Best technique for removing the windscreen

[tipo158]

What is the best technique for removing the windscreen and surround if one intends to reuse them?

alan

[Beans]

This is how I did it succesfully ...

http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/2009/01/windscreen-removal-its-draw.html

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (now completely dismantled)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC</font id="blue">
<font color="red">http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="red"></center>

[tipo158]

Thanks.

So, there are no tricks needed to remove the windscreen surround?

alan

[Beans]

In my (last) case it was impossible to get the surround removed without damaging to paintwork. But as that would be removed I didn't bother.

But if you are lucky (don't count on it) it might be possible to remove the surround by carefully levering it out with a blunt screwdriver. Place screw driver between windscreen frame and surround.

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (now completely dismantled)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC</font id="blue">
<font color="red">http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="red"></center>

[windy one]

There are tools made just for removal of the windshield-trim. i would find one if you can. Also from my experience, warming up the trim/windshield adhesive by either leaving the car in the sunlight or a heat gun will help the removal of trim/windshield that much easier. Im on my second windshield replacement now.

Johnny

[Rich in Vancouver]

I took my car to a glass shop.
They changed the screen for a couple of hundered bucks, didn't do any damage and guarantee against leaks.
Worked for me!

Rich

Edit: Sorry, didn't see the bit about reusing....Good luck!
1975 TR7 ACL764U

[tipo158]

Well, I managed to dent the a-pillar and the surround is still in place at the base of the a-pillar. It dented easily enough that it shouldn't be hard to pop it back out, but it is still frustrating. Good thing the whole thing is gonna get resprayed.

I am pulling the windscreen out in preparation for getting the car caged. I was planning on getting a pro to reinstall it, but figured that I could take the time to be careful in removing the windscreen so it could be reused.

Are TR7/8 windscreens readily available to glass shops in North America?

alan

[tipo158]

I have piano wired (well, inner throttle cabled) half way around the windscreen, but have gotten stuck at the right hand a-pillar and along the bottom.

I have a modified putty knife that I am using to separate the seal from the glass. Along the bottom of the windscreen, it feels like I am hitting something hard, almost metallic, though, from the outside, I don't see anything like that. Is the putty knife hitting the metal core of the Solbit?

Any more tricks on getting the windscreen out in one piece?

alan

[Hasbeen]

There will be at least 2, & may be a few little spacers, along the
bottom of the screen. These hold it up from the bottom of the recess
as the sealant cures. The screen sits in a shallow recess. You may
be hitting the bottom of the recess, or a spacer.

The original was quite small, but who knows if yours is original.
Try starting the wire again an inch or so along, you should be able
to push it up from the bottom.

Hasbeen

[Jolyon39]

Hi,

I wrote in an earler thread about using an accelerator cable minus one strand.

The bottom corners of the A pillar on each side are the difficult points when using the wire to cut the screen out.

You need to cut down the A pillar from the top when using the wire. Once you cut down the A pillar to the bottom start a fresh cut from somewhere along the bottom, cutting towards the corner of the A pillar and then up the A pillar just a little.

You will not get far up the A pillar from underneath though because the windscreen finisher blocks you. The windscreen finisher is shaped like a "T" and when you cut up you hit the portion of the "T" that is down deep in the window.

Use a long razor knife also to slice in that area from both sides if still not free

To start cutting from the top you will need to start at the joiner in the centre of the window. You face a problem starting here because once again you you have to get under the "T" of the windscreen finisher. Slide away the centre cap and start digging with a razor knife, eventually you will be able to push the wire under the "T" with a screw driver and get started on your cut.

The good news is that often original screens are loose anyway and you can quickly slip the wire under the top of the screen without digging at the joiner.

Two more points

This whole process is best with two people to control strokes of the wire as you cut. Slow is best because you have more control.

Do not keep cutting if you hit a snag, continual cutting in one area will grind into the paint around the window frame. Only work the wire if the wire keeps moving along the screen, even a little.

regards,

Jolyon

[john]

ooops a stone hit my screen [:D] and for £60 access on the insurance viola it was changed got to be the most cost effective way surely. Bill said it was a £480 job

[8 whole cylinders worth of punch to ram the world through the windshield and out the rear view mirror. Car & Driver]
1981 Grinnall TR7 v8
1981 Black FHC
1979 & 1980 Black Premium FHC(laid to rest) Sorry


John

[Beans]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by tipo158</i>

... it feels like I am hitting something hard, almost metallic...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That is probably the original heating wire for the window sealant ...

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (now completely dismantled)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC</font id="blue">
<font color="red">http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="red"></center>

[tipo158]

The windscreen is now free of the car. Thanks for everyone's advice.

alan

[windy one]

Sweet. Just dont drop it putting it back in [:0]

Johnny

[Rblackadar]

Yes windscreens are available in the US.