Morris Minor Owners Club

Nightmare job alert!!


I'm trying to get the rear screen in place. I've followed the instructions in the Workshop Manual and the tips on the tech tips CD and, well, it's not working. When I get to the corner of the screen the angle caused by the top edge of the glass being in and the bottom edge out is to great to allow the rubber over the metalwork. The string is just snapping or tearing the rubber seal
Anyone done this and can lend a helpful tip please?

Ensure that rubber is well lubricated. Apart from the jokes that could bring, try plenty of fairy liquid (seriously) but make sure that you rinse with fresh water after you've finished. It also helps if everything is warm - either summer time or a heated garage; but definitely not outdoors with frosts around !

KY Jelly is VERY good for screen rubber lubrication as it's water based and very slippy if a little enbarrasing to buy!

Thanks for the conments people. Job done now. The problem I was having was two-fold. Firstly I had put vaseline on the screen/rubber interface. this was making it too keen to roll away when I was trying to offer it up to the aperture. As it rolls away it effectively gets wider and doesn't sit close enough to the bodywork hole as you pull the string away. Secondly the string was too thin. I would advise not to use the sort you find in a ball. As you drag this out it it can cut into the rubber seal at the corners of the screen. I eventually opted for braided, fine rope of the sort you would find holding up volleyball nets or used as tent ropes.
I've learned also that fitting the front screen is a piece of cake compared to the rear!!

Hooray! Out of interest - in Lindsay Porter's book, he talks about "injecting mastic" into/under the screen rubber. Did you/are you going to/what do you/does one use? I've never changed one, y'see, and need to soon, just wondering if it was the bog standard B&Q mastic or what.

"injecting mastic" into/under the screen rubber

I didn't read this and I wish I had now as it may have given a clue to the mysterious stuff known as 'prestick' as mentioned in the Workshop Manual.
As I have used vaseline to help the thing in, any sealant will be of questionable use as it won't bond to either the rubber, glass or bodywork.

bigginger wrote:standard B&Q mastic or what.

ueah i changed mine recently. i used basic bathroom stuff although many on here clam it chemicaly reacts with paint. Get the clear one for the window side and if your car's OEW the white don't look too bad . apply it inside and out as well as in the tiny cuts caused by the string

I guess that's why everyone talks about KY Jelly and washing up liquid, 'cos you can wash them off afterwards. Just a thought, but p'raps some lighter fluid/petrol on a cotton bud would clean the vaseline out and evaporate afterwards? Interesting to hear of Prestick - I wonder what it is and if you can still get it! Sorry to inadvertantly spoil your job well done - but I'd love to be there when you go into the chemist's shop for KY Jelly and cotton buds!

You should use the right type of screen sealer mastic for the rubbers not just whats available from a DIY store unless its the right one for the job, also as regards the string, some time ago Capt chaos said the best thing to use is a strand from a length of lighting cable flex as its strong and quite slippy.

You can get proper windscreen sealant from any decent car spares shop.

BUT, don't use it unless ABSOLUTELY necessary as it is really horrible stuff to use and clean up.

If the rubber is in good condition and there is no rust/damage to the windscreen/surround you shouldn't need to use it.

Just a thought, but p'raps some lighter fluid/petrol on a cotton bud would clean the vaseline out and evaporate afterwards?

Unfortunately that's a common conception but doesn't really work. Many hydrocarbon based solvents (and all the others too) will thin down grease and stuff like that but what you are left with is a thinner more evenly spread layer of grease. To remove grease you need to use a detergent, as this pulls it into the water, and if you rinse well it leaves only water behind.

A common misconception then Only trying to help - and it was midnight...

and it was midnight...

lol - yes it was midnight here in Germany but only 11pm in England when u posted that.... Whatever time of day you think it is, it's close to midnight somewhere..

True, very true - forgot about time difference on "posted at" window

custommartin wrote:
If the rubber is in good condition and there is no rust/damage to the windscreen/surround you shouldn't need to use it.

have to disagree with you on that one martin. How many mogs have had water leaking in and filiing up under the rear seat to eventually rust through the floor!

Hello all,
I echo the opinion that you should use the correct windscreen mastic, which should be available from motor factors. Some even state that they can be used wet, i.e. if you are trying to seal a leak which saves having to ensure that the area is dry, very difficult in the case of window rubbers. As for applying it, a common or garden mastic gun available at any DIY shop, tool shop etc, does the trick.

Alec

Ahh! i have found the posts at last, im changing my rear screen tommorow hopefully, and dont have a clue how to other than what the book says, common sense, and the fact that we did my brothers imp front screen about 2 years ago. I know this might be a pain of a question, but can someone give me a detailed description on how to do it, removal, replacement, sealers, all i need to know..please. Thanks, Ben.

Job done at last, and the front one. Rear screen was a nightmare.

am trying to knock corners off the cost of my current van restoration (that's costs not quality) and have found all these comments really useful - thanks very much everyone

will be attempting to refit my own windscreen in mid-October - any help gratefully received!!!

juliet
(mid sussex)