Dumb question about rope and windshield installation

[nanometer]

Getting ready to reinstall my windshield and I wanted to ask a couple of questions. First, in the diagram I put in, where does the rope go just before installation ? The other question is about using a product called Dri Lube instead of soapy water to install with. I mean I just got through cleaning and coating rust. I didn't really want anymore H2O in the procedure. What do you think .... Thanks

[mikedjames]

In the groove in the seal where the metal lip will go - your job by pulling the rope inwards is to guide the inner rubber part of the seal over the metal lip.

Use something decent like braided polyester rope or cord - it needs to be strong but not too rough surfaced, large enough diameter to not cut into your hands, but small enough to fit in the groove.

It may need assistance from outside with pressure on the glass as well - depends on how accurate the repaired window aperture is, compared with stock. Slightly smaller and it can be a complete nightmare.
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Ancient vehicles and vessels

1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.

1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy

[SGKent]

windex or wd-40. Wd-40 is what the auto glass shop suggested Start at the bottom center.

The rope goes where the green lip is like MikedJames posted. Use a rope that has a smoother surface on it, and not something like sisal ropes or twine.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[cmonSTART]

I used paracord, which worked fine. The Safelight guy did too when I had it replaced again later on.
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[Wildthings]

Put the gasket on the windshield and put the rope in the groove on the perimeter of the gasket where the metal lip will fit in. I use a 1/4" nylon rope and have seen others use larger ones. Smaller cord tends to bind up, takes more force, and takes more of a toll on one's hands.

Having an extra set of hands to manhandle the windshield is a plus.

[Jeff Geisen]

The corners wii be tricky. There’ll be times you’ll need to smack on the glass with an open palm. Can’t be done alone, so you can blame your helper when the windshield cracks.
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I Corinthians 4: 1 thru 5

‘63 ragtop - ‘68 single cab

[TDCTDI]

Soak the cordage in melted paraffin, once coated, it will pull in many (100s) of seals.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[nanometer]

[busdaddy]

A credit card or putty knife shoved into the groove will help get the rubber over the edge of the glass, for the first 3/4 of it you can also bend the rubber back on itself to cause the groove to spread, but that doesn't work when you reach the home stretch. Also put tape around the rubber on to the glass once it's on the glass, nothing sucks like making progress and finding the part you already did has popped off.
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[Wasted youth]

I found that wrapping the cord twice around the path worked well. One pass seemed to keep leaving many inches of the seal not getting pulled in, so I had to start all over. Paracord, two wraps, lots of spray silicone. (not the sealant silicone, but the lube silicone...)

As Jeff noted, ensure you have a helper slap the galss with open palm. A fist or solid thump easily sends crack through the glass. Blame Helper.

[nanometer]

[Wildthings]

[nanometer]

[germansupplyscott]

[CessnaJon]

The rope used in small engine recoil starters is about the right size. I’ve used that along with Dawn dishwasher soap for years. The key to success lies in the quality of the seal.

Installing windows is one of my favorite jobs on a VW.
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1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159

[Abscate]

[pioneer1]

Find a local mobile auto glass company. I paid $150. He cracked the windshield and returned the next day with a new one. You cant go wrong
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"Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"

'85 Porsche 911 Targa

'76 Westfalia project

[mikedjames]

It is also worth knowing that there are different reproduction windscreen seals with different hardness of rubber. Some of them are much harder than others.

And that doing the job in the middle of summer at 70+F or inside a heated workshop is a lot easier than trying to do it around 30-50 degrees F, because cold rubber is harder.
_________________
Ancient vehicles and vessels

1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.

1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy

[Nitramrebrab72]

If you have problems getting the seal over the windscreen corners warm in up in a tub of hot water . It will pull over like a treat. Make sure to position the seal properly soon as you have it on the windscreen before it cools down . Let it cool a couple of minutes it will harden slightly . But not to long so as to take advantage of its warm soften state for fitting to the van.

[TDCTDI]

Start at a corner, line the split in the gasket up with the edge of the glass nearest to you & hook it on the edge, then bend the gasket backwards to splay the split open & snap it over the edge of the glass.


Use a strip of tape over that corner to hold it in place & then go to the next corner & do the same thing. Repeat until the gasket is on all four corners.


Then, find a chair to sit in & place the windshield in your lap & work the gasket along the edge (furthest from you so you can see that the edge of the gasket as you work it onto the glass. It helps to hold the gasket in place with a piece of tape every 1.5’ or so as a new gasket tends to want to slip off.) and just continue working your way around.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.