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tom woodward wrote:
> 
> A new piece of plastic.......... about $42
> A sunshade with frames........about  $90+
> The ability to do something right the first time.......PRICELESS!!!
> 
> Any ideas?
> 2152H
 

Tom,

I replaced my side windows in Sep 1998.  As owner, not only are you 
allowed to replace the windows yourself, but you can manufacture your 
own parts.  I signed this all off in my airplane logs using my pilot 
certificate number and the relevant FAR's referenced.

I had window blanks cut to size by my local plastic dealer.  I used the 
dimensions on the ercoupe microfilm drawing fro Bowling Green 
University.  The invoice from "Plastics Etc, Inc" shows:

5 pcs (I am a bit paranoid<g>) Acrylic Sheet 0.060 x 19.75 x 31.75

I paid $9.40 each blank.  I used an orbital hand sander with 200 grit 
paper to round the edges of the plastic blank as shown on the drawing

I reused the window hardware that was in acceptable shape, ordered new 
hardware for the top frames that had worn to a razor edge, and made new 
handles from "L" stock because the ones I ordered from Skyport were 
poorly made.  I ordered a set of plexiglas drill bits from LP Plastics.  
I followed the Ercoupe microfilm drawings to drill the holes and rivet 
the frame hardware.  Warning!  The rivets on the sides may appear to be 
way far in to the middle of the window but this is to clear the welts.  
I used a hand compression rivet tool.

It really is not too hard a job.  I also replaced my rear windows using 
rectangular blanks of 0.060 x 18.00 x 21.00  I used a bench band saw and 
a fine blade to cut them to shape using the old windows as a pattern.  I 
ordered new hardware and used Mortite as the sealing material.  (It is a 
modeling clay type gray material used to seal windows in the winter 
around here).  Be careful not to overtighten, I cracked one window and 
had to replace it after almost being done.  I used a wallpaper seam 
sealer roller to roll down the mortite before installing the window.

The flat windshield can also be made from flat stock (.100 from memory 
but I could be wrong) for less than $10 but you need an A&P to supervise 
and sign off to be legal.  Note that the $10 blank cut to shape using 
the old windshield will be a much better fit than the $120 blank from 
Univair as each windshield appears to be trimmed to fit and the 
purchased blank is cut to a universal pattern.

David Abrams
http://ercoupe.com

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