glass retainer

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Will_Vanderburg
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glass retainer

Post by Will_Vanderburg » Wed May 06, 2020 2:25 pm

How does one go about removing glass from the little metal channel that is affixed to the glass at the bottom of the pane. This is for an enclosed car.
William L Vanderburg

1925 Touring
1922 Center Door Sedan

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Steve Jelf
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Re: glass retainer

Post by Steve Jelf » Wed May 06, 2020 3:37 pm

I can't speak from experience, because I haven't done this yet, but it's what I plan to do with the cracked lower windshield in my runabout.

1 Apply Gorilla tape along both sides of the top edge.
2 Clamp 1x4 boards over the tape on both sides, inside and outside.
3 Attach a chain at two points on the boards, about six inches from each end.
4 Hook an engine hoist at the middle of the chain and lift the whole thing out.

Obviously an open car would give you plenty of room for lifting, but with a closed car you might have enough space for the hoist to let you get the glass moving.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring


Wayne Sheldon
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Re: glass retainer

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Wed May 06, 2020 5:02 pm

I like Steve J's idea!

It depends upon what sort of "setting" it has. If the glass is set in just the original brass channel? A few drops of oil around the edges and allowed to sit for a day or two can help a lot. If the glass at some time in the past was set in using setting tape, or a rubber like glass channel? A few drops of gasoline allowed to soak for a few hours used to help a lot. I don't know how well our modern garbage-gas will work that way.
It needs to sit and soak for awhile so the oil and/or gas can soak in and soften the dried out sticky in tape, rubber, or whatever else has dried for decades.
I had a really stuck windshield about thirty years ago that slid right out with ease after soaking a few drops of gasoline for a couple hours. Did the same thing on the '15 runabout's windshield a couple years ago.

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Topic author
Will_Vanderburg
Posts: 811
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:59 pm
First Name: William
Last Name: Vanderburg
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 2
Location: Jackson, NJ
MTFCA Number: 28382

Re: glass retainer

Post by Will_Vanderburg » Wed May 06, 2020 5:21 pm

I'm not planning on removing the windshield glass from the confines of it's frame. With the exception of dirt and paint over-spray, I plan on leaving it. I know some will be against that idea, but then again, I probably wont drive the car that much. I'm referring to the retainers at the bottom edge of the door and quarter panel glass. I'd like to remove those retainers with minimal breakage
William L Vanderburg

1925 Touring
1922 Center Door Sedan

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