Morris Minor Owners Club

Yesterday I decided to put the rear windscreen back in. People who have done this before will know what a hideous job this is on a Minor 1000. I had done it once before but had never been happy with it - quite a few small tears round the edge. I reckoned that with a spare seal I could have a "free go" then call out the professionals if it was a disaster.

Installed on the rear seat were my 6'1" 24 year old son and my wife. First job was to get the windscreen as close into the aperture as possible. That took a lot of work - getting it past the side headlining clips was hard enough, otherwise it was hard to get it close enough to the top of the aperture.

With plenty of lubrication I used a plastic covered washing line first but this was too thin and kept coming out. Then I tried a thin rope and it all went really really well (albeit giving the car occupants cramp). But come the end and disaster struck (see first photo). Despite best efforts the rope got stuck and nothing would bring it out hence it ripped the rubber badly.

Before calling out professional help and this was still my "free go" I decided to try and repair the damage. Sceptical in the extreme I bought a £6 pack of Sugru and second picture shows the result. I am amazed by this product - it is a mouldable glue and cures into silicone "rubber" within 24 hours. Time will tell if this will work (and not shrink for example) but I am delighted with the result and I think I will have saved myself a call out fee and new seal cost. I have no connection with the makers of Sugru but thought other owners might like to try it where they have had similar issues.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

I seem to recall from years ago that waxed cord similar to that used in sash windows was used to fit the rubber. Perhaps the thinking was that the wax helped the cord slide on the rubber and helped to avoid tearing it.

Yes possibly - I used Vaseline this time and apart from trouble at the end it seemed to work fine. I think the cord I used was probably just a tiny bit thick. Wish there was a video somewhere showing how this was done at the factory! I also previously tried installing the rubber to the gap first but that just seemed too difficult too.

I might have another go with a new seal if I decide to
replace the headlining but I'm interested to know how successful/seamless this repair proves to be over time.