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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Windshield Rubber Seal to Cowl


O.K. Folks:

It's time to replace my windshield. A "wandering" small crack (lower left corner) is now taking a long walk across the glass. Not likely to pass annual inspection this Fall

In any case, I did have the old glass replaced about 10 years ago - dropped it off at SafeLite and they struggled with it for a day or so.

However, a used (complete) windshield has been procured and now I was researching all of the rubber parts still available since most of the rubber parts are stiff and brittle. Would be nice to do this job the right way.

Does anyone have any advice about removing the (somewhat) flattened rubber seal between the frame and the cowl?

Is there a "groove" that will accept the Moss rubber seal?

Any tips to make this project do-able?

Any suggestions would be appreciated before I attempt this project...

Thanks,

Mike
Buffalo, NY
USA
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Notes for image:
Moss Item: 282-025
List Price $14.79 (USA)
Item Name: SEAL, windshield to body




Mike Pelone

Try McGregor in Canada, not far from the falls, they have good quality parts. Item #4 the post gasket is a bear to seat properly. I used the old ones. The new ones offered are too thick. Granted this was several years ago and maybe the new ones fit better? Put on a big pot of water to boil. No baby just soften the gaskets before installing. John
J Bubela


John:

Thanks for the heads-up on MacGregor's Coachtrimming.

I can't tell if they manufacture their own parts line or if they are a re-seller of Moss USA parts.

I have lived up here for almost 40 years and have NOT heard of these guys. Either at car shows or other owners of British iron...

They are about 90 minutes away in Dundas, Ontario - so a Field Trip is in order.

PS: have you dealt with them before?

Mike
Buffalo, NY


Mike Pelone

Strange. Never heard of them either and they aren't that far away from me.

I guess we all have our favourite suppliers but no one has mentioned them to me.

Clare
Clare Ravenwood

Buff State '68-73. Had midgets then but didn't know of them either. They vended at a National Show in Buffalo some time in the mid late '90's. Bought a lot of small bits for my cars then. But not since. Will probably go there this Summer.
J Bubela

I did mine about a month ago and it's not the nicest of jobs. Changing the actual screen within the frame wasn't too bad but the seals (from Moss) between the frame and body were very difficult to fit.

Getting the new seal into the groove in the the base of the screen was a right pain, it took me ages to work out a way to prise it in. Once that is done you then have to lower the screen onto the scuttle with the new pads in place. The front lip of the seal curls under which then has to be pulled forward while pulling the screen down. Ratchet straps are a good thing to have to hand to help get the bolts in.

Anyway it's done now so hopefully the next time the screen has to come off the seals will be ok and nicely moulded into shape.
John Payne

Ratchet straps tensioning the screen down onto the scuttle whilst re-fitting the screen.

And then use a lubricated credit card slid along under the rubber to uncurl the lip of the seal flat against the scuttle.


GuyW

Another way to uncurl the lip is to put a thin piece of card under it first then when the screen in in position pull the card out forwards.

Trev
T Mason

I have a spare windscreen and frame assembly that I'd like to refurb and swap so that I can save down time.
Will any windscreen fit any body, or is there fettling and shimming involved?

Mk
Mark Crossley

Mark

Theoretically they should all be interchangeable, but there are shims - item 6 in the above illustration - between the bottom of the stanchion and the body.
Dave O'Neill 2

The lip will tend to curl under as mentioned. I used tape strips to hold the lip up and once the wind screen was in place, took the tape off. Worked well.

Once you get it set in place, a drift will help pull it down so you can get a bolt in place on either side.

Make sure the angle of the windscreen remains the same either side against the vent window frames as you tighten it up.

Clare
Clare Ravenwood

All of this prying, wedging and pushing makes you wonder how they did it at the factory. I thought that my Frog was tough to do but it's a breeze compared to the later ones.
Martin



Thanks for the advice and comments.

The replacement windshield is now off the car - so it sounds like a heat source may be the trick to getting the old hardened seal out of the groove and off - but I can now see where the ratchet strap PLUS the credit card trick is the way to go...

Still waiting (and wanting...) warmer weather in Buffalo NY before I jump into the windscreen replacement...

Mike
Buffalo
USA
>>>
Mike Pelone

I have done several and my way is to use masking tape. I pull the lip up forward and tape it in position. Six or seven strips across the screen will hold the lip up. Then with tiedown straps I pull the screen down and install the bolts.//then I remove the masking tape and leaving zero scratches on the cowl.
Sandy
edith sanders

This thread was discussed between 18/05/2017 and 19/05/2017

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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