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MG MGA - Moss W/S kit

I bought all fom Moss - top and bottom corner brackets, tapping plates and screw set "complete". The screw set bears no resemblance to the picture in Barney's site page WT-104.
What I have is 22 x 3/8 F/H screws, 12 x 3/4 oval head and 6 dome head nuts. All chrome. the tapping plates are brass. The screw threads seem to be 2BA, at least for the 3/4 screws matching them against a 10-32. The heads are correct, small. But I don't have the mix of 1/4 and 5/16 F/H, I suppose I have to grind off the extra in place. The screws seem to match the bracket and tapping plate threads, although a 10-32 also fits the tapping plate.
I guess I will attempt to assemble the empty frame first.

Art Pearse

If you haven't taken your frame apart I would label each screw and bracket from where it came. I believe the internal angle brackets that are tapped were done in place. Tightening the screws with the windshield installed is a little scary.
Good luck
Lmazoway

I had to take it all apart. there was no rubber left. On dismantling, the steel tapping plates were rusted in place and half the brass screws were stuck and broke off. The bottom corner brackets are toast. The top ones possibly re-useable if I can extract a couple of broke off screws, chrome is gone. I had to use a cold chisel to extract the tapping plates. So you get the picture!
I have on order a 2 BA tap as I will have to retap either my old brackets or more likely I will order untapped from Moss. I returned my tapped brackets.
I reassembled the frame (at least sides & top)empty just to check the fit to the posts, which seemed OK. I now think maybe the screen frame takes on the shape of the glass, so I plan to assemble the glass in the frame when I decide on the brackets, just using a few pieces of the glazing strip to keep the glass spaced, then check the fit to the posts again.
The only holes that don't line up are the ones on the side franes at the top.
I think I will lube the rubber to allow the frame to slide around a bit while tightening the corners
Art Pearse

List of fastener lengths, and which one goes where:
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/windscrn/wt_104.htm
Barney Gaylord

Todd Clarke has perhaps more knowledge of assembling windscreen frames than anyone as he used to have a rebuilding service including chrome plating. Apparently he has done over 150 frames for customers over the years!
This is one reason I decided it would be best to buy his parts.

One of the most useful tips he gave me was to assemble the four frame pieces as loosely as possible and go round and round each corner tightening a small amount at a time. He said don't necessarily expect the corner brackets to tighten up against the frame sides.

As LM says tightening up the screws, especially the last ones through the stanchions are scary but you can make it less so by having to hand a piece of 1/8" rod to use as a depth gauge and before you insert any screw check that it's not going to be too long...........................Mike
m.j. moore

Surely we can remove the scary factor by first ensuring that the screws do not extend outside / through the brackets and trim them if they do. That way, what is wrong with screwing it tight? Good idea about the depth probe though.
I know I have to trim the Moss screws, the short ones are all 3/8. the bottom corner bracket screws hit each other! they need to be cut to 1/4.
Art Pearse

I'd agree with the stantion screw length warning, I had to shorten several of the screws in the Moss kit, otherwise I would have had several cracks on each side of the glass! Also the moss angle brackets were not quite the right angle... Not sure if I was just unlucky but on the top ones it took some file work, soldering & re-tapping to get them any where near acceptable, bottom I ended up making my own.

Cheers

Dave
D Lawton

Well I've cut my screws to length odered a 2 BA tap and about to order the Moss undrilled top brackets.
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 05/06/2013 and 27/06/2013

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