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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - N/S Drop Glass Fitting

1969 midget MkIII

I have spent an "interesting" afternoon replacing the carrier that holds the drop glass and connects to the raise/lower mechanism in my nearside door. Eventually got it fitted but when the glass is lowered and it gets to the final inch or so the glass starts to come out of the carrier, starting with the front edge. The glass was push fitted into the rubber and into the carrier as there was no evidence of any adhesive in the original. Should it have been glued in or is there a problem with the raise/lower mechanism?
I also fitted a lower stop bracket as any remains of the old one were included in the rust sitting on the waxoyl in the bottom of the door. The bracket required two screws bur there was only one hole in the bottom of the door. I checked the other door and this also has only one hole. Is this normal? I fitted the bracket with just one retaining screw and it seems ok. It cannot move much as it is held between the inner and outer parts of the door.

As always all advice, help and encouragement will be most appreciated.

Ray
Ray Rowsell

Ray,
sorry can't help you with glass but the stop brackets I fitted a couple of years ago

are you sure you're looking in the right place as mine had two holes in each door - perhaps the other (or both) holes are covered in Waxoyl and crud so don't stand out

have you also got the brackets with the slant the right way round, could that and their position be pushing the glass out(?)

I've just measured mine on the passenger door and the holes are about 6.5" and 10" inwards from the back of the bottom of the door outer skin (not door frame as such), the screws heads are showing outside obviously

in addition are the three door drain holes

these are the stops I used from Ashley Hinton - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-MIDGET-AUSTIN-HEALEY-STAINLESS-WINDOW-STOP-BRACKET-PART-NUMBER-AHA7431-/251573675573?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a92f5a635
Nigel Atkins

Nigel,

Thanks for your thoughts and measurements. I also purchased my stops from Ashley Hinton. I had a good look for the holes, even, having fitted the stop the right way round, by using a sharp probe through the "spare" hole in the bracket. When I get a chance I will use your measurements to check the hole I have is in the right place and not a P/O "modification". The modification is unlikely as both doors are the same.
I will also check for the drain holes which I don't remember seeing - hopefully as I was not looking for them!!!
The glass moving has nothing to do with the stop as this was happening before I fitted it.

Thanks again,
Ray
Ray Rowsell

Welcome to hell on earth, lucas will be your guide and enjoy the ills of tetionitious ...

super glue is your best friend for sealing all those nasty little cuts your getting on your hands and arms... just wash out, fill the cut with the glue, wait 60 sec and your good to stick your and back in without bleeding all over the inside of your door...the glue will fall out of the cut in about 3 days,

Good luck there buddy, I dont envy you in the least, its one of the hardest jobs on the car, is inside the door

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

I cleaned the rubber and glass edge with petrol - to avoid it slipping out and the petrol slightly softens the flat rubber strip and I found also acted as a temporary lubricant to get glass /strip into the channel and soon evaporates - no glue.

Not sure why the channel is being pushed off but its position relative to the glass edge is important - check with the other side.

R.
richard boobier

It could be that the vertical channels are out of line, or that they get closer together towards the bottom, so the glass is jamming.
Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks everyone for the ideas.

It looks as if I am dealing with the proverbial mechanical jigsaw puzzle! I don't think it's the vertical channels as that's the area I have already checked the most. Having said that, I will have another look and make sure there is no crud right at the bottom. Whatever it is, it is only a slight "catch" as it doesn't happen every time and it's always the front edge that lifts first from the carrier. I will have a look at each pivot point in turn while the glass is being raised and lowered and hope to have that eureka moment!

Prop, I am legendary in my family for drawing blood. When I had a family at home and I picked up a spanner, or any other tool come to that, they waited for the blood to start flowing and greeted me with "how did you do that?"
Ray Rowsell

Ray. Is the steel carrier in good condition? When they corrode they
start to open up and lose their grip.

Bernie.
b higginson

Over at the on line forum called the (MG experiance) in there library, they have a really good artical on door glass installation and a very detailed set of abcdefghijk.... instructions, its worth a look

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Here:

http://www.mgexp.com/article/spridget-door-assembly.html

Hope that it is helpful.

Unfortunately, the door makes it very difficult to take photos to illustrate the assembly, and the manuals are woefully under-illustrated. There ought to be a good cutaway tech drawing to show the orientation of each bracket, and of the regulator and glass during each step of assembly.

It goes together like a puzzle, and if you figure out the orientation it is deceptively easy, but until you get there it is frustrating as heck.


Norm
Norm Kerr

Thanks norm,

I had forgotten you where the author of that great little read...sorry I couldnt re post it, my mobil internet just sucks today...cant do anything beyound SLOW texting

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Bernie,

Yes, new carrier and rubber. It was the need to replace the corroded carrier that started the problem.

Ray
Ray Rowsell

You're not alone! I had the same trouble and lubricated the channels with 3 in 1. It's made some improvement and meanwhile I'm "helping" the glass down with my hand on top of the window hoping that soon the rubber will stick itself to the glass.
M J Chapman

I'm doing the same thing for the short term. After cleaning the channel, and spilling some blood, (see Gary's thread!!) I "lubricated" the channels with silicone spray. Fingers crossed!!
Ray Rowsell

This thread was discussed between 12/07/2014 and 18/07/2014

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