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dembus
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:44 am    Post subject: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

I installed my windshield with a new seal and it surprisingly went in very quickly and easily. German glass from a 79 and the better seal with little to no lip rust repair needed. My last bus I broke two windshields trying to install so I read every post and watched every video prior to attempting this again.
My problem is...
The upper passenger side corner on the inside lip didn't completely lip over the pinch weld like it did perfectly the rest of the way around. It's about a 6 inch area that only lipped over about half what the rest of the lip did. It makes the outer seal in that spot not tight to the metal like the rest of the outer seal is.
My question is...
Is there a way to seat it over fully without removing the glass and starting over? I'm terrified to push or pat or breath on it and break a third one so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
I'll post a pic later.
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Last edited by dembus on Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:14 am; edited 1 time in total
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ImAddicted
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:14 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

Try working it over from the inside with a plastic or wood stick, steal a cuticle stick from the better half, that's what I did.

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mikewire
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:26 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

I haven't done my front window, but with all my side windows (solid glass and sliders) I found that when the seal isn't rolling all the way into the frame I found that doing the following helps:

  1. Get it in the sun so the seal is warm and flexible, glass will be less "brittle", the metal around the window will expand, giving you a little bit more room to work with
  2. Use some type of lube that evaporates and leaves no residue - I mix up some 1/3r'd rubbing alcohol, 2/3rd's water, and two drops of dawn dish soap in a large spray bottle and use it liberally, spraying inside the lip of the seal so it gets in between the seal and the window frame
  3. Pushing on the outside edge of the seal, in the soft spot between the glass and frame, while a helper (gently) pulls on the inside lip of the seal helps "roll" the seal further around the lip
  4. Having a helper is critical, so both sides of the seal can be manipulated and worked into place - you maybe don't need it at this step, but it would help if someone could watch the seal move

Now that's it's 97.7655% installed, I wouldn't pull it back out for fear of it breaking. Maybe go for a few drives and see if it settles, and then try step #3 again.
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dembus
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:27 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

ImAddicted wrote:
Try working it over from the inside with a plastic or wood stick, steal a cuticle stick from the better half, that's what I did.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I haven't tried this.
Will I be able to see where it's not pulling over the lip when I fold down the inside seal? Then I assume insert stick and bring it over the lip?
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dembus
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:29 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

mikewire wrote:
I haven't done my front window, but with all my side windows (solid glass and sliders) I found that when the seal isn't rolling all the way into the frame I found that doing the following helps:

  1. Get it in the sun so the seal is warm and flexible, glass will be less "brittle", the metal around the window will expand, giving you a little bit more room to work with
  2. Use some type of lube that evaporates and leaves no residue - I mix up some 1/3r'd rubbing alcohol, 2/3rd's water, and two drops of dawn dish soap in a large spray bottle and use it liberally, spraying inside the lip of the seal so it gets in between the seal and the window frame
  3. Pushing on the outside edge of the seal, in the soft spot between the glass and frame, while a helper (gently) pulls on the inside lip of the seal helps "roll" the seal further around the lip
  4. Having a helper is critical, so both sides of the seal can be manipulated and worked into place - you maybe don't need it at this step, but it would help if someone could watch the seal move

Now that's it's 97.7655% installed, I wouldn't pull it back out for fear of it breaking. Maybe go for a few drives and see if it settles, and then try step #3 again.


I did leave in the sun and tried even pressure on glass with silicone lube and outer seal edge but didn't try number 3, pulling while someone pushes on seal. Thanks!
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orwell84
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:22 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

Part of the problem that I have heard described is that the corners are too large on a lot of the commonly available aftermarket glass which makes the seal not fit well at the corners. That is the case with my bus. The windshield was installed by Safelite. It wasn’t awful but at some point I will have to have it removed and the corners ground for a better fit. You should be able to push the glass out fairly easily and start again if you need to. Better with a helper. I would rather pay for the installation. If they break it, they just get another one.
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dembus
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:17 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

orwell84 wrote:
Part of the problem that I have heard described is that the corners are too large on a lot of the commonly available aftermarket glass which makes the seal not fit well at the corners. That is the case with my bus. The windshield was installed by Safelite. It wasn’t awful but at some point I will have to have it removed and the corners ground for a better fit. You should be able to push the glass out fairly easily and start again if you need to. Better with a helper. I would rather pay for the installation. If they break it, they just get another one.


