screen clamp help

[cameronfurnival]

My scuttle is a grp moulding which i have fitted satisfactorily, then the windscreen goes in (which I dont have yet) and finally the screen clamp. How does the screenclamp fix to the scuttle? I could put a few bolts through it but the heads would be inaccessible if I ever had to change the screen. I know its held on with the wiper spindles (my mini ones are too short) but there has to be more than that surely? Any help gratefully recieved. As far as I know the roadster and Romero are pretty much the same in this area.

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: screen clamp help

That's it...pop a few bolts through plus the spindles...maybe use rivnuts to circumvent the accessibility thing. The windscreen sealer eventually contributes too...simples..!

[cameronfurnival]

Re: screen clamp help

once again i am indebted to you Jez! The Romero clamp comes forward a lot further than the roadster so the idea of needing three elbows per arm to undo anything isnt attractive. That just leaves the probelm of where to put the ECU, hopefully it will be indoors uner the dash but its a might too big to fit neatly into the footwell sidewall

[cameronfurnival]

Re: screen clamp help

once again i am indebted to you Jez! The Romero clamp comes forward a lot further than the roadster so the idea of needing three elbows per arm to undo anything isnt attractive. That just leaves the probelm of where to put the ECU, hopefully it will be indoors uner the dash but its a might too big to fit neatly into the footwell sidewall

[b_caswell]

Re: screen clamp help

Cameron,
On my roadster there are four M6 bolts that hold the clamp in position, the wheel boxes are mounted into the back of the clamp and dont go through the scuttle. As Jez says rivnuts may improve things if you ever have to get them undone later.
Suggest when you fit the screen you use some short pieces of plastic tube over the edge of the glass to get it in position before applying the sealant.

[cameronfurnival]

Re: screen clamp help

cheers Ben, i never thought of not putting the wheelboxes all the way through, that would allow me to keep the mini wheelboxes....hmmm. Yes, I have a rivnut tool somewhere at work which I will borrow and then get some rivnuts if I can get to stafford at the weekend.
Many thanks, I dont know how anyone built one of these things before the club came into existence!!!

[b_caswell]

Re: screen clamp help

20 years ago we had a very understanding manufacturer to phone up. Try and get the rivnuts with a serated back edge so they grip the grp.

[cameronfurnival]

Re: screen clamp help

Got the rivnuts, with serrated edges - will get them in tonight or tomorrow.
Have just been reading about the effects of different wheelboxes, angle of sweep etc. Does anyone have a view on fitting the standard mini wiper system? Was going to put wheel boxes on the clamp ather than through the bulkhead and make some spacers to give the clearance I need.

I have to get some new nuts for the wheelboxes and therefore if there is a better alternative than the mini ones I wont waste money on them, rather just get teh better wheelboxes.

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: screen clamp help

Cameron - try Stafford Vehicle Components if you haven't already- they have a document somewhere on wiper systems & motors. I originally fitted a 120 degree Mini motor & standard Marina 38 tooth wheelboxes...which gave about 95 degree sweep. IIRC the Marina motor carried a smaller-sweep gear albeit was the same Lucas 14W type as the Mini.

I recently fitted some 32 tooth boxes from SVC and now have almost a full 120 degree of sweep..! You can also get a 135 degree gear wheel, which with the 32 tooth boxes will be probably about as good as it could get with a "Mini" type setup.

Also if it's not too late make (i.e. you haven't cut the bonnet) you can reverse the motor parking switch to get the wipers parking where you need them.

[cameronfurnival]

Re: screen clamp help

ta Jez! I dont need to cut the bonnet (it is not centrally hinged). The motor sits under the clamp and Im trying to get the shallowest angle possible for the bundy tubing. I think for IVA the wipers must park to the NS so your tip is v useful :-) - CBS have some 2" ones a bit cheaper than SVC so I wil look into them too.

[cameronfurnival]

Re: screen clamp help

I managed to get a pair from a Triumph 2000 off ebay for a fiver! In good condidition too! Perfect size to go through the bulkhead and pop out of the clamp. I tried the mini ones but I would have had to cut away a fair amount of the back lip on the clamp to get them in.
So, a couple of rivnuts and teh wiper spindles and everything is solid. But...how tight a radius shall i put on the bundy tube which joins the wiper to the first wheelbox. The length is only about 6" with the wiper motor at its furthest position back - i obvioulsy wnat it as stright as poss but there is going to have to be a significant bend. Is this right?
Cheers!

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: screen clamp help

Not sure on the Romero but didn't you say the bulkhead isn't as deep as the Marina-base? Here's a picture of my setup...you could try and hide it under/behind the dash/scuttle if that helps the tube run.

An old tech-tip was to use grinding paste on the drive-cable to improve the fit/movement of the cable/bundy. Obviously cleaning/regreasing thoroughly afterwards...

[cameronfurnival]

Re: screen clamp help

thanks Jez, although I have half that depth to play with, I can clearly see the amount of bend in the bundy. I wil angle my motor at 45 degrees and will be able to reduce the amount of bend furhter.
Did you see my posting on brake pressure reduction - you were asking about it in a differnet thread?
Cameron

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: screen clamp help

I have now..! Thanks for the offer...when I make further progress I might be in touch.
Jez

[cameronfurnival]

Re: screen clamp help

photos now on flikr
http://flic.kr/p/8MVyVS