Simon Bosworth wrote:
>
> Morning all,
> is replacing the windscreen on a BGT the same sort of horror as the
> roadster? I have a small crack in mine, so the windscreen will probably
> have to be replaced soon. Actually I will probably have the insurance
> co. take care of it, but I am curious about what is involved in the
> replacement.
A different kind of horror, but one with less risk of shattering the new glass,
from what I hear.
Posted the following a while ago plus an appendix at the bottom:-
> Had my windscreen replaced this weekend by a pro. He runs his own
> business (Birmingham Windscreens), been doing it for 20 years or
> more, and has two classics (not MG) in the workshop under restoration
> on quiet afternoons. He gave me several tips which, with your
> indulgence, I shall pass on.
>
> When removing the trim strips make sure you know exactly which piece
> goes where, and which way up. They will come off looking like
> corkscrews, don't try to straighten them or you won't get them back
> in again.
>
> Remove the rubber beading that is concealed by the trim strips.
> Press the top of the windscreen out from the inside using hand
> pressure. Lift out the old glass. Leave the rubber in the
> car, remove all dirt and old sealant. By the way, he said that
> replacement rubbers don't have such deep lips to hold the trim
> strips, which makes them a pig to fit so they stay in.
>
> When fitting the new glass get one bottom corner in firmly, then work
> your way along the bottom and part way up the sides lifting the
> rubber so that it rests on the edge of the glass, not overlapping
> yet. Only when you have done the bottom and part of the sides should
> you use hand pressure on the face of the glass to press it into the
> groove.
>
> Now do the same with the top half, and when the rubber is resting on
> the edge of the glass all the way round, use hand-pressure again to
> press it into place.
>
> Inject sealant under the edge of the rubber, then fit the rubber
> beading (this was the only bit where he used a specialist tool, but
> it isn't essential).
>
> Now to refit the trim. With all the trim, fit the paint side into
> the rubber first and use an implement to lift the rubber lip over
> the trim strip. That way if the implement slips, it goes onto the
> glass not the paint.
>
> Fit the corner pieces first, then the sides, bottom and top.
>
> When fitting the sides, top and bottom, look at the twist and start
> with whichever end allows you to fit the paint side under the rubber
> lip first so you have to press the glass side down against the twist.
>
> That was about it, one hour doing it on his own except for someone
> scraping the excess sealant away and polishing it up afterwards.
Since I wrote the above I had to have the screen replaced again due to
scumbags,
and this time it involved new rubber and trim. The fitter groaned when he saw
he
needed a new rubber because as well as the cavity for the trim being deeper in
the
old rubber, the old rubber is also harder and slippier making it easy to slide
the
trim in. As it was he had to lift the rubber over the edges of the trim for
practically its whole length, taking about three times longer than before.
PaulH.
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