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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Screen to scuttle rubber seal

After trying for 2 hours I reluctantly admit defeat. I cannot even get the seal started. I tried sliding it in - no chance. So I'm trying to push it in lengthwise, starting in the centre and/or at one end, by inserting one edge and pushing in the other edge. I've tried a plastic spatula, flat blade screwdrivers, silicon spray, heating with a hair drier, swearing etc. I've given up because I'm starting to nick the edge and don't want to cause more damage. Am I missing something obvious?
Bill Bretherton

Update - I've just discovered that my new seal is for an earlier 9 stud Frogeye screen (which I intended to use) but I'm now using the later screen with the bar fitting. Moss list different part numbers for the scuttle seal so that may be a factor.
Bill Bretherton

Bill

Looking at my BMC parts book the lower seal changed from car number 5477 from 14A4729 to AHA 5322. This was the change point to the two stud windscreen.The windscreen for the early car is quite a bit different.
Bob Beaumont

Bob

I have the original (broken) 9 stud screen and the bottom groove does look similar to the later screen. My local Moss have ordered in a later seal so I can compare it with the older screen one.
Bill Bretherton

I found it hard to fit the bottom seal in my 2 stud screen. I tried for ages. Eventually on close examination of the new seal, and comparing with the old seal I realised that there was a fault. The two arms of the T shaped bit that goes into the slot in the screen were unequal. And measuring across them, they were wider than the slot. I cut a slice off one side to make them equal and fit the slot properly.

To cut it, I clamped a steel rule against the rubber so there was a good supported edge for a Stanley blade to cut along.

One shouldn't need to do these corrections to parts but it seems to be just one of those things you have to accept. At least parts are available even if they do need some fettling. For a more obscure vehicle it would be a matter of making many parts from scratch.

GuyW

Thanks Guy, that helps. But see my other thread in "General" as the day just got worse and worse!
Bill Bretherton

Don't see that Bill?
GuyW

I now have the correct seal and it slides in!
Bill Bretherton

well done Bill, amazing how seeingly similar parts are quite different!
Bob Beaumont

The T piece is thinner but there's more rubber to squash between screen and scuttle. Do you cut it so that seal extends under stanchion seals and, if so, by how much? In which case, if you've fitted stanchions first, how would you tuck rubber under them whilst trying to get screen pushed down?
Bill Bretherton

On mine and it may not be correct, I put the windscreen seal above the stanchion seal. I recall trimming it so it was suitably trapped by aout 1/2" or so. My thinking was to try and prevent any water getting into the A post and rotting out the bottom. I fitted the screen to the stanchions then fitted the whole lot to the car with the aid of a suitable assistant
Bob Beaumont

Thanks Bob, that helps a lot.
Bill Bretherton

This thread was discussed between 07/06/2021 and 16/06/2021

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