Glass fitment shouldn't be the issue since it's original German glass from a 79 bus as stated above. I'll try the wood stick in the hot sun method tomorrow and hopefully that will do it.
Thanks!
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Rodmullet
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:17 pm    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

I very carefully used a slightly dull pick (maybe use an old dental pick) to pull the lip over while very gently slapping the windshield with an open hand...this was after the windshield guys did 99% of the installation...the one guy had this huge hand that he slapped the windshield to seat it. Definitely worth the money to have someone install it.
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 7:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

I have a radiator hose pick that I have shortened a bit and rounded off well. One of the most useful tools I own.
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OB Bus
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

Rodmullet wrote:
Definitely worth the money to have someone install it.


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 5:59 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

Quote:
where it's not pulling over the lip when I fold down the inside seal?
Quote:
pulling while someone pushes on seal.

you are using two ropes right? pull from the middle out towards both sides, a little at a time each while someone GENTLY holds it on the outside Use the lube as someone suggested.
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alaskadan
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 6:17 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

The wooden tool might help you here. Let's assume that the glass isnt centered, and it needs to move to the driver's side. You won't have much room to use it on the inside, so work from the outside . Also assuming there isnt much lube left in the channel, that's ok. Insert the tool between the glass and the seal over on the bottom of river's side and keeping it jammed down in there push it to the passenger side. Do this on the top and bottom a couple times. You're trying to scootch the rubber to the pass side, which there is nowhere for it to go so by default hopefully the glass will move to the drivers side. If removal becomes neccessary, I mark center on the van and a piece of tape with a center mark on the glass helps. Sideways flat palm slapping the middle of the windshield hurts but has worked too. Good luck.
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earlybayjim
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 6:34 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

dembus wrote:
I installed my windshield with a new seal and it surprisingly went in very quickly and easily. German glass from a 79 and the better seal with little to no lip rust repair needed. My last bus I broke two windshields trying to install so I read every post and watched every video prior to attempting this again.
My problem is...
The upper passenger side corner on the inside lip didn't completely lip over the pinch weld like it did perfectly the rest of the way around. It's about a 6 inch area that only lipped over about half what the rest of the lip did. It makes the outer seal in that spot not tight to the metal like the rest of the outer seal is.
My question is...
Is there a way to seat it over fully without removing the glass and starting over? I'm terrified to push or pat or breath on it and break a third one so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
I'll post a pic later.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


The seal in my wife's 71 looks exactly like this on the inside and we have been driving it for 2 years. I know it's not right, but I did some minor rust repair on the opening and I'm sure I changed the profile some. I've been meaning to have it ground and re installed, but its keeps getting pushed to the back burner... I'm wondering if that's the problem here? How much welding/rust work did you do? I'm sure some of these windshield openings vary from bus to bus from the factory as well as glass size too. Everything has a tolerance and it's not always as tight as we may expect. Good luck with the seal!
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:02 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

If you've ever seen the factory film from back in the day where they're installing windshields, it looks positively brutal, but they've got the guy inside pulling the string and a guy outside whacking the windshield surprisingly hard with a rubber mallet to get it to seat.
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dembus
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:50 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

alaskadan wrote:
The wooden tool might help you here. Let's assume that the glass isnt centered, and it needs to move to the driver's side. You won't have much room to use it on the inside, so work from the outside . Also assuming there isnt much lube left in the channel, that's ok. Insert the tool between the glass and the seal over on the bottom of river's side and keeping it jammed down in there push it to the passenger side. Do this on the top and bottom a couple times. You're trying to scootch the rubber to the pass side, which there is nowhere for it to go so by default hopefully the glass will move to the drivers side. If removal becomes neccessary, I mark center on the van and a piece of tape with a center mark on the glass helps. Sideways flat palm slapping the middle of the windshield hurts but has worked too. Good luck.

