Reply To: OPENING FRONT WINDSREEN SEALS.

Davy,

If all the correct components are properly assembled and aligned the windscreen should not leak – but it can be a job to get it right.

Two obvious questions are – did it seal prior to the recent work and, has the seal be changed?  If “No” and “No” it would imply the screen is not correctly situated.

If the seal has been changed I believe there are three more possibilities ….

– the seal is not the correct profile

– the seal is Ok but incorrectly fitted (as David suggests)

– the screen assembly has been incorrectly fitted

You mention a chrome screen surround (that implies an early car – but not necessarily) however the profile of the chrome (on brass or steel) surround is slightly narrower than that of the later aluminium version and that can make it a bit more difficult to refit correctly.

There are various different profiles available and I know the one supplied by the Club shop is narrower than some others – but I have never failed to seal one from the TOC stock.

If you are happy with the type of seal and how it is fitted to the screen it sounds like you need to re-position the screen by raising it fractionally on the side of the leak.  But it might also be worth check the assembly for centrality in the hole by measuring the gap each side of the frame.  I like Larry’s one-man fitting method but you should not have to completely remove it again.  The hinges have ribs running across them to enable incremental vertical adjustment so you will need to slacken off the fixings more than just a little to allow enough clearance for the ribs to pass and then jiggle the screen up.  This is best done with the screen as closed as possible to minimise the interference between the screen seal and the bodywork above the screen.  It can be awkward to handle so, if  necessary, use a thin wooden or plastic lever between the bottom of the screen and the (heavily padded) scuttle.  If the fixings are loose enough for the screen to move no extreme pressure should be needed.

Correct adjustment will be a process of trial and error but if you mark the hinge position with a felt pen you will see when you have managed to move it  and by how much.

Good luck,

B………….