Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Morgan 4/4 Sport Windscreen

My 2003 4/4 also has an easy-up hood, but having read this thread with interest, I had another thought.

Anyone who has ever tried to bend channel sections, will know how notoriously difficult it can be to retain the section at the point of bend; I wonder if a change of supplier/change of process/change of tooling/age of tooling has led to an inconsistent section in the frame and thus a pressure point on the glass?

Bud

"...I wonder if a change of supplier/change of process/change of tooling/age of tooling has led to an inconsistent section in the frame and thus a pressure point on the glass?...


That´s exactly what my Morgan Garage suspects could be the reason. That would also explain why the screens all start to crack in the corners.

I've had three screens fail on non-Morgans by a crack emerging from the side. In each case it was a small chip on the edge which created a stress point. As far as I can tell, the Morgan screen fits in a thin rubber seal, so unless there's a misalignment of the frame, I'd be more inclined to attribute this to the manufacture of the glass. The cost of these screens, which let's face it are basically small and flat is a disgrace. If the crack appears when the car is stationary then I would think that this is thermal stress, although it could start under the frame 'on the road' by vibration, then expand when it cools overnight.
Whatever the cause, it needs sorting.

The cost of the screens is being disguised by the fact that the factory does not just change the glass...it changes the whole screen assembly. A shame the Company can't be a little more open about the whole issue.

You would have thought the factory would do a 'service exchange' - send them your old frame with cracked screen - they rebuild with new glass and return. Should work out a lot cheaper.
Reading this saga it seems that they need to do something to improve their reputation in this respect, imho.

I have never had any trouble with my 18 year old screen - except the glass is now beginning to delaminate around the edges.

Fjemog

But if the problem is the frame................

...........then they supply a new frame. F o c I would hope, if it was badly made in the first place.

It seems that it is only the electrically heated screens where they insist on replacing the whole lot, presumably because of complications with the electrical connections? With older screens, you can buy just a screen to fit into your old frame.

Fjemog

I dropped my Sport off at Mike Duncan's this morning to have the axle ratios changed. It started to rain so I put the hood up and saw Ben wince as I pulled the over centre swivels down to tension it........he said he saw the top rail of the windscreen flex back by half an inch or so He doesn't like the swivels and thinks they may contribute to screens eventually cracking. Its the first time i've used the hood for a while and it was noticeably stiffer with the colder temperature which probably didn't help.

There was a rather nice X reg silver Plus 8 in for service fitted with a Simmonds hood. The first time I've had a good look at his hoods and I was quite impressed.
Not sure I can justify the expense but the mohair looked nice and I liked operation of it.

Something totally off topic........in all the years I've had cars I actually feel quite bereft with a garage empty of my Morgan. I've never felt that way before!

A phone call to Berrybrook at lunch time today brought considerable progress.

Mark and Martyn had a (quote) big argument with the factory and the upshot is that the factory will replace my screen f.o.c. as a one of.

ETA on the screen is this week with fitting next week.

The factory claimed not to have had two screen failures (non impact) reported on the same newish vehicle, and as such will not identify a "problem", the reasoning behind this I think we all clearly understand.

I reminded Martyn at this time that the "average" owner does not run their car all year round or cover 8,000 a year, which maybe is relevant.

This is a solution but not the right one, because when the next screen cracks, doubtless the claim on insurance card will appear.
This is so wrong for two reasons which I won't insult anyones intelligence by explaining.

Sidestepping their responsibility comes to mind as the main issue as Manufacturer.

Putting a plaster on a running sore is not the answer as I said in previous posts.

Thank you everyone for your help and advise along the way, and rest assured any more news you'll get to hear about on here - hopefully it won't involve the demise of the 3rd windscreen.

Enjoy your Morgan miles.

Richard

We'll be in Dartmouth again on 11th December Richard, So I'll watch out for your new screen burning round the town - like last year!!!