30 coupe windshield rattle

[winchets]

im getting loud rattle from the windshield if you press in the center of the window near the top it quits. any suggestions? my wife arm gets tired after a few minutes

[RonC]

Your glass is loose in the frame

[winchets]

since we are brand new to vintage cars how do I fix this? thanks for the quick responce

[green30coupe]

Welcome to the "A" world and to The Barn. Not easy to diagnose without being able to see it. But, a couple of things come to mind. There is supposed to be a hinge gasket at the top of the windshield and if missing could cause a rattle. Also, the screws that hold the windshield up against the wood header could be loose. (either just loose or possibly due to rotted wood) Does it seem to rattle with the windshield closed as well as open? When open the weight of the windshield is pulling at the top more than when closed. Be sure to keep the thumb screws tight on the swing arms to help support the weight especially when the windshield is open.

[Garo]

whats rattling the glass of the frame?

[30Ford]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I used a wave washer behind the thumb screws

[700rpm]

It might also be your vacuum wiper tube (if you have a vacuum wiper. Or maybe even if you don't, if the tube is still in there). Pushing on the windshield might shift things just enough to stop the rattle.

[smurph]

I just recently fixed what may be a similar problem. In my case it was the glass rattling in the frame. Solution was to wedge several 1.5 inch pieces of thin rubber weather stripping along the top of the glass between the glass and the frame. Follow this with trimming the bottom edge of the weather stripping with a sharp knife. TA DA! Rattles gone.

[Benson]

If the glass is rattling in the frame ... maybe the glass installed is too thin!

The glass in my windshield was too thin and rattled in the frame. When I removed it I found that someone had installed PLATE window glass not safety glass.

Plate glass does not have the plastic piece between the two pieces of glass so it is thinner and breaks in large sharp pointed pieces in an accident.

Ten years earlier I had an accident where I hit the rear of a '56 Plymouth stopped in the road at 45 MPH. Luckily I was wearing a seatbelt (1966). If I had hit the windshield during the accident it would not have been a good experience.

I would remove the glass and be sure that it is in fact safety glass.

In 1927 during testing of the a Model A prototype car some Ford engineers were hurt by a broken windshield during an accident ... Henry ordered that safety glass be installed in the Model A production cars. Atleast that is a story I read in Model A book.

[Benson]

Also if the frame is rattling the rubber washers from under the thumbscrews could be missing or collapsed or hard from old age.

see:

http://parts.modelastore.com/show_Product.asp?ID=5166

The rubber Washers should stick out from the edge of the brass washer so the that rubber grips the brackets that hold the WS open and tightly closed.

See bracket levers here:
http://parts.modelastore.com/show_Product.asp?ID=5162

Originally Posted by green30coupe

Welcome to the "A" world and to The Barn. Not easy to diagnose without being able to see it. But, a couple of things come to mind. There is supposed to be a hinge gasket at the top of the windshield and if missing could cause a rattle. Also, the screws that hold the windshield up against the wood header could be loose. (either just loose or possibly due to rotted wood) Does it seem to rattle with the windshield closed as well as open? When open the weight of the windshield is pulling at the top more than when closed. Be sure to keep the thumb screws tight on the swing arms to help support the weight especially when the windshield is open.

[winchets]

my windshield is ratteling not the frame. I also dont hane the washers Benson sent the link for . I will try some of your suggestions and get back to you thanks

[Benson]

Originally Posted by 30Ford

I used a wave washer behind the thumb screws

1. Also a wavey washer helps prevent rattles on the other end of the Adjustment brackets where the bolt/screw fastens the bracket to the W S frame.

2. Sometimes the screws will be worn almost to the point of breaking from the constant rattling of the windsheild.

[RonC]

You will need to remove and reset the glass in the frame. Now would be the time to replace the glass if needed.