Loose windshield clamps

Hi all,

In reference to a 1958 CJ5:

When I got my CJ the PO said "I never put down that windshield once."

So I got him home and set about making sure the windshield would unclamp properly and fold down.

So short story is, it does. It is very nice, but a problem has ensued.

OK so there's the chrome clamps with handles that are mounted on the actual windscreen and then we have the repositories for these clamps that are screwed into the "dashboard" for lack of a better word..the first time I undid these clamps from their housings, they were T-I-G-H-T. had to really give em a good manhandle to get them out and then get em under and in. But I was careful not to jam stuff in wrong or over do it.

But NOW as time goes by and I have done this several times....they are all loosey-goosey to the point that both chrome handles vibrate while driving and the nubs that go under the curves sections of the clamp repositories are loose enough that there is a little bit of play in the windshield. This is not confidence inspiring!

The pieces mounted to the dash are not loose and do not appear to have moved at all, and the curved sections of these parts do not appear to have become mis-shapen. The handles do not appear to have moved either....although I gotta guess SOMEthing is out of whack..could the curved receptacles gotten bent up a little?
What happened?

 

The curved hooks and the clamps probably loosened up a bit or slightly deformed. The w/s where the clamps mount may have deformed a touch also. No big deal as long as not excessive. The hooks on the dash are adjustable. Loosen the two screws that hold the hook to the dash and you can adjust them. The screws go through the dash into a lock plate on the back and tend to rust so a little penetrating oil on the back side on the threads can be a big help.

 

Sounds like they they are bent or sprung.

Might check that the rubber gasket btwn windshield and cowl is in place correctly. Could be what caused it to be so "T-I-G-H-T" in the first place.

 

The gasket in the cowl is the but old...maybe it is crapping out?

 

When I started messing with my '68 which has at least a similar set up to yours this is exactly what I found. The brittle old cowl gasket would break off a little bit every time I folded the windshield. I finally replaced it with a new one from Kaiser-Willys and have not had THAT problem since.

 

All great info as usual guys, thanks!

 

Mine kept popping loose while on the trail. If I adjusted them to where they stayed tight then my top didn't fit right. So I made my own-

Not the prettiest thing in the world, but they are very solid!

 

Windshield gasket.

 

Those are cool looking clamps, Doug. I was thinking similarly with maybe a butterfly wing nut so I could spin em off quick.
I called Walck's and they have the right cowl gasket for 43 bucks.

 

maybe since th PO didnt lower the windsheild the hardwhare was tight from not moving for so long? after you lowered it a few times they might have loosened up.

 

x2

Ken

 

When I got my digger jeep, it had sat in a garage with a dirt floor for 20 years, with a halfcab metal top and the doors on. 20 years or more for that matter is a lot of cycles of humidity buildup on the inside windshield glass. The water runs down the windshield and into the inside bottom of the glass through the defroster ducts. On mine, the whole bottom where the rubber gasket between the frame and body was rotted out. So increasing the adjusting the clamps tighter simply crushed the inside bottom of the windshield.

My jeep had spent its entire life with a metal top on, so the hinges were pristine (not bent). Common with jeeps which run with the top off is the "hop-in" method of getting in the jeep. You can't do that with a metal top because you hit your head. Also, jeeps with roll bars which extend to windshield frame discourage the hop in entrance.

Without a top on the jeep, it is common to grab the top or side of the windshield, putting more stress on the hinge and the lower windshield area.

Do you have a grab handle on the dash on the passenger side for your passenger to hold on to? If not, it is instinct to grab something to hold on to, and the windshield is the weakest link after 40 years of rust.

Bought a new windshield frame for mine, the only rust on the jeep that was greater than surface rust.

As far as getting the adjustment screws loose, I used an impact phillips to get the screw loose. You can't just use a large phillips screwdriver. The impact phillips tool is the one you have to hit with a hammer to break the screw loose. This tool is used to break loose the screw in car door hinges. If you don't have one of these, you will probably round out the phillips and have to drill out the screws and replace them.

By the way, remember, I'm just down the road if you need to look at my jeep.

 

I had to stuff some 1/4" rubber material in there ,that stoped the rattling .

 

Cheap-o solution - fold down windshield, put two 3" by 18" strips of cardboard on the windshield cowl aligned with the mounting points. Re-raise windshield, clamps are nice and snug. No plans for wet weather driving or major splashing so not too concerned.

 

Cheap-o solution #2 - leave the windshield down, wear sunglasses.

Works for me.

 

"Cheap-o solution #2 - leave the windshield down, wear sunglasses."


X2!!! This is why the problem came up in the first place! I have it down a LOT but some trips around my town seem much wiser with it up.