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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Windscreen leak



Driving whit the soft hood, from 70mph and up, the middle of upper aluminum windscreen bar goes up. There is a slit between the bar and the windscreen rubber above 70. If it rains, I get an unvolunteered cold shower. What can I do?

Flip
Flip Brühl

Flip,

could you try modifying the windscreen to accept the later centre rod assembly? (part number 47)


Jeremy MkIII

It really should not do that Flip. I have not seen that in 50 years of Frogeyes. The rubber seal is extremely tight and should stabilise the frame onto the glass. How old is the rubber?
Les Rose

Flip, I had exactly the same on my Frogeye. In the dry at fast speeds I'd get a flow of cold air. If it was raining, I'd get a fine spray. The rubber had lost its ability to grip the glass. I could actually pull the top of the screen away from the the glass. I sorted it by using a clear mastic called "Sticks Like Sh*t". I squeezed it up along the top edge and kept it pressed down with weight while it set. It worked perfectly, but the mastic sticks so well, it was quite tough to remove the residue, even with a razor blade.
G Lazarus

I used to own a RWA midget in the mid/late 70's. I was the second owner. I remember going camping with my girlfriend (now my wife) so before setting off I topped up the washer bottle with water and a few drops of washing up liquid. Of course after a while the windscreen got dirty with flies and general road dirt, so motoring down a dual carriageway at speed I pumped the washer button. A little while later giant bubbles appeared from under the windscreen to body rubber. This continued for a while with bubbles forming perhaps a foot or two wide them popping followed by more bubbles until the water had evaporated. When I got around to looking for the cause I found a crease in the metal directly under and about the centre of the windscreen. Obviously something that passed inspection without notice.
Happy days.
Rob
MG Moneypit

The rubber is 24 years old and it was a pain in the ass to get the front window pane in place without leaks. It surely is candidate for" the worst job" Yes I can get "stick like shxxt" here in Holland at € 28,--. The hard top is on the car, so there is no urgency now to hurry.
Flip Brühl

You could try an automotive gazing mastic - peel the seal back a bit and gun in.
I used it to glaze/bed the rubbers on a couple of cars - black and easy to clean up with white spirits.

Can't rmember the name but I think it was this or very similar.

https://www.dortechdirect.co.uk/arbomast-autograde-sealant-for-windscreens.html
richard b

To get the window pane in the rubber, 23 years ago, I used silicone brake fluid.... I am afraid, in retrospective, it was not the right choice .

Flip
Flip Brühl

Oh dear Flip, you have found the problem. Silicone of any kind is very difficult to remove, but I sympathise as fitting the glass usually requires much swearing. If the rubber is that old you might be better off replacing it and thus getting rid of the silicone. To fit the new one, try diluted washing up liquid. Worked for me, but I had the correct tools.
Les Rose

This thread was discussed between 07/11/2021 and 21/11/2021

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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