Windshield install question
 

Did the search and read the chapter in Wayne's 101.

But.........................not clear on the placement of the cord (s)

I understand the cord is started from the center bottom of the seal allowing a 6-8" extra, going all the way around in the groove and ending up again on the bottom allowing again extra length to pull on later?

So, when you place the window/seal on the metal edge in the opening, how do you keep the ends of the cord on the bottom in place so they're accessible later from the inside?

Wayne's book on page 194 mentions a diagram but there is no diagram showing the placement of the cord (s)

How do?

What you need to do is be sure the cord is long enough to overlay the starting point by 6-8" and then extend beyond that and hang from the seal. Then, when placing the windshield in the frame, be sure the hanging ends are laying free on the dash. The rest is just following procedure. The cord should be thick enough that it stays in the groove of the seal by itself, even though it is lubed.

Wrap the cord twice around the window, the gap in the bottom of the second wrap wont matter.

When I did this I left about 12" of overhang and used some painters tape to attach it to the inside of the windshield.

When you put the window in, set the lower edge into the frame first ensuring the free ends of the cords are exposed on the inside and then lean the window into the frame.

The bottom lip should squeeze into place over the edge of the frame, Apply pressure to the outside of the glass as you pull on the cord to work the lip of the seal over the frame, working from the bottom center to the outside edges and then to the top.

Note: Soap did not work for me. The first six to ten times I used soap but the seal kept slipping off the frame. I cleaned and dried eveything and was able to get the seal to seat and the glass in place.

Ah so...............

That makes more sense and should be a supplement to the 101.

If wrapped around twice, the cord-size matters so it doesn't get too crowded in the groove?

Not more than 3/16"? Nylon?

Not too thin like ossi says.

Mahalo.

I used 550 lb. parachute cord, great stuff. I think its the same as 3/16th nylon, you should be fine with that. You want it thick enough to pull the lip of the seal over the edge of the frame, if the cord is to thin it will not do the job and just slip through.

Another key point is to get the window perfectly centered, the window actually floats in the seal a bit so there is some room to maneuver it.

When you are installing the glass you want the seal compressed so you can squeeze it into the frame.

Then to keep it there you want the seal expanded, to do this you have to push outward on the seal while it is still fresh, concentrating on the top corners especially.

The glass will set down due to gravity, the upper corners have a tendency to open up as the seal trys to contract. Continue to work the corners until they are in place with a tight fit and completely dry.

I think if I did this again I would try to use a hair dryer to get the seal to stick on the glass and in place on the frame, I have a slight gap in a corner that I keep pushing out but it comes back every few months.

Aloha, Shane