Windshield Woes

Mike Hausner · #1 (**permalink**) 02-22-2003, 10:30 AM

Is the Wwindshield supposed to bow when you tighten it to the cowl frame? My WS measures 5/8" wider than the cowl frame. Center the WS and add 5/16" spacers and the WS frame misses the (5/16"sq) angle guides on the cowl frame. Should I weld on another 5/16"sq piece on top of the existing ones and use spacers or should I tighten the bolts down and bow the WS. This is a pain in the glass (sorry, couldn't resist).

Dwight · #2 (**permalink**) 02-22-2003, 11:38 AM

MIKE, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK YOU SHOULD WELD THE BRACKET ON AND USE THE SPACERS. I WOULD NOT PUT ANY STRAIN ON THE WINDSHIELD. GET SOMEONE TO HELP PUSH THE WS DOWN IN THE CENTER SO YOU GET A GOOD SEAL AGAINST THE BODY. I CLAMPED THE WS ARMS TO THE MOUNTING BRACKET AND DRILLED 5/16" HOLES THROUGH BOTH, SO I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY MOVEMENT. I GOT A VERY GOOD SEAL ACROSS THE BODY TO WINSHIELD . STRAIN ON THE WINDSHIELD FRAME HAS BROKE SEVERAL WINDSHIELDS. BE CAREFUL.

Mike Hausner · #3 (**permalink**) 02-23-2003, 12:05 PM

Thanks for the reply Dwight. I had herd storys of cracked windshields and didn't want to do same. I don't have the body on (it's snow bound in the barn) but I thought I could drill the holes in the WS frame. I'm assuming the frame bottoms out on the lip at the bottom of the mount(?). MH

Dwight · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2003, 06:03 PM

MAYBE NOT. WAIT TILL YOU GET THE BODY ON. THE WINDSHIELD GASKET MUST SEAL AGAINST THE BODY, BUT THE FRAME SHOULD NOT TOUCH THE BODY. ALSO THE ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD WILL DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE HOLES. IF YOU DRILL THE WS FRAME THEY MIGHT NOT WORK. JUST WAIT.