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Window replacement

spectre6573

By spectre6573
in General Mooney Talk

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spectre6573 Enthusiast

spectre6573

Posted
Posted

Gents,

I am looking to replace my side windows and since I am in the southwest, looking to do the SC tint. Looking for some pictures showing the tinted versions to decide. Right now all the windows are green.

 

Davarron Collaborator

Davarron

Posted
Posted

I’ve gotten some samples from Great Lakes Aero Products as I live nearby. The SC gray can be mistaken as clear from a distance (which is what I prefer). The dark tint (non SC) is similar to the rear windows of an automobile SUV. I was told by GLAP that the dark tint blocks just as much UV rays as the SC gray. 

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

I used and am happy with solar gray fabricated by GLAP.

ISTM there was a darker shade of gray which you might like for side windows. 

Green is out of style, I think. 

RLCarter Grand Master

RLCarter

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, Bob_Belville said:

Green is out of style, I think. 

I like to looks of the gray better than the green. My E had all new glass when I got it and it was green, my 172 has gray, flown them back to back at night and the green works better for me at night

  • Like 1
Igor_U Mentor

Igor_U

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, RLCarter said:

I like to looks of the gray better than the green. My E had all new glass when I got it and it was green, my 172 has gray, flown them back to back at night and the green works better for me at night

I agree with this one.

Even if I liked gray better, I went with green; one reason was to match a windshield that I didn't need to replace. Just something to think about...

bradp Grand Master

bradp

Posted
Posted

I went with the SC grey with UV blocking.  I used LP aero - they were priced significantly under GLAP when bought through chief as the supplier.  

  • 7 months later...
Igor_U Mentor

Igor_U

Posted
Posted
21 hours ago, NotarPilot said:

I'd be curious to hear from people who have replaced all their windows and to know how many hours of labor can be expected for a full replacement.

I've done FWD side windows myself and have spend 7-8h per window (one weekend) working on the ramp and out of trunk of my car.

My shop, after that installed 201 aft windows in lieu of two small windows "F" has and it took them around 20h with 337 filed etc.. This was 11-12 years ago so not sure about details but it took a lot of labor.

 

Good luck.

NotarPilot Veteran

NotarPilot

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Igor_U said:

I've done FWD side windows myself and have spend 7-8h per window (one weekend) working on the ramp and out of trunk of my car.

My shop, after that installed 201 aft windows in lieu of two small windows "F" has and it took them around 20h with 337 filed etc.. This was 11-12 years ago so not sure about details but it took a lot of labor.

 

Good luck.

This is the one video I CANNOT find on YouTube.  Thanks for the info.  I would like to do this project myself but I don't want to screw it up.

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

Side windows  are a great project for the Mooney owner...

The old ones get removed, the new ones go back in there place...

There is a ton of work to clean up the old sealants...

start one window at a time....

Have a plan B... a Mechanic you can go to for help, if it gets away...

My project got held up by selecting the wrong color...

So I replaced one window twice...

knowing the right sealant to use is a really good idea too...

Drilling acrylic sheet requires the right tools...

Research the MS threads to see how it’s been done... lots o pics...

PP thoughts, not a mechanic...

Best regards,

-a-

  • Like 2
Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, kpaul said:

@Bob_Belville^^^^^^^maybe you can answer this question

KP, I thought that I had posted an answer a couple of days ago but I do not see it. My E is more work than a J in that all the side windows have to be drilled in place. And there a lot of screws to remove and re-install. I removed the seats and interior panels so that's several hours work. Then there's cleaning all the old sealants which was the most time consuming. My old E had 3 or 4 different materials. The windshield was much more involved because of the way it fits, no holes in the plexiglass but screws/nuts along the lower edge.

Having done it once I would not hesitate to take on this task - replace side windows - again. I believe this is a preventive maintenance for which the owner is specifically authorized to perform.

  • Like 1
MARZ Mentor

MARZ

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Bob_Belville said:

Having done it once I would not hesitate to take on this task - replace side windows - again. I believe this is a preventive maintenance for which the owner is specifically authorized to perform.

Yep 14 CFR 43 calls out side windows - but the windshield is an A&P / IA job.

 

"(13) Replacing side windows where that work does not interfere with the structure or any operating system such as controls, electrical equipment, etc."

  • Like 2
bradp Grand Master

bradp

Posted
Posted

 

@NotarPilot here’s what is involved in a J replacement.  About 8-10 hrs to pull the interior maybe 4 to remove and 6 to replace.  

Side windows took me about 5 hours per window including removal, cleaning of old sealant.  

I had my windshield done at the shop in accordance with the FARs - experienced Mooney shop took 12 hrs and they were able to reuse the retainer flange. 

