Got the old glass out and the gasket in, but we can't figure out how to get the glass in. There has to be some trick to get it seated in that channel. We were trying to put the corners in first then lay the rest in, but as soon as we move our position it slides out of the corner.
Thanks,
Vern
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtmeTSvwaTw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtmeTSvwaTw)
here are some clues...hope you are using plastic chisels...
I use tools sold by caterpillar to install the lock strips
and gojo to lubricate...
and were I you i would set the glass in the bottom channel and work up evenly on each side about 6-8 inches at a time while a helper holds steady pressure on the glass.
After watching the video.... I should have been doing it...I pretty much installed them with the chisels only when they had integral lock strips.
This is why I recommended to have glass company install it in previous post. you may end up going through a second windshield before you get the hang of it. One person's job should be just to keep it from sliding out in one or more corners. Go easy with sharp or pointed tools as it is easy to start a crack with too much pressure in the wrong spot on the edge. Some of those plastic/nylon trim tools with some liquid soap or Ruglyde should help avoid any cracks. Make sure the new gasket is fully seated in hole. You may not want much if any lube in that first corner to help the glass to grip and not slide out. We put the bottom square corner first. YRMV
::) the trick is to have the installing tool they don't cost that much plus they end the frustrating aspect I think mine was 15 bucks
I do have a locking strip tool, that isn't the issue at this point. Picked up some rope to try the rope trick and some plastic Bondo spreaders to see if they will help with getting the lip around the glass. Also got some suction cup handles so that should make getting the glass in place and holding it easier.
I think you will find rope to thick I use string I set the windshield in the bottom my wife pulls the string from the bottom while I hold pressure bingo it is in
5/16ths rope is what I got, but if that is too thick I think I have something thinner here.
Like Clifford but we used a vinyl covered clothes line rope and i sprayed it with silicon first. Work great and fast. Although you aren't shootin for fast so much !..... ;D
Dave5Cs
Well, we got one side of the glass in. However, I don't see any way that the locking strip is going to fit in there. This window is very tight against the top and bottom gasket and there is not enough room to get the locking strip in. Is it supposed to be that tight of a fit? If so how on earth do you get the locking strip in when it is that tight?
Quote from: mung on August 31, 2014, 04:55:56 PM
Well, we got one side of the glass in. However, I don't see any way that the locking strip is going to fit in there. This window is very tight against the top and bottom gasket and there is not enough room to get the locking strip in. Is it supposed to be that tight of a fit? If so how on earth do you get the locking strip in when it is that tight?
Lots of dish soap and water (not too much water) in the groove that the glass sits in and also in the groove that the lace goes in. Massage the gasket with your fingers and let the glass find its best position. Also, I'm going to guess that you didn't get the gasket pushed tight into the corners -- the soap stuff may help but if it's truly bad, you may have to take the glass out and try again. :(
Ooon gives good advice, it is a tough job even with the correct tool. The strip is easy to stretch and then it slowly shrinks leaving a gap. So try not to stretch it and make the strip an inch or so too long, then wait a day or two to let it adjust before making the last cut.
Install the bottom strip first since the weight of the glass is on it - the top is easier
Use lots of dishwashing detergent since it is the mildest. Gojo is a grease solvent, not good for rubber.
Thanks.
Now I am assuming that I should be putting both sides in before the locking strip right? I think so but my helper was questioning it. I was going to try to get the other side in today but my helper was not available and the wife is afraid she would drop it.
Vern
You don't install the lock strip till the windshield is totally in place.
Quote from: gus on September 01, 2014, 02:54:58 PM
Gojo is a grease solvent, not good for rubber.
Really, after more than 100 windshields I would definitely use it again.YMMV.
Dish soap drys to fast the guys around here say wax is the best to use followed by Murphy's pipe and tire lube that's all I ever used.I am guessing the 4104 has a flange for the rubber like other buses.
I clean those good then coat it with wax and use shims to space the windshield it's almost impossible to move the windshield once the rubber is in place and I found out on a Eagle you cannot install the lock without spacing the windshield GM's may be different
Wouldn't wax be a little sticky?
Now as far as Gojo, the petroleum in it wouldn't be my issue (most rubber is petroleum based), my issue would be the grit in there which I think is pumice.
Just get the type without pumice
I put mine in three times before I got it right. Suction handles help a lot.
Wax doesn't get sticky here 109 today don't use Bee's wax I just read a GM manual on installing windshields in transit buses it says use wax
The manual says paraffin, so provided it is a paraffin based wax that would be good. The interesting thing is that paraffin is petroleum based so that kind of debunks the petroleum debate huh?
At the price of honey you probably would need to take out a loan to buy bee's wax ::)
Quote from: mung on September 01, 2014, 05:09:58 PM
The manual says paraffin, so provided it is a paraffin based wax that would be good. The interesting thing is that paraffin is petroleum based so that kind of debunks the petroleum debate huh?
do you have plastic spoons like in the video ?
if so you can use them to put between the glass and rubber and work the channel to stretch it back into shape. do not use metal....
is the lock strip the same as the old one ? then you can take your lock strip install tool and work it repeatedly in the groove that will relax and position the rubber too...often the strip "looks" to big but really it is not...if the tool fits the strip will.
good luck.
i prefer this tool..
