INSTALLATION REMARKS

THERE ARE NO STEP-BY-STEP INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS GLARESHIELD. WHAT I ATTEMPT TO DO HERE IS OFFER SUGGESTIONS OF HOW TO WORK FIBERGLASS AND GENERAL GOOD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CLEAN UP THE TOP OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INSPECT THE METAL FOR CORROSION AND OTHER DAMAGE. IF FOUND, REPAIR AS NECESSARY.  THIS WOULD INCLUDE ANY DRIED BUGS AND DEBRIS.

IF THERE IS A CENTER POST FOR THE WINDSHIELD YOU WILL HAVE TO CUT A CENTER NOTCH IN THE GLARESHIELD. START BY FINDING THE CENTER OF THE GLARESHIELD (BY MEASUREMENT) AND CUT OUT THE SLOT.

AS AN EXAMPLE, THE POST ON A EARLY CESSNA 182 IS ABOUT ONE INCH SQUARE OR FOR A CHEROKEE IT IS 5” LONG AND ABOUT 1” WIDE. IF IT IS FOR A CESSNA 172 THERE IS A MAGNETIC COMPASS BRACKET RIVETED TO THE CENTER OF THE TOP INSTRUMENT PANEL. YOU WILL NEED TO CUT A FOOT PRINT IN THE GLARESHIELD.

ON MOONEY MODELS, CUT A 1" STRIP OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE GLARESHIELD TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE STEEL POST.  CUT FROM WHERE THE POST STARTS TO THE WINDSHIELD, AND SAVE THE 1" PIECE.  AFTER GLARESHIELD INSTALLATION, REINSTALL THE PIECE USING HOOK AND LOOP MATERIAL.

DO NOT DISTURB ANY FACTORY STRUCTRUAL PARTS. ANY PERMANENTLY MOUNTED THINGS ON THE TOP OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL BE CUT OUT FOR.  

TRIM PARTS OR MOLDINGS CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE GLARESHIELD, IF DESIRED.

A PAPER CUTOUT OR TEMPLATE CAN BE MADE BEFORE TRIMMING OR LOCATING SLOTS, DEFROSTER, BRACKETS ETC. THE GLARESHIELD, IN MOST CASES WILL REQUIRE NO TRIMMING.

IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO MEASURE TWICE AND CUT ONCE.

IF THERE IS A QUESTION CALL BEFORE MAKING A MAJOR CUT. (A MAJOR CUT IS OVER ¼”) THERE IS ON OCATION A BURN STRIP LEFT ON THE GLARESHIELD IT WILL BE ON THE WINDSHIELD RAIDUS. IT IS ABOUT ½ TO 1” WIDE AND 4” TO 5” LONG IT IS OBVIOUS IT IS NOT PART OF THE GLARESHIELD AND MUST BE REMOVED. THE STRIP IS AN INHOUSE TEST STRIP TO VARIFY THAT THE BATCH WAS MADE WITH FIRE RESISTANT RESEN.

A WORD ABOUT CUTTING FIBERGLASS. FIBERGLASS MACHINES VERY EASILY. YOU CAN USE A FILE, SAW, SANDER.  ALMOST ANYTHING TO REMOVE MATERIAL. I PREFER TO USE AN AIR DIE- GRINDER WITH A THIN CUTTING WHEEL. (THE GLARESHIELD IS MADE FROM FIRE RESISTANT MATERIALS AND WILL NOT CATCH ON FIRE AS YOU CUT IT).

I MARK THE SPOT WITH A YELLOW GREASE PENCEL AND CUT IT OUT. FOR ROUND CUTS, I DRILL THE ENDS OF THE CUTS FOR A BETTER FINISH.

THE GLARESHIELD HAS A SATIN BLACK FINISH AND KRYLON 1613 PAINT IS A VERY CLOSE MATCH. IT CAN BE USED FOR THE TOUCH UP OR IF YOU SCRATCH THE GLARESHIELD

AS FAR AS HOW TO ATTACH THE GLARESHIELD. THAT IS UP TO YOU AND WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE AIRCRAFT. I PREFER DOUBLE STICK FOAM TAPE AS WELL AS, HOOK AND LOOP MATERIAL.  THE GOAL, OF COURSE, IS TO INSURE THAT THE GLARESHIELD WILL STAY IN PLACE, DURING ALL OPERATIONS.

THE GLARESHIELD WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE MOUNTED PERMANENTLY TO THE AIRCRAFT. IT IS A PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IMPROVES THE AESTHETIC APPEARANCE OF YOUR AIRCRAFT.

-Dennis Ashby