Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Stress cracked windscreen

Heinz, a note to say thank you for taking the time to get this article translated and poster here.

Well, just to raise this issue again.....it had gone pretty quiet. Driving my car out of the garage yesterday morning for the trip to the Factory for the TM Tour, I noticed the screen had cracked overnight! A crack from the top left of the screen diagonally down for about 6 inches. The crack developed down to the bottom of the screen whilst parked at Morgan during the morning. Very strange that a screen should last a couple of years and then suddenly fail. Of course the car is now out of warranty so it looks like an insurance claim. It does pain me though that the insurance company should foot the bill for an obvious Morgan problem.

I mentioned it at the factory to be told that their new 4/4 hire car screen had cracked within a week! So the problem still exists....even on the new cars with the alloy screen supports.

..very strange indeed.

My screen cracked overnight while it was parked in the garage, and when I disassembled it I found it was the top mounting screw that had just touched the edge of the screen causing a very small sliver of glass to flake off, which seems to have caused a weakness at that point - which led to the crack.
So, just check the lengths of all the mounting screws - especially if you've fitted any wind wings that require slightly longer mounting screws which might foul the screen.
I managed to replace the glass element in the original screen frame, but I shortened all the mounting screws by two or three millimetres before re-assembly just to make sure it doesn't happen again.

A small nick in the edge of the glass is enough to cause a failure. I've seen this twice on new (not Morgan)cars where the crack appears from under the rubber, with no sign of impact.

I wonder if the "hand built" factor is coming in here.
Slight variations show up in a myriad of ways on a Morgan with varying positioning of parts etc. Could this be carried through to the windscreen assembly?
If, as the history of this cracking seems to indicate, there are issues with screw length then a logical solution is to rigidly control the screw length either by measuring or introducing selectivity of screws in certain positions with some kind of failsafe check built in?
A supply of short screws clearly marked/boxed for the corners perhaps?
A different thread screw to make it impossible to insert an over-length screw? (Poke Yoke style)
Attention to detail during design and building in controls to prevent mishaps at that stage saves problems later.

Sid, it would be great if the factory would supply just the glass...but they will not do so...nor will the supplier; they will only deal with the factory. I will have claim off my insurance and get a complete new screen and frame fitted.

Have a word with Ricky Evans, of Ricky Evans Motorsport in Tamworth( http://www.heatedwindscreen.com/ ).He deals with the manufacturer and can supply just the glass (heated or not). He supplied mine, and a very helpful and knowledgeable chap he is too. (Don't forget to tell him that Steve Wells - for that is me - recommended him, as I may need his services again!)

I am now on my third windscreen - MMC don`t want to know although they had it in for a week and said they did not know what had caused the problem as the top had not been on for weeks - this happened last summer - the crack occurred when parked on uneven ground.Cat 18 months ols when it went for the second time - about 6 months after the first replacement.
Insurance paid up again - but I feel that MMC is not addressing this problem seriously - there is problem somewhere and needs a solution otherwise us poor drivers and insurers are going to have to keep forking out.

I would agree Charles Morgan basically dodge the issue when raised by Jay. I have had Morgans for I guess 13 years both 1990's cars & touchwood never had a problem.

This seems to me a design fault