windscreen

HOW TO INSTALL A WINDSCREEN

By Mike Carrick:

Hi,

My Lotus is a 76 Elite 501, but I replaced the windscreen myself and I'm sending my thoughts in case this applies to the Europa.

It's a bonded in screen with trim strips top and bottom which bond in place over the screen/body joint.

The sealer was supplied by the supplier of the screen, AFAIK it's a good quality silicone sealer and you need the right stuff. You need the right holder thing for the tube (standard thing sold by all DIY places for frame sealants etc.) to squeeze the sealer out of the tube.Ensure you get the seating really clean (which I think you have), and degrease this and the screen with a good degreasing solvent trichlorethylene, carbon tetrachloride etc. and then avoid touching them with your fingers.

Car paint suppliers sell degreasing solvent, that's what I used.It's easy enough to run an even bead of the sealer onto the seating area, but I had to remove my first 6 inches and do it again, Getting the screen into position wasnt hard, then you press it down evenly and watch the bead of sealer widen out. I spread the load out evenly (to avoid residual stresses) by having 3 people pressing moderately at different places.

A thought: may or may not be relevant.

I found one tube of the sealer was adequate for the screen and just did the top and bottom strips. Later, when I put on the side strips and corner pieces I needed more and used normal silicone sealer from the DIY store as these bits are not as critical as the screen/body joint. If you have trim strips to go all round after the screen is in, I'dsuggest having a spare tube of normal grade sealer ready in case.

Oh, BTW, in case you didnt know. Be aware that laminated screens are delicate and fragile! Funny I know, as they are strong esp. in impact by heavy stones etc.; but they are easily cracked. So take great carenot to nick the edge, always rest it on soft packing etc. In particular,dont EVER try to lever one off with a screwdriver under it! Just the adhesion of the wet sealer would give enough resistance to crack it. So if you offer it up dry, lift it up by hand by the edges, don't put anything under it to lever it up. And once you put it onto the sealer, that's it, don't try to remove it to 'do it better'.

My Elite came with a cracked screen - someone had tried to steal the screen while the car was laid up by the PO, and had cracked it in the process.

If this sounds bad, it isnt; I found it easy. Just passing on the warnings in case; disasters are expensive.

I'd be very surprised if your screen supplier can't provide the right sealer, but if not the list should be able to help. I'm in the UK so I can't really help much with this.

Have fun.

Regards,

Mike Carrick

Mike,

Thank you for the help. The Europa has yet another type of windshield installation. The mastic sits on the fiberglass inset, then the windshield, then the trim piece is pushed in next to the windshield.The windshield is supplied by Bean, where I can save shipping as I go up there from time to time. So, I'm kind of on my own for the mastik.

Your tips on keeping things clean, by not touching is appreciated, I wasn't aware of the need for it being kept that clean.

Dave gave me a tip that the mastik should be available locally.

Thank you again,

I'll let you know how hings fair.

Jerry