Mine were trimmed very close to match. I brought my old ones to the factory and they only needed to shave about a quarter inch off my front windows. One rear I needed to trim a bit more.  Trimming and fitting will take a lot of time if it’s required.  You will also need to drill for the pilot window and drill a hole for the lower front corner of the pilot window for a rivet

This is a job for summer time or a heated hangar.  You risk cracking your new windows in the winter  you will almost certainly crack one or two old ones on the way out.

Definitely get drill bits for acrylic- note the proper angles for countersinking and go slow.  Heat is the enemy. Any cutting or drilling should be done on a protected window surface. 

I’d  say sum it’s about 30-35 hours of “elf labor”. 

  • Like 3
Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

Drill carefully and slowly! Support the window under the drill with some waste wood that you can drill into. Be very careful . . . . . . . .

  • Like 1
jaylw314 Grand Master

jaylw314

Posted
Posted

From the RV construction tip manual--

Drill acrylic in a heated area.  Cold acrylic cracks more easily.

Use an acrylic drill bit.  Alternatively, grind flat the faces of the point in a regular drill bit so that the bit scrapes instead of cutting.  You want it to drill out small shavings instead of one long ribbon.

Go slowly to keep from heating the acrylic.

FlyboyKC Collaborator

FlyboyKC

Posted
Posted
On 1/15/2019 at 9:35 PM, NotarPilot said:

I'd be curious to hear from people who have replaced all their windows and to know how many hours of labor can be expected for a full replacement.

I just did this last year. If you have help, it should only take a couple of days. It takes longer than what you would think it does. One reason is you have to drill out the holes for the new windows. Not hard but you do want to take your time with it not to crack the window. 

 

Neal

 

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, FlyboyKC said:

I just did this last year. If you have help, it should only take a couple of days. It takes longer than what you would think it does. One reason is you have to drill out the holes for the new windows. Not hard but you do want to take your time with it not to crack the window. 

 

Neal

 

@NotarPilot has a J. I don't think the plexi has to be drilled for Js. I could be wrong...

  • Like 1
Marauder Grand Master

Marauder

Posted
Posted
[mention=8227]NotarPilot[/mention] has a J. I don't think the plexi has to be drilled for Js. I could be wrong...


Bob - What thickness glass did you use? When I talked to one of the vendors, they told me they could make 1/4” work by reducing the lip to a 3/16” thickness. They wanted my old glass to ensure proper fit. You need to do that?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted
25 minutes ago, Marauder said:

 


Bob - What thickness glass did you use? When I talked to one of the vendors, they told me they could make 1/4” work by reducing the lip to a 3/16” thickness. They wanted my old glass to ensure proper fit. You need to do that?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

I bought mine from GLAP and went with 3/16" all around. 1/4" would have been a bear for the windshield in my case which is an E but with a 201 windshield. The depth that the plexi recessed into the slot around top and sides varied quite a bit. The side windows would be no problem at 1/8" (original for older vintage), 3/16", or 1/4". ISTM 3/16" works best, strong enough and while the sound level might be slightly improved with heavier plexi, Mooneys are loud, maybe the newest ones are better, and noise cancelling headsets have become standard.

I think @jetdriveninstalled 1/4" in his '77J and milled/chamfered the edge. I doubt you'd want to pay for the time he spent getting that perfect.

  • Like 1
DonMuncy Grand Master

DonMuncy

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Bob_Belville said:

@NotarPilot has a J. I don't think the plexi has to be drilled for Js. I could be wrong...

My K has clips and did not require drilling, but they did have to be trimmed to fit. I probably spent 2 1/2 days doing the 4 windows, but I work terribly slowly.

  • Like 3
Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

One more thought, you need a helper for some of the work with the pre J models because of the screws/nuts. At the very least the first in last out pane will require two people to remove/install the screws/nuts.

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted
Just now, DonMuncy said:

My K has clips and did not require drilling, but they did have to be trimmed to fit. I probably spent 2 1/2 days doing the 4 windows, but I work terribly slowly.

The new plexi from GLAP need very minor trimming for my E. I did have to remove a little around a bolt on each side that was a mod for shoulder belts. I think I used a dremel with a fine burr. 

jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, Bob_Belville said:

 

I think @jetdriveninstalled 1/4" in his '77J and milled/chamfered the edge. I doubt you'd want to pay for the time he spent getting that perfect.

Yes we used a dremel with the 80 grit drum sanders and milled a 3/16” step all along the edge. Including the bottom.  Probably took 12 hours. Plus installation.  You have to push the milled perimeter area further and further from the edge of the windshield. But not past the skin or the interior plastic because u can see it. 

A08039EE-3259-4BD1-8712-30AAD52B12D8.jpeg

54592DC4-3EBC-4E03-988B-761A3086FA9C.jpeg

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Edited by jetdriven
  • Like 3

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