(https://www.hitechglazing.com/thumbnail/product/19556/640/480)
ps paraffin is made from foreign oil....it's not the same as what the book calls for.... :-\
pss that's some sarcasm.... ;D
I have actually been using bondo spreaders for the lip and would probably use them to expand the channel a bit too. That spline tool does look better than the one I have.
this tools is also in my arsenal..with and without a handle..
(https://www.equalizerfusion.com/ProductImages/BigImages/ish69_lg.gif)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2F00%2Fs%2FNDE4WDU1MA%3D%3D%2F%24%28KGrHqRHJCQE8fW7s%296zBPKK-OVOr%21%7E%7E60_35.JPG&hash=806a61e6fd4bff406a2d132c402380e3581adb65)
Nice!
i have a couple of these.. the ones that have the business end parallel to the shank don't work well ... for me... sorry about the giant picture...i am not sure you can buy some of these tools anymore...the chisels, yes the others all i can find are pictures.. this one used to be made by KD..cheap but a goodun... :D
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-r7sG0xUI-MU%2FUPf-R2jbKVI%2FAAAAAAAAA7U%2F2BUCN9fFu4s%2Fs1600%2F2013-01-17%2B07.01.43.jpg&hash=e5eb40972a32d0acd3de5f37fb10ad42a9f5b386)
We had very similar problems putting our first windshield in. Then it got to the point, we were putting others in for them, since it was so easy ;D
One note. Do NOT touch the windshield with anything metal. We worked for probably 3 hours, with four guys, getting our first windshield in. Then it cracked. Turns out we were using 8in steel mudding trowels to try to spread the gasket. That chipped it, and it cracked.
We went to Harbor Freight and bought a bunch of plastic tools. Plastic chisels, plastic screwdrivers, plastic prybars, you name it. For less then $40, we were totally outfitted. When we got just the right placement technique down, we were pros (even replaced the windshield on a reality star's bus, that we are friends with).
So take your time. Get lots of plastic tools. Use lots of straight dish soap, and be slow and careful. You will get it.
I will hit HF tomorrow and grab some more plastic tools.
Bonded windows and windshields the best invention since sliced bread ;D
Quote from: gus on September 01, 2014, 02:54:58 PM
Ooon gives good advice, it is a tough job even with the correct tool. The strip is easy to stretch and then it slowly shrinks leaving a gap. So try not to stretch it and make the strip an inch or so too long, then wait a day or two to let it adjust before making the last cut.
Install the bottom strip first since the weight of the glass is on it - the top is easier
Use lots of dishwashing detergent since it is the mildest. Gojo is a grease solvent, not good for rubber.
There are a number of little tricks ... cut the gasket so that you have to push it into place and there's pressure from the two ends butting into the gap. Remember, if you don't get it 100% into the corners, the pressure of the glass will push the gasket into the corners -- if the ends are cut too short, the gap will be pulled apart and widen. Some people think that the gap should be be upper center of the glass (thinking that rain etc. will run away from the gap), others think that it should be on the side at about 2:00 position. I don't think it matters much as long as there's pressure by the two ends butting together when all the gasket is forced into place by the glass. And the gap in the lace should be 180ยบ from the gap in the gasket.
Another thing, as you're putting the lace in, push it in with your fingers; the process of using the tool will pull it and that tension will draw it up and shorten it if you don't push it in as you go. Gus is right about leaving a bit of the lace sticking out for a day or two. Even if you pushed them in as you've gone along, you'll be surprised at how much they draw up. It's worth it to try to lessen that tension as much as possible.
And Clifford is right about lube. At Land Rover, we rarely used this kind of installation on anything but the little "eyebrow" windows over the side windows and small side fixed windows. Since they were small (and the guys did it all day and could just zip through them), dish soap would stay liquid long enough to work for us but i can see that a large job -- like a windshield -- it might not. But beware, some lubes will attack and rot rubber so whatever you use, be sure that it's compatible with rubber compounds. And yeah, the right plastic tools are necessary. The "Hi-Teck" metal tool that Eagle shows in the photo is what we used on the production line, push the lace into the diamond-shaped gap as you pull the tool towards you.
Thanks. It does seem like the diamond shape tools would work better than the other type. I think the real key is going to be shimming the windshield up so that there is just a little more space to work the locking strip into the rubber.
pull the tool towards you.....
most important advice, pushing the tool never worked well for me
start the lock strip first and feed the loose remainder ahead of/through the tool.. ymmv etc.
We got it in!!!! There was a spot on the bottom lip that had a small dent in it. One we got that straight it sat in much better. Then once we got the locking strip started it zipped in pretty easy. Thanks everyone for the help, every tip was something that helped get things moving.