Window install fail

[Davidf]

Sorry no pictures. But, got my slider rear window ready to install now that I have finished painting the cab. My wife assisted, and I was using Windex as a lubricant (it evaporates too fast). First three attempts went no where and I managed a chip or two on the pinch weld.

I was not giving up and rain was coming. So, used my spare new seal (brothers sent me an extra by mistake, precision brand) and the stainless trim seemed to fit better in the rubber this time around. Next my bright idea was I needed a better lubricant, so I grabbed my pool rubber seal dressing. Wow did it work wonders...glass/rubber/trim assembly dropped right into place and corners were not too difficult. All done, why didn’t I think of that earlier?

THEN, I thought hmmm...wonder what’s in that seal dressing. Yep, it’s a silicon based lubricant. Doh, now that stuff is all around the window. I pity the next guy that does any paint work in the area and knowing my luck it will be me. Now I also get to try and decontaminate my work bench area (where I also do bodywork and paint on doors, fenders and the like)

So, maybe KY jelly or Moose Juice would have been better. The water skiers in the crowed may know what Moose Juice is.

Live and learn.

[saxart]

Maybe I'm old school, but I've used a spray bottle with water and just a touch of dish soap in it. Seems to work just fine.

[Davidf]

Originally Posted by saxart

Maybe I'm old school, but I've used a spray bottle with water and just a touch of dish soap in it. Seems to work just fine.

I’m in Texas, water dries in seconds....

[Sheepdip]

Originally Posted by saxart

Maybe I'm old school, but I've used a spray bottle with water and just a touch of dish soap in it. Seems to work just fine.

I don't install glass but I've built a lot of cars in my 66 yrs, every window guy I've ever used did exactly that....soap and water in a spray bottle or squirt bottle.

[68 stepside 468]

I used water base KY Jelly for mine. Worked great!

[1971 GMC SHORTY]

Soap And Water Been Doing it like that 35 Years

[BigBird05]

Just dawn dish soap. No water.

[Ironangel]

Silicon based lube is exactly what you want when working with rubber seals and gaskets. Petroleum based lubes will deteriorate the rubber. Dish soap and water is good, but the "Bees Knees" is baby shampoo and water...Baby shampoo don't have the alkaline dish soaps have which is why the tinted film installers use baby shampoo. "Chemistry 101" Use that Windex to clean that silicon off the glass, no big deal. That silicon wont hurt that precious paint, rubber, or glass...

[Davidf]

Originally Posted by Ironangel

Silicon based lube is exactly what you want when working with rubber seals and gaskets. Petroleum based lubes will deteriorate the rubber. Dish soap and water is good, but the "Bees Knees" is baby shampoo and water...Baby shampoo don't have the alkaline dish soaps have which is why the tinted film installers use baby shampoo. "Chemistry 101" Use that Windex to clean that silicon off the glass, no big deal. That silicon wont hurt that precious paint, rubber, or glass...

Thanks. I know the lubricant I used wont hurt the rubber as that is what it is for. And, I know my paint will be fine UNTIL it is time to repaint...then I might be in trouble. But, nothing to worry about for a few years/decades.

I am more upset that I know to keep silicon away and in my haste and frustration, made a bad material choice. For the windshield, I will switch to a non silicon based, rubber safe lubricant.