I put a new rear window seal in my '51 the other day, and I'm getting ready to replace the windshield rubber and glass next. Yesterday, I went ahead and put the glass in the new seal from Steele Rubber, and I'm having one hell of a time getting the "pull string" into the groove for the pinch seal. I spent about 20 minutes and got about 8" last night. I bought the string tool from LMC, which has a handle and curved tube for the string to run through. I started out trying to do it 'dry', then applied a little oil on the chrome tube and tried it that way. (The string will move through the tube, so I inserted the tube into the groove and pulled it while leaving the string in place). Anyway, I'm just not getting it, so I guess there's a trick to it, but what is it??
Lee,there's no trick i'm afraid,the rubber is formed by extrusion and consequently the pinchweld groove can be tight,but ironically that's what you want.
Too loose and it opens up the risk of leaks etc.
Try a mild solution of dish soap sprayed around the groove and it should help stop the tool dragging on the new rubber,not too much soap though as it will get too slick.
I actually use a nozzle from a tube of caulk like mentioned in Ssrjims post above.
I do this for a living and even I get a fight with new rubbers now and again,all I can suggest is to persevere,it will go eventually.
