I struggled last weekend for two hours to install a front windshield. I finally gave up. Paid a glass place $50 to come out and "rope in" my windshield. They wanted $100 at first, but I told them the old one was already removed, everything cleaned up, I had the gasket already on the windshield, just needed it "roped in". They had it "in" in about 5 minutes. Took another 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to get it adjusted some that the gasket would lay down nice. What I learned so I can do it myself the next time: 1. Use a thicker rope. First rope I used was too thin and broke. I bought another thicker rope, but installer used an even thicker rope. I think the thicker rope helps roll in the rubber to the inside of the car. 2. Do not put the butyl sealer inside the gasket first, then install the glass inside the rubber. This is what I did. I had it recommended to me to do that. This made the rubber not want to flex and hindered me installing it, as well as the pro that came out. He showed me that once the windshield is installed, the new rubber gasket is flexible enough that it can be pulled back and some sealer shot inside of it between the gasket and the glass if desired.
Thanks for the info! I think the thicker rope will also not cut the gasket as it gets pulled around the glass.
1.) Don't understand the but in #2 sentence. Did u mean "put" the sealer inside the glass first? 2.) Were u installing the glass by urself? I have a new gasket and plan on doing mine sometime this year. 3.) How thick was the rope the pro used?
1. YES....I corrected that. thanks 2. I had my son helping me. Definitely a 2 person job. 3. The rope was about 3/8 think, maybe a little thicker. I started out with string (it broke), then moved up to a clothsline type stuff. His was more like rope. I have always paid to have it done, and watched them do it. Looked easy enough. I also used the "search" function on this message board and read up lots of threads. I then went to YouTube and watched at least an hours worh of videos. The installer had "cup" handles mounted to the glass. This helped move the glass around as the seal was being roped in. That seemed to help.
Well.....I sure in the heck didn't want to pay $100 to have it done. $50 is still more than what I wanted to spend for something that seems so easy. I would be willing to give it another shot now that I have learned a few things. Another way to look at it: I can't install glass....but I can sing. The glass installer probably can't sing, but he can install glass. I guess I will sing, get paid for it....and use the money to pay the glass installer!!
When I say I paid the installer to "rope it in"...that is all he did. I still need to put the butyl sealer around the outside and put the clips and trim back on. I will do that Saturday. THAT I can do!!
I always use 3/8 or a touch larger nylon rope. I've put in a lot of glass, but a Maverick is the only one I've done that took two people to get it to go in. And I never put butyl between the rubber and the glass, only between the rubber and pinch weld. Never had a problem with leaks doing it that way. I put in a lot of VW glass, all positions, in years past and never used butyl at all and never had a leaker. Each install is different, though. I'm the kind that if I think I can do something like that and save a bit of coin, I'll give it a try. I hate to pay anybody for something I can do myself!
My wife and I did a Beetle windshield and back window and the Maverick windshield and back window. I used some single strand, insulated #14 wire rather than rope. Worked fine.
X2 on that. Hurts my heart to pay for something I can do, especially if it's just because I don't have TIME to do it...
Hmmm, Im thinking I need to give haggerty a call. My glass has been cracked for years and I never thought about them having glass coverage.
