windshield bolts

garthom · Post by **garthom** » Sun May 18, 2008 7:27 pm

Ready to mount windshield. Going to fit button head bolts in windshield channel. What size, 5/16 or 3/8? Thanks, Gary

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Mon May 19, 2008 12:00 am

It's a 3/8" stud/bolt. I actually made some brackets to slide into the channel. Worked great.

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Mon May 19, 2008 7:29 am

Tom, Slipping the windshield over the square head bolts that came with the Classic Manx was a PIA. Your brackets look like they'd greatly simplify things. It looks like you've come up with an innovation that might become standard on most buggies. Nice job!

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:10 pm

Thanks Nelson. The brackets do indeed simplify the installation as well as provide more contact area to secure the windshield to the hood. Rather than just a small bolt head you now have an entire length of flat stock to hold the frame. It actually is a one man job now too.

manxfwin · Post by **manxfwin** » Tue May 20, 2008 2:15 am

What size is the strip that the bolts are welded on?I agree,the original method is a PIA!!Nice job.

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Tue May 20, 2008 2:33 am

It's a 5/8" x 1/8" flat stock. Length is about 6" and the 3/8" studs are mounted on center giving you about 1/8" on either side. I did have to trim one side so it slid in easier and shorten the overall length by about inch or so. To attach the studs I threaded the holes in the flat stock and TIG welded them in from the back. They pretty much need to be 90 degrees to the flat stock otherwise they will bind as you slide them in to the frame. I took a lot of time making them and am really happy with how they turned out.

73SpeedBuggy · Post by **73SpeedBuggy** » Wed May 21, 2008 1:40 am

You should sell these Tom. I'd be willing to be $70-80 for a pair of 'em. Edit: Also, if I wanted to build these for myself, where could I find flatstock like that? What kinds of places would have it?

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Wed May 21, 2008 11:23 pm

I really believe your local hardware store would have that. However if it doesn't most cities have places that just sell metal tube, rod, bar stock etc. Pittsburgh is "Steel City" so there ought to be one or two. Google turned up these in Pittsburgh: http://wallacemetals.com/ http://www.metalsupermarkets.com/ You can also order from these guys and have stuff sent UPS http://www.mcmaster.com/ http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/guideBrowse.shtml

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:12 am

Yep. This stuff isn't hard to locate. I had the bolts on hand an just cut the heads off. The flat stock I got from either ACE or Home Depot but I bet just about any hardware store worth anything will have it. I don't think I'll go into production anytime soon. I actually had to source out the welding. The rest was easy once I settled on a design. Thanks for the encouragement and kind words about the brackets.

Gary1719 · Post by **Gary1719** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:40 am

okay silly question once these are in place, then you slip it down over the hood doesnt the studs make it to wide to fit into place. do you know what i mean hard to explain. gary 1719

garthom · Post by **garthom** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:59 am

Gary, the 2 studs (welded into the flat stock piece) are already in the drilled horizonial holes in hood, on each side,slid close to hood. You then line up the vertical groove beginning at bottom of windshield side & slide the windshield down on the flat stock. Hope this helps, Gary in Illinois--Where we luv our Governor!!

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Thu May 29, 2008 3:02 am

Yep. The opening in the frame is 3/8" so a 3/8" stud will fit although it is a bit snug. I pre-fit my brackets (see bottom pic of my first post) to ensure they slide in nice and smooth. They are now right/left/top/bottom specific.

Gary1719 · Post by **Gary1719** » Sat May 31, 2008 11:51 pm

Yes our governor!!!! he is something. Thanks for the repley. i was driving down the road friday because that is what my company pays me to do, and all of a sudden what you guys said came to me. Have you ever had that happen? I wasn't even thinking about my buggy because it is in piece's. and wham OOHHHH THATS how they do that. That is what i get for not having started on mine yet. gary

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:15 am

Believe it or not that is how most of my ideas come to me. I love it. Keeps me on my toes.

mstokes · Post by **mstokes** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:45 pm

O. K. I see how the windshield guides work, but how do you secure the aluminum frame (after pressing down the big rubber gasket under the bottom of the frame) to the steel guides, once they are mounted on the Buggy? Thanks Mike Also FYI, Aluminum and steel should not be in contact with each other. It begins an electrolasys effect, which will eventually begin to corrode the Aluminum.

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