Front Screen Filler Strip

Post by **wanderinstar** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 9:43 pm

When I took my front screen out, the filler strip was about 1" short. So I bought a new one. However I have not fitted it yet I refitted the old one.
Surprise, surprise the insert is now about 2" too long.
My question is this. Do I trim the excess off. As obviously the strip stretches.But if I trim the excess off will it shrink back to the original size i.e. 1" short plus the 2" Im about to cut off. Do you see my dilema.
How has anybody else managed. Advice most appreciated.
Ian.

Post by **Alec** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:30 am

Hello WS,
personally I would trim it to length. I may be wrong (I often am) but I don't think it will shrink back 3". Should that happen, and you are happy to keep the old filler, cut a short piece off your new one to fill the gap.

Alec

Post by **edjones** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:10 am

Ian,

I assume we are talking about the chrome insert here? If so, I fitted a new one a few months back. My new strip was too long, by a few inches, so I trimmed it using a pair of scissors. The strip has not "settled" or shrunk at all and looks fine! Bit odd that your old strip went back in and was too long though, didn't try re-fitting my old one....

Hope this helps!

Cheers

Post by **Willie** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:01 pm

I think you will find that the 'chrome plastic' trim will shrink over
time but it will be a long time. Nothing you can do about it as you
have obviously got to trim it to fit in order to insert it in the screen
rubber. The same think happens to the plastic convertible hoods,
after many years they have shrunk a great deal.

Post by **pskipper** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:21 pm

I cut mine at an angle so a little of the chrome overlapped.

Post by **les** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:11 pm

Be careful, I bet that the screen rubber hasn't been pushed into the body apeture corners fully (something critical if water is not going to get between the rubber and metal) if you work the tool needed for the strip insertion along the rubber pushing the rubber into the corners as they are reached I'm sure you will gain the 'lost' inches! The purpose of the filler strip is to spread the rubber.

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:04 pm

I'm just about to fit a front screen rubber with this insert - using the old insert hopefully. does anyone have any tips how to get the thing out without damaging it or how to get it back into the new rubber seal so it's fully home. There is a special tool available but i don't fancy paying another £15.
Cheers

Post by **Willie** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:49 pm

PETEE... as long as it is the plastic chrome type it should come out
quite cleanly as this type is pretty robust compared to the stainless
type which is somewhat delicate!