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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - new windscreen glass

Hi all
I'm just about to reglaze the windscreen, does anybody know if an adhesive or sealant should be applied to the glass groove in the rubber glazing seal before fitting ?

Mike Myers 1973 midget
M Myers

No sealant required.
The glass is a very tight fit into the seal and frame. Use a rubber lubricant and ratchet straps to pull the frame onto the glass, steadily increasing the tension over a period of an hour or two.
Guy W

Thanks Guy
As it is a tight fit, do you in effect assemble the frame around the glass, say making two "L" shapes from the pillar/head rail and pillar/bottom rail. Squeeze together and fix screws.

Mike
M Myers

Mike,

I am no expert, I have done this just the once. But yes that is pretty much how I did it - pressing the frame onto the glass. It takes a fair bit of pressure and bearing in mind you are effectively squeezing a large piece of glass it was a bit scary at first. But the ratchet strap method is very controllable and one can just ease up the pressure gently, a bit at a time. Then leave it a while and the rubber gasket will slowly "creep" into position, then you tweak it up a bit more until you can get the screws aligned.

One warning though, make sure you use the correct length screws. I seem to remember that some are longer than others and if you get them in the wrong holes I think they would crack the glass!
Guy W

I concur wholeheartedly with Guys comments about the lengths of the screws cos that's what I did.

It didn't crack immediately but all it took was one deep crashing pothole and the screw touched the edge of the laminated screen and the resultant crack appeared.

I didn't realise what had caused it until I took the glass out and saw a perfect trajectory of the crack aligning with the overlength screw.

It's certainly worth checking.

Andrew
Andrew McGee

Thanks Guy and Andrew
I was checking the screws today, I got new screws from Moss, there are different sizes for each location and the Moss screws aren't quite right.
for some reason their diagrams don't show the cranked top reinforcing bracket or detail the very short inner screws. Unless my screen has already been modified by PO. I have 10 screws on the top rail, 5 each side. Outer in the pillar, next two through top rail and pillar top into reinforcing, next two through top rail and into reinforcing. Hence very short screws here. I have ordered new ones in stainless so waiting for them to arrive. Then do a "dry" assembly and see how it all looks.
I have some experience in working with glass but in cutting it rather than compressing it, but gently gently catchy monkey.

Thanks for your comments.

Mike
M Myers

Good luck Mike,

Its not difficult. You are pressing in the plane of the glass, not bending it, so it is presumably pretty robust that way. Even so, it's just a bit scary how much pressure you need to exert on it!

The next discussion will be how to get it installed back onto the car!
Guy W

Hi Guy
Ive already done my research on getting it back on the car, got the turn buckles ready following that very good idea from, sorry forgoten his name, on the IoW i think.

I have to fit a new seal to the body to try and raise the screen as it currently just clashes with the drivers door just below the quarterlight. This was after having to shim the screen over to the RHS to allow the passenger door to close as its quaterlight fouled on the pillar. So chasing the lack of clearance around to new seals might give me doors that close. I know there has been lots on the subject. This is on a sound 20year old Heritage shell (which is less than perfect)so the stucture is solid but has the hand made touch!
I thought i would do the glass as the original was quite scratched. So fingers crossed it solves the original problem.

Mike


M Myers

Actually,

This is super easy, what I did, I took all the parts to a pro auto glass shop, and picked it up an hour later and gave them $25 ...done

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Hi Prop
That's always an alternative, but hey, it's all part of the fun.

Mike
M Myers

Prop,
Most windscreen fitting in the UK seems to be done from mobile vans and they don't want to know about framed jobs like this. - at least that is the impression I get (I haven't conducted an exhaustive survey!) No doubt there will be some specialists in the bigger cities, but I have not come across them yet.

I have watched them do bonded glass screens and the older inset screens with the rubber seal and retaining bead. Impressively quick and efficient, but you don't get the impression that they would have the patience to install the glass in a Spridget frame. Theirs is a wham, bam and thank you m'am type of a job.
Guy W

Glazing seal too big by 5cm across the bottom.
Fortunately i have become immune to these parts quality problems, out with the super glue.

mike
M Myers

Butterfingers drops the glass - oh dear
M Myers

Mike, bad luck! That's because it is a Saturday afternoon, with no chance of getting a replacement before Monday. Afraid of breaking the glass, I did mine on the bed!
Guy W

Now the bed is a very good idea! The seal slipped off the glass as i turned it, lost my grip.
Still, without such failures, success is not as sweet.
Could have been worse, could've dropped it on the car!
M Myers

In my situation I lucked out, the glass guy was old and has seen it all, he had alot of experiance doing our kind of windshilds

So experiance is key huge plus

Btw... I incorrectly gave the price... I posted $25 it should have read $125, but thats incredably cheap considering the cost and risk for a diy screw up


Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Pop down to Halfords and get a spray can of silicone lubricant - spray generously on the seal an it is as slippery as a slippery thing - makes putting the frame on so much easier!
Chris at Octarine Services

yes the glass is in the frame!
The glass is marginally smaller than the original so the fit to the glazing seal has to be even, wait and see if it keeps the water out.
I tried the ratchet cramps but mine were a bit oversized and made it awkward.
Generally put the seal around the glass and apply lubricant to the seal.
Attach one pillar to the head rail.
Attach all other reinforcing sections leaving slightly loose.
Push the glass into the headrail and pillar, if this is done on a bed then you can pull it all against your chest.
Pull on the other pillar, and fit head screws.
Push the bottom rail onto the seal, fit screws at one end.
Stand the screen up on a carpeted floor and pull down on the pillar leg to fit the other screws.
Check the seal is snug.
Fit the centre tie rod and tension.
Tighten up all other screws.

M Myers

Congratulations!
Guy W

This thread was discussed between 03/07/2013 and 10/07/2013

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