Morris Minor Owners Club

I am going to replace the front screen rubber on the 1955 splitscreen in the near future. Got the new rubber and centre strip from Tom Roys.Have spent the last hour looking at old postings but ,Chris from tom roys says that when they do splitscreens they put the chrome strip into the rubber,before they fit it to the frame of the car.he said they use superglue to stick it into the corners to prevent it from popping out on fitting. But several postings indicate that the strip is fitted after the screen is in place. Spoke to a local screen replacement firm and they said that they did one once ,and found that the best way was to fit the strip into the rubber put the glass in and centre strip(taped across to hold everything together )then offer the whole lot up to the frame and using the string method just pull the rubber onto the frame.Does anyone know the BMC official method.How did they do it in the factory cos they must have found the quickest and most effective way.

I should be replacing my '55 screen soon. It was a long time ago when I took it out, but the chrome is longer than the body aperture. This means that it cannot go on first, since the screen goes in from the inside, hence the reason why the manual explains making up a dummy outer strip which is shorter (I assume you have this info?). I did it once before and remember that you need at least 2 patient helpers. I recently did the rear Series II screen and it went well. I used terylene cord (window curtain type) and it slides well on the rubber. The old manual suggested lubricating all of the strip and body with Vaseline. initially I was reluctant because I thought this may interfere with the Seelastik, but it worked a treat. I will be using lots of vaseline when i do the front screen. Good Luck, Chris.

I recently replaced the one in the lowlight. If you are replacing the pillar or have an old one around, cut about 1 1/2inches off each end and the inside peice and assemble the 2 halves on the bench, then put the rubber on, put in the string and then put it in from the inside of the car. You will need someone inside pushing foward and carefully, especailly at the corners pull the string out, start some of the edges with a screwdriver before the string. Once your happy with the way its sitting unscrew the old centre pillar and fit the new one which will be pretty tight!

The last reply from David Mccullough reminded me of something else. He's right, the rubber is very tight, if the stepped rubber comes out from between the panes (which it probably will), the glass sides slide together esp. if the rubber is nicely lubricated with vaseline or sealer. You are then left with no gap for the pillar!

Be ready with some thin tapered wooden wedges. Make them a shallow angle, out of a bit of hardwood - beech. I panicked when it happened to me and forced them apart with a screwdriver, and knicked the edge of the glass pane...

I've been there and got the high blood pressure! I used wood to space the panes works well when both bits are in but until then I used one of those ratchet straps around the door pillar (with rags to protect the paint) and around the glass centre gap. Works a treat, with two ratchet straps you can pull the screens apart until the correct gap is achieved. I found that by leaving it like this for a coulpe of days the glass stayed in position without the straps.
Good luck!

alan Iread your post from sometime ago(Think it was yours.)I take it that you fitted the rubber to the frame first and then slid the glass into the rubber and then pushed the two apart to insert the centre.I was thinking of doing it that way because. I could do it without assistance,could get the sealer cleanly onto the frame,and probably insert the chrome filler strip before putting the rubber onto the frame.I have several webbing straps,the kind to fasten items onto a roof rack,with a locking buckle that would work like your ratchet straps. I might try it this way first just to see,I'm sure that I could get the glass separated a bit at a time,leaving it for a while in between untill I could insert the inside centre piece. With the glass being flat,with no curvature,it should hold out without breakin(I Hope) I have a couple of spare glasses anyway.So watch this space It will be either or

Hi, Yes it was my post but I couldn't get the rubber to stay in the aperture (tried masking tape and everything) so I ended up assembling the rubber around the glass one side at a time and putting the whole lot in from inside (wife maintained constant pressure with her feet!) I didn't use a cord, just a 6mm screwdiver blade to hook the rubber flange out as I went round (if carefull you wont damage the paint) I used an industrial rubber lubricant which is supposed to evaporate but it ends up everywhere, total mess, nightmare, and don't relax the pressure from inside till it's in all in (one screen) because I found it will come out! I don't think the modern rubbers are quite the same as the originals. I left the straps on for a couple of days, then put the trim in with centre pillar. I had to silicone in these last parts (black neutral cure so non corrosive) and hold the trim in position with tape till the silicone cured. You will find that doing this with silicone under the outside flange will hold it down as it will want to 'splay out' from the bodywork, looking bloody awfull!
Good luck, you will be much happier once done!
Alan