installing windows in a hardtop

[santropezblueSL]

I am restoring a hardtop and I am struggling with the installation of the quarter windows. I have searched the forums and tech manual and tried following the instructions but I must be doing something wrong.  It can't be this hard!  I have the headliner under the U channel.  I have the outer chrome trim strip installed on the "B" pillar.  I have the rubber seal on the glass, and well lubricated with thick soapy water (I don't want to get oil on the headliner).  I am installing the quarter-window with its seal from the inside towards the outside, and I am leading with the pointy (rear) corner first, and moving it away from the headliner (the roof is sitting upside down and I am pulling the windows "up" towards the body seal) I can get the edge closest to the body seal into the channel and the lip is installed over the edge.  I can get the lip started on the B and C pillar edges as well.  I just cannot get the last corner of the window glass to come past the B pillar. I have cut the leather back so that it does not extend under the window seal.  Can anyone here tell me what I am doing wrong?  I appreciate any help you can provide. 

[George Des]

Do a search on the Forum. Several of us have been this route before and posted on how to do it. I did mine using two taped up putty knives to pry it in but the details are in my post. Gernold wrote and article on this several years ago and I followed his directions.

George

[santropezblueSL]

Hi George, thanks for your reply. I have read all of the posts and the article and they don't say exactly which direction it goes in.  Based on my description can you tell me if I am moving the glass into the roof in the correct direction?  Can you see anything I am doing wrong? All the articles say it is a really tough job, but surely there is a trick to doing it.  I have been at it for over four hours and can't get it the last little bit.  Thank you.

Do a search on the Forum. Several of us have been this route before and posted on how to do it. I did mine using two taped up putty knives to pry it in but the details are in my post. Gernold wrote and article on this several years ago and I followed his directions.

George

[santropezblueSL]

They eventually both went in.  I switched to pure, undiluted liquid hand soap (Colgate Softsoap) as the lubricant.  I moved the rubber a little at a time and continued to apply pressure at the rooftop end of the window with my elbow and forearm while working the seal rubber in with a screwdriver at the forward corner.  I tried the taped putty knives as well, but mostly used the screwdriver as it is stronger and more blunt so less likely to cut the seal.  It took me a total of eight hours of prying and pushing to get the two windows installed.  What I think I learned is that the overmolded ends of my window seals are oversized.  I also must believe that the Herren at the Fabrik must have had a better method of installing these windows.  I cannot believe that they worked in this way to install these windows in production.  There must be a way that these windows will install with some amount of clearance to spare...   

[49er]

 I know this is off topic but couldn't resist when I saw your screen name "santropezblueSL" I took this photo of a very good looking 280SL in Saint-Tropez, FR a few years back. Not Blue but sure good looking. Good luck with your glass

John

[George Des]

If there is a better way to do this, I'm sure Gernold would have known it. He said he has to pry them in as well. He's done many of them and I'm sure he's got the technique down since he says he has never broken a window prying them in. I was surprised when I got mine in. It appears there is a "sweet spot" and when you get it to that point, they sort of just slip in but I agree with you, the design team for these things must have been a constant source of complaints from the peope on the factory floor who had to deal with these.

George

[steves sl]

TRy this link  http://www.blackforestllc.com/ , look in the Classic Workshop, for the Restoration of a 113 Hard Top. That should help.