RSD clarity clutch inspection cover

[Nibelungen]

Updates

still no answer from RSD USA
not that i was confident in one...

i have updated even the retailer on the net where i bought it... about this issue...
so he contacted me today... and told me that his RSD contact here in Italy will give him another polycarbonate Lexan window asap to send me for free...

[motorfish]

I have a fix suggestion for the new one, before it breaks.
Enlarge the bolt holes using needle file, just slightly, to prevent being pushed when aluminium expands, and use thin o-rings underneath the lexan to give it a little more support. Ideally the o-rings should be level with the sealing gasket or slightly thinner.
Torque just enough to slightly compress the seal, and relay on loctite rather than torque to keep the bolts from unscrewing.
I guess that the breaks happen due to combined action of side pressure of aluminium expansion, and lack of support around the bolt holes.
Hopefully, should last more than one summer.

[Nibelungen]

Thanks... i am considering seriously something like that... my final goal though would be armoured glass...

[motorfish]

Yeah, we live in age of plastic.
50's and up to 80's Soviet military diving suits had no umbrella exhaust valves...they were ground glass supported by stainless spring.Just like old fashioned bottles for storing chemicals, ground glass surface on neck and plug.
These days, cost of such application would be rather prohibitive.

[Tim The Grim]

I just have to think that polycarbonate would be vulnerable to hydrocarbons and additives in the trans oil. When stuff reacts you get cross linking of molecules and property changes that will show up as stresses and cracks. I’m thinking that quartz or borosilicate glass would be the best choice. Machining and finishing would be a whole different animal.

If your local connection comes up good with the replacement that’s great. If not you need some of that aluminum plexiglass from the Star Trek movie with the whales.

[Nibelungen]

Originally Posted by Tim The Grim

I just have to think that polycarbonate would be vulnerable to hydrocarbons and additives in the trans oil. When stuff reacts you get cross linking of molecules and property changes that will show up as stresses and cracks. I’m thinking that quartz or borosilicate glass would be the best choice. Machining and finishing would be a whole different animal.

If your local connection comes up good with the replacement that’s great. If not you need some of that aluminum plexiglass from the Star Trek movie with the whales.

my dad once knew a guy, now retired, who carved for him a Ferrari's rampant horse from a single 50 cm block of thick tempered glass... using a high pressure water/sandblast saw... nowadays these jobs are like a virgin in an harem...

[Nibelungen]

Originally Posted by motorfish

Yeah, we live in age of plastic.
50's and up to 80's Soviet military diving suits had no umbrella exhaust valves...they were ground glass supported by stainless spring.Just like old fashioned bottles for storing chemicals, ground glass surface on neck and plug.
These days, cost of such application would be rather prohibitive.

true...
in addition a true glass does expands along alum when hot...

some millenials are hoping for the end of the plastic era as well... much better glass...

[sportsterpaul]

Well while I’m pleased that someone has a replacement coming for you, it will of course fail like the first one unless some type of modification is performed. Do keep us posted, thanks.

[rejeanprimeau]

Go to a vitrail shop, stainglass craftsman and get what you need.

[Nibelungen]

Originally Posted by rejeanprimeau

Go to a vitrail shop, stainglass craftsman and get what you need.

not so simple overhere