a means of putting a steady constant pressure on it whilst the rubber seals slowly squeezed into place. Having done that, it occurred to me that the ratchet straps would also be a good way of pulling the whole screen assembly down onto the scuttle when fixing, and I find that it works well. I have posted the idea here before a few times now.

I use a bead of silicone sealer around the fixing holes to lubricate and to stop water getting down into the A posts and increasing the rusting rate. The other thing is make sure that the front lip of the rubber seal across the top of the scuttle is eased out forwards and flat at the edge. New rubbers seem to want to curl up at the front, increasing their thickness. I use a credit card slid in from the back to push the rubber out but someone else here (Malcolm in Scotland I think) had a smart idea using strips of tape.
Guy

I am afraid I can't take credit. Not my idea. I'm 6 months at least from being able to put my windscreen on!

Hope you find a solution Greg.

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

I used a plastic spatula from the inside to push the lip out. That was the easy bit. Just need to wash it now before it goes back in the kitchen drawer.

Malcolm I was actually using vareity of imitation podgers without realising. They're called screwdrivers in Aus. :)

I have fiddled around quite a bit and with the straps it'll go no further but a bit more podging may get it.

I think that podger pictured is a bit slim as it needs to be 3/8" diameter about an inch up the shaft otherwise the spike will be out the side of the A pillar. If needed I'll make one from a long 3/8" bolt.

How does the ratchet work in it?
Greg H

Well I finally got it. :) We had 39degC here on Sat and the higher temp may have made a difference, not sure if it did but it's on. Thanks for the help. Without those ratchet straps I'm sure it would never have happened. Hopefully this is the last challenging job on the car.

Greg H

the credit card was my idea - I always keep a hold of old cards and the keycards you get in some hotels - useful for all sorts of things!
The actual podgers come in all sorts of sizes but you might be right about that being too narrow. for a sense of scale, that one is a 17mm/19mm ratchet. The ratchet is very coarse and is just the little lever below the head and a spring. Flicking the lever changes direction as usual, but if you hold it half way then the whole lots spins freely, useful for getting rid of sawdust. Coarse as hell but perfect for what they're designed for!

Glad you got it on eventually - great feeling of acheivement - isn't it?!

-Craig
C Robertson

Ah, sorry Craig, for attributing your card trick to Malcolm. I knew it was someone from the Northern Kingdoms
Guy

This thread was discussed between 23/02/2012 and 28/02/2012

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