This approach is interesting. I can probably get some spray silicone inside the seal all the way around both outer and inner except the lower inner side. Should I firmly "pat" the glass toward the passenger side where the seal didn't fully seat or toward the driver's side or just 90 degrees? I'm also confused how pushing the glass to the passenger side will help but Ill try. I measured and marked center of glass and opening prior to and I did very little lip rust repair and it's factory German glass.
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:26 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

Try pulling the seal over the lip with your fingers.
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alaskadan
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 7:49 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

dembus wrote:
alaskadan wrote:
The wooden tool might help you here. Let's assume that the glass isnt centered, and it needs to move to the driver's side. You won't have much room to use it on the inside, so work from the outside . Also assuming there isnt much lube left in the channel, that's ok. Insert the tool between the glass and the seal over on the bottom of river's side and keeping it jammed down in there push it to the passenger side. Do this on the top and bottom a couple times. You're trying to scootch the rubber to the pass side, which there is nowhere for it to go so by default hopefully the glass will move to the drivers side. If removal becomes neccessary, I mark center on the van and a piece of tape with a center mark on the glass helps. Sideways flat palm slapping the middle of the windshield hurts but has worked too. Good luck.

This approach is interesting. I can probably get some spray silicone inside the seal all the way around both outer and inner except the lower inner side. Should I firmly "pat" the glass toward the passenger side where the seal didn't fully seat or toward the driver's side or just 90 degrees? I'm also confused how pushing the glass to the passenger side will help but Ill try. I measured and marked center of glass and opening prior to and I did very little lip rust repair and it's factory German glass.


Don't silicone it, that isnt neccessary. The glass needs to move to the driver's side allowing more room for the gasket to fit on the pass side. I would try this trick dry so if when the gasket moves incrementally it stays. Essentially it's the grip of the gasket that's keeping the glass from moving over. As you run the wooden tool along the groove it will hopefully it will release its grip just a little in that point of contact.
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orwell84
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:31 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

I wish I had made a template of my original glass before chucking it. Safelite windshield installers can get a windshield in pretty easily but are not really versed in the finer points of fitting a seal type windshield. Glass is also shit compared to the original. That stuff was bullet proof, but mine was delaminating around the edges.

One of the bus restoration manuals suggests removing the windshield every few years to check the condition of the windshield. It makes sense given what an ass ache this repair is, but I'm not sure if I'm up for that.
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:54 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

Today's replacement windshields don't tend to fit well into the upper right hand corner and haven't for the last 15 years or so. I have watch professional installers fight these things for two hours.
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dembus
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 11:09 am    Post subject: Re: Windshield install advice needed Reply with quote

alaskadan wrote:
dembus wrote:
alaskadan wrote:
The wooden tool might help you here. Let's assume that the glass isnt centered, and it needs to move to the driver's side. You won't have much room to use it on the inside, so work from the outside . Also assuming there isnt much lube left in the channel, that's ok. Insert the tool between the glass and the seal over on the bottom of river's side and keeping it jammed down in there push it to the passenger side. Do this on the top and bottom a couple times. You're trying to scootch the rubber to the pass side, which there is nowhere for it to go so by default hopefully the glass will move to the drivers side. If removal becomes neccessary, I mark center on the van and a piece of tape with a center mark on the glass helps. Sideways flat palm slapping the middle of the windshield hurts but has worked too. Good luck.

This approach is interesting. I can probably get some spray silicone inside the seal all the way around both outer and inner except the lower inner side. Should I firmly "pat" the glass toward the passenger side where the seal didn't fully seat or toward the driver's side or just 90 degrees? I'm also confused how pushing the glass to the passenger side will help but Ill try. I measured and marked center of glass and opening prior to and I did very little lip rust repair and it's factory German glass.


Don't silicone it, that isnt neccessary. The glass needs to move to the driver's side allowing more room for the gasket to fit on the pass side. I would try this trick dry so if when the gasket moves incrementally it stays. Essentially it's the grip of the gasket that's keeping the glass from moving over. As you run the wooden tool along the groove it will hopefully it will release its grip just a little in that point of contact.


I will try this tomorrow. It makes sense and seems like it does't need to go much.
Thank you!!
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