windscreen woes

[VeeDubMan]

We attempted to put the windscreen back in yesterday afternoon, but there was no way it was going in. I've done rear screens, side windows on a bus before and bug screens so I know how they're supposed to fit in, but our early bay windscreen just wasn't going in yesterday.

We got the lip of the seal just over 3/4's of the way on all around and tried starting at different points on several occasions (top corners, bottom corners, left, right, middle, top) but there was always the final point where the screen and seal just wasn't going to go into the windscreen aperture. The reason could be the replacement front panel I put on, but I was pretty accurate lining it all up when I put it on...at least I thought I was :?

Anyway, here are my thoughts and possible solutions, in order of increasing cost:

New seal - the one I have was from a JK window set and I've heard these aren't the best. However, I would've thought that it would at least fit and the 'screen would go in.
Get windscreen cut to fit aperture better - I would need to get a template of an original 'screen aperture to see what adjustments are needed and I've no idea if this is feasable or not
Get a whole new front clip - at least this way, we'd know the aperture was correct, but seeing as the van is all sprayed now, I don't particularly want to do this.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

 

[gninnam]

Someone with more knowledge will be along soon, but I have ready many times that JK rubbers are pants.

I'd start with a pukka rubber from Heritage or Schofield's first (plus the cheapest option!). If it still fails to go in, with all the guidance from the peeps on here, then it could be the appeture :shock:

 

[Loxy]

Can you trial fit the glass without the rubber - get someone(or two) to hold it in place then check around the glass to see if there is a consistent gap?

Failing that iirc strongy on here is a auto-glass technician so may be worth a pm

 

[noddy]

I think before you start cutting any thing I would tray a status-vw.co.uk windscreen seal. Have hear horror stories about the JK stuff only lasting 12 months before it starts cracking.

 

[Araon]

Give us the dimensions your wanting and I'll measure mine screens still out and its untouched.....

 

[Bookwus]

Hiya Vee,

Over here in the States we have mobile winshield installation companies. They come out and pop your windshield into place. I'm guessing you have the same in Jolly Old. Due to the numbers of well meaning amateurs busting their Type 2 windshield while trying to install them, these services are quite popular with Bus owners on this side of the pond. If the installation guy breaks the windshield, his insurance company picks up the tab for the new windshield. Pretty good deal for $120 I'm thinking.

In any event, hire such a company and one of these guys can tell you if it's just not gonna go due the "hole" size. Either that of you'll get your winshield installed.

 

[strongy]

just sent you a pm bud

 

[speedwell68]

I have always found the windscreen to be the easiest one of all. Only use a genuine VW seal, anything else is just pointless. JK never fit, send it back and get a refund. Get a genuine seal from Status VW and then use plenty of lubricant, waxoil or ankor wax would be best.

 

[Nick-Rackham]

Not that I'd suggest such a thing, but could you break the screen, ring insurance co. and they send someone out to fit a new one?

 

[sparkywig]

I have always found the windscreen to be the easiest one of all. Only use a genuine VW seal, anything else is just pointless. JK never fit, send it back and get a refund. Get a genuine seal from Status VW and then use plenty of lubricant, waxoil or ankor wax would be best.

Got a JK one in mine,went straight in.
Although it had been sat in the box in my garage for about 8 years...

 

[speedwell68]

I have always found the windscreen to be the easiest one of all. Only use a genuine VW seal, anything else is just pointless. JK never fit, send it back and get a refund. Get a genuine seal from Status VW and then use plenty of lubricant, waxoil or ankor wax would be best.

Got a JK one in mine,went straight in.
Although it had been sat in the box in my garage for about 8 years...

JK used to sell top quality stuff, als that is no longer. My mate had a 3 different JK seals and not one of them would go in, when he got a genuine seal the screen popped straight in.

 

[strongy]

did you get it in bud?

 

[BJ1]

did you get it in bud?

OOO ERR - that's a bit VZi :lol:

If you haven't done it yet - use liberal sprinkling of talc to lubricate the rubber. That's what VW did in Hanover. It's much better than oily stuff because it doesn't get squeezed out as the rubber gets more compressed. I use it for putting in all glass - never fails

 

[sparkywig]

did you get it in bud?

OOO ERR - that's a bit VZi :lol:

If you haven't done it yet - use liberal sprinkling of talc to lubricate the rubber. That's what VW did in Hanover. It's much better than oily stuff because it doesn't get squeezed out as the rubber gets more compressed. I use it for putting in all glass - never fails

What Brian says, and don't be afraid to hit it. When we put my screen in with the window man, I had to push and slap very hard, and that was just to get him out of the van. :lol:

 

[KateLovesPurple]

.....
Get windscreen cut to fit aperture better - I would need to get a template of an original 'screen aperture to see what adjustments are needed and I've no idea if this is feasable or not.....

Any thoughts?

Cheers

That is exactly what I had to do for mine.

When I went to refit my original screen with a new status seal after I resprayed the bus I found it extremely tight and ended up cracking the screen.

I ended up getting a glass fitter to fit a brand new screen for me but it was too tall, it just would not go in. He ended up taking it away, having it trimmed and came back to refit it with no problems.

Thing is, the front panel is all original, so I can put that out as a potential fault. The only thing the fitter could come up with is that perhaps the top of the roof edge had been knocked down a bit some time in the past, squashing the old seal so when it came to fit the new screen, the shape was wrong. Difficult to say if that was the case though as I can't see anything unusual about the shape of the roof line.

Oh well, it is in now though and watertight.

 

[strongy]

they can be tight :roll: but we have a saying in the trade.....theres fitters and there is shiters,theres alot of shiters out there :lol: most screen fitters do a 4 week course before there sent out on there own to butcher peoples cars :shock:

 

[bluelighttaxidriver]

Been in much the same situation. Spent most of a day trying to fit a JK surround, before giving up. Just wasn't going to go in. Read this thread, ordered a status one. 25mins from start to finish. Fitted like a dream.....

 

[uber cool]

It will be the JK seal, they are utter crap!

I spent ages trying to fit a window with a JK seal. throw it in the bin, bought a seal from Status and fitted it in about 20 mins with only a little help from the wife.

The Status seals have moulded corners and are nice soft supple rubber, unlike the ***** near plastic quality of JK.

 

[VeeDubMan]

did you get it in bud?

Yes! Thanks Strongy. Got a pair of helping hands around this afternoon and a free couple of hours before the rugby started, so we gave the 'screen another go and it took around 5 minutes to go in this time!

I cannot iterate enough how shockingly bad JK seals are. All of them. Just don't go there with them at all.

Right, onto bigger and better things now.