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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - New screen glass and seal, too small

My windscreen has become so "sparkly" that I decided to replace the glass.

Today I bought a new laminated glass and glazing seal from Moss.

When I got it back to the garage I compared old with new.
The old screen measures 1218mm at its widest point at the bottom, by 300 mm deep in the middle. The new screen is 1208mm by 297mm.

The old seal upstand profile measured on the inside is 15mm on the front and 13mm on the inside. The new one is 10.5mm both front and inside.
So, both screen and seal are too small.

Has anyone else had this problem, and what did you do?

I have considered packing between frame and seal with Sikaflex and waiting for it to go off before fitting the glazing seal and glass to the frame, but that seems a bit hit and miss.
b higginson

Is this for an early or late screen?

I ask because I re glazed my late screen a couple of years ago with Moss glass and seals and I will shortly be doing my early screen with Moss seals.

When I did my late screen I had no problems other than the usual corroded screws and nightmare with ratchet straps!!
John Payne

John. It's a'65 Sprite and it's the original screen and seal that are being replaced.
The screen and seal share the same part numbers from '64 up to the end of production. There is a Triplex laminated screen listed at £400!! I wonder if that is closer in dimensions to the original.

Another thing I noticed is the bottom corners of the old screen are quite pointed without being sharp and fit snugly into the corners of the seal, whereas the new one has rounded corners and is quite loose at that point.
b higginson

Bernie,
I would expect the new rubber seal to flatten and extend a bit further up the glass when the seal is compressed into the frame. I don't know if that would be enough though. I don't recall any such problems when I renewed the glass in mine a few years ago but I also got seal and glass from Moss. I paid £40 for the glass. I know that the glass doesn't "bottom out" in the frame chanels though. It is held by the base of the rubber seal section and there is then a gap inside the channel beneath (outside) the seal and the aluminium.
(MK4 Sprite)
GuyW

Incidentally, I invented (though others may also have invented) the ratchet strap method for pulling the screen sections onto the glass, and then pulling the wole thing down onto the scuttle for fixing. I found it easy, although patience is needed as the assembly slowly comes together whilst you have a coffee (winter) or beer(summer)
GuyW

When I fitted mine I used the black automotive mastic glazing sealant behind the rubber seal into the frame and also bedded the loose corner seals under the pillars on it. I also added a bit into the rubbers at the bottom corners as that is where i had a problem with a MGB screen some years ago. its a bit messy but cleans up easily withwhite spirit.

Do you know who made the screen ? Pilkingtons make alot of them - they have a special classic car division ISTR - could try a call to their tech department if Moss can't help. St Gobain is the other major windscreen manufacturer that i know of.

R.
richard b

I've already fitted a new screen to my project RWA Midget, but it remains untested with regard to leaks, as the car is not finished, but I'm not very happy with the fit. the seal looks similar to the one I bought yesterday and I had to use quite a lot of screen sealer to get it anywhere near to a fit. I couldn't however, measure the screen on that occasion because it broke while I was dismantling it. it was just a toughened one.

guy. Yes, I'm really looking forward to the ratchet strap sketch with the new frame to body seal.(not).

Fortunately, I didn't have a problem with any of the screws on the Sprite.

this is something I've been putting off for a while, but on a recent run about 3.30pm, the sun was directly in my eyes and the screen was so sparkly as to be dangerous. I just couldn't see anything.
b higginson

The last one I bought was a Pilkington, although that was over twenty years ago.

I bought it from a local (at the time) windscreen company, Birmingham Safety Glass.

They were also very helpful when I needed a laminated 'screen for the racing A35. As it was a flat screen, they said they would cut me one, as they had a template for it.
Dave O'Neill 2

I already needed to fill the gaps between the rubber and the frame with glazing sealant when I replaced the original! screen.... I polished the screen with cerium oxide. I was blinded when the sun was shining on the glas. polishing really helped but it took hours.

Flip
Flip Brühl

Well, I made a right mess of trying to compensate for the too small Moss seal by using a lot of sealer, so I bought another one from Moss with the intention of waiting till I get the assembly back together before I use any sealer.

then I saw on ebay, a company selling what purports to be an OEM spec seal, so I ordered it. if it's OK, the Moss one can go back. Either way, I've got two to play with.

anyway, I thought I'd show you what I meant by too small. Old (original) seal on right, new Moss seal on left. They have to be kidding!
sorry for the poor image, but you get my drift.

Bernie.


b higginson

Blimey I see what you mean now about the lip dimensions. But even the bottom "seating" profile is much too shallow on the new sample. No way in hell would that ever fit. As you say they have to be kidding.
If the stuff you've sent for is a good match I hope you will share the source!

I did find a company online who reckon to make any profile you like. Didn't say what the minimum order would be though - perhaps they want you to buy it by the kilometre. It's called "Made-in-China.com" - make of that what you will.

On the other hand it's beer time. Cheers.
Greybeard

Bernie both seals should go back to Moss complete with all the sealer still attached !

Have you sent the pic of the two seals to Moss technical and asked why they are so different and cannot possibly seal correctly.
The under sizing of the glass is still quite an issue also and needs some explaining also.

R.
richard b

Richard. Yes, I have thought about contacting the tech department, but three years ago I emailed them about the poor quality of the the new and recon Armstrong lever arm shock absorbers they were selling, asking for their comments. I'm still waiting for a reply.
b higginson

I was looking for a seal a few months back and came across this place I didnt use them as i solved my problem they might be able to help.

http://www.kingfisherrubber.co.uk/custom-made-to-order.html
mark heyworth

Mark. Thanks for that, I will investigate.

Meanwhile, the plot thickens.
The seal from the ebay company came today, but is exactly the same profile and size as the first one that I got from Moss, as shown in the previous image.
But, when I measured the second Moss seal, it is marginally bigger than the first, which indicates that Moss are using more than one supplier. So I'll send the ebay one back and a have a go with the second Moss one.

Ever wished that you hadn't started something?
b higginson

Looking on the Moss web site they list a Triplex Pilkington screen for £400! and the normal one for £66 all laminated would be intereseting to compare the differences - and a heated one !

Any one tried a heated screen ?
richard b

This thread was discussed between 19/12/2018 and 03/01/2019

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