Replacing a windscreen

[PETER.H]

Can anybody give me some advice on replacing the windscreen on my Allora. It was bonded in, with some sort of 2 pack rubber adhesive, some 14 years ago and has now delaminated around the edge. First question - best way to remove the old one.
Second question - where to get a new screen - I have found 2 suppliers so far - Omicron and Napiersport. Has anybody out there ever replaced a screen?? Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Bob]

I think only the Napiersport one will fit - I think Omicron is genuine and Hawk.

[PETER.H]

Thanks Bob. Yes Omicron did tell me that their screen was for the original car but thought that they may have supplied owners of both the replica models.

[SUSIT]

Hi Peter,
We took out the windscreen on my Allora to weld in the new rollcage. I must admit I cheated and got a windscreen replacement company to do it for me. £25. They just used blade like a extra long stanley knife and did'nt do anything I was not doing with a shorter blade. They did very slighty damage the cloth covering of the dash but I am replacing that as well so was of no concern to me. My Glass is intact but I would be interested to hear what fits. A bit of conflicting evidance going about so at present I am unsure but I think the best bet would be the Corse screen and not the Hawk item.
Let us know how you get on

Stephen

[PETER.H]

Hi Stephen
Must admit I have visions of the screen shattering on removal. I think I will try some local windscreen firms to see what they think. I have seen what looks like cheese wire to cut the bonding on a Mondeo but the Stratos screen is a very different shape which is going to make that idea difficult. Unless I hear to the contrary it looks like a corse screen will be the best bet - its actully cheaper as well. Any further comments still invited of course.

[chris.richard]

Look in your SEC newsletter archive. the answer is in two articles Windscream I & II, from about 2-3 years ago ;)

[PETER.H]

Thanks for that Chris. I don't remember the articles but will have a look tonight. Any idea what the general outcome was of these articles ??

[chris.richard]

Peter you have a PM.
I removed my Hawk screen by boring a hole through the rubber compound at the top corner, passing a piece of about 2.5mm wire rope (actually a piece of dinghy halyard) through it, then using this as a cheesewire to cut through the rubber. It removed a lot of tiny glass fragments from the inner edge of the glass, but nothing to prevent it being re-used, if needed. However the crack that I was replacing it for got a bit bigger in the process, although I wasn't really trying to remove it intact anyway.

[Arthur]

As to what fits, when I put mine in a CorseI, it still had the Finnish sticker on it, and as far as I;m aware, is the only genuine Stratos part on the car.

Having said that, I had to use packers at the sides of the screen, and ratchet straps from front right wheel to left rear, and same the other side, to pull the screen fully onto the pvc rubber bead/ Left it for 24 hours (windscreen adhesive/sealer goes off in around 6 hours) and it stayed in.
Thankfully.

But I believe the CorseI takes the original screen.

No idea about anything else.

[John]

Peter,
as far as I know nobody has had to replace an Allora screen yet, but I stand to be corrected. Your best bet is a replacement from Napiersport as I am pretty sure the Corse screen was passed on from Allora to Corse during that transition. It is definitely different to the Hawk/original screen. Chris Richard will back me up on this.
The Finnish sticker that comes on the Corse screen is there simply because they are indeed manufactured in Finland, noit because they are an original pattern part.
What is not clear from your post is why, if the screen is delaminated, you need to take it out carefully? You need to ensure you are not damaging the windscreen mounting surfaces of course, but surely if you are replacing it because it is delaminated, damage to the screen is not important.

[CorseChris]

I'll also add...if the screen needs bending into place, then you need to do some work on the surround to make it fit without stress or it's going to delaminate once again.

[PETER.H]

Thanks for the replies. The first screen fitted quite well and didn't need any "bending" to fit but I do remember one corner was slightly over curved. I helped the windscreen fitter and we just lowered it onto the bead a black stuff ! Didnt use any packers or pressure. Regarding the removal I am only concerned that removal may damage the bodywork and the dash covering (suede). It looks as though the cheese wire approach is going to be the best bet providing there is enough room. Why the screen delaminated in the first place is a bit of a mystery as the edges were completely sealed and presumably it wasn't under any inbuilt stress from fitting. But then I believe my Allora was No 13.

[SUSIT]

Peter I think delamination is just the luck of the draw and can happen to any screen over time. The screen for my Midas has some and perhaps more surprisingly my Subaru screen started to delaminate about 4 years ago.
My Allora screen has a small amount in one of the lower corners but its going back in that way.
The screen seems to fit well with no stress. It is a bit tight on the nearside A pillar.

Stephen

[Matt No VAT]

I recently went through this process as my screen had lifted at the very bottom and paid to have the screen removed, this was done with the cheese-wire tool which was threaded up through the section that had lifted. If it hadn't lifted they cut through the old bonding agent with a elongated blade as described.

The old bonding agents are good for about 4-5 years only and eventually they are affected by the ultra violet sunlight and then they go gooey and it can start to seep.

I was advised that you have to be a bit careful refitting as if the screen is tight and the new bonding is too tight then the screen can crack.

I agree on the de-lamination point, it seems to be pure luck of the draw!

I used Rob at Classic Windscreens, who has built a Hawk replica and has experience of these screens, I think I put his details in the "suppliers" section.

[PETER.H]

Thanks one and all for the suggestions. I just can't get out of my mind the thought that when I get my new screen it won't fit. I suppose I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it.

[Matt No VAT]

If your using the cheese-wire approach the only damage caused when my screen was removed was to the paintwork on the top of my rear view mirror.

If it ever has to come out again, I'll remove the rear view mirror first!

Hope it goes well..

[Arthur]

Ah well, we live and learn.

John, do Napiersport carry screens, and if so what kind of cost and lead time (I don't need one, but you never know when it's going to happen).

[stratos928]

Peter recently I had experience at removing 2 lotus elise screens I used 30lb pike trace. The problem I experienced was that the trace fraid as I used it like a saw (with a squirt of wd40)to cut the sealant, the car I removed the screen from was salvage so the damage the paint work was not a problem my car had a matt black surround which I could touch up! the wire you need has to be as thin as poss yet stronger than 30lb I luckily saved one screen but using the same technique the 2nd shattered. good luck! Martin

[John]

Arthur,
Napiersport have a stock of screens which are kept at our supplier. They are ordered in batches of 10, so the only delay to supply might come about if somebody has just bought the last one and we are waiting on another batch

[rutthenut]

I used Rob at Classic Windscreens, who has built a Hawk replica and has experience of these screens, I think I put his details in the "suppliers" section.

Matt, you did include his details, but at the end of a thread about a supplier 'not to use'...

But to save anyone hunting through the forum, details are:

http://www.oldschoolwindscreens.co.uk/
01932 873 506
(based on Chertsey, Surrey)

Will be giving him a call shortly to see about replacing my screen so that I can get an MOT on the car :)

[Matt No VAT]

Thanks John - I'll edit it or create a new thread