Tere is a little concerned about what she believes are small pieces of metal falling from the top left front corner of the windshield, on to the dash. About a year ago, we noticed some streaking on the inside of the windshield. Caulking fixed that. Question is 'What is the front window frame detail look like? I know that the Barth's construction is all aluminum, but do they use steel tubing around the windshield? Tere is thinking we need to have both windshields taken out and the whole thing checked over before we paint the front of the Barth. Anybody have some experience here?

Yep Jim, that's probably the same little "battery" that many Barths have working up there...probably not the best in initial design.

On my '78, the exterior of the top of the windshield "A" pillar is the connection point for:

1. The fiberglas roof-cap piece,
2. The aluminimum side panel,
3. The rubber windshield gasket
4. The steel square tube framing member inside.

Four different materials, with different rates of expansion/contraction, all coming together at one point. Plus, the gasket making its sharpest bend and therefore wanting to pull away from the frame.

I'm guessing that the tiniest leak allows water in the presence of a steel tube riveted to an aluminum skin starts the whole process. Many older Barths will show skin corrosion on the "A" pillar, usually around the rivets, but sometimes just poking through anywhere on the skin.

If you look around the upholstered panel of the "A" pillar, towards the glass, I think you'll see rust-colored specks on the metal, the source of your falling flakes.

My windshield gasket has been the common source of moisture penetration. I re-seal the area of the tight radius with polysulfide, only to see a gap re-appear. Twice-a-season attention seems to keep up with it. Naturally, ALL of the seams in this area should be looked at - with varying temps, there's lots of different materials moving around up there.

My "A" pillars are badly corroded and I have been seeing rust on the dash for the three years I have owned my Barth. Finally on the last trip to the beach this year the fiberglass roof-cap piece came loose at the top of the windshield going 65 MPH on I-85. Everything stored in the cubby over the windshield came flying out and blew all over the Barth. I pulled over and found the steel had rusted so badly the rivets came loose and let about five feet the fiberglass come loose. A strip of Aluminum tape sealed the hole for the rest of the trip. I will post a pic when I get the chance. I have not figured how to fix it yet but the tape will have to go. I am building a cover for it now.
Neil.

Neil, sounds like a rather exciting trip, what with things blowing around in side the Barth. Think I will add aluminum tape to my tool kit. Duct tape is great but probably wouldn't have helped in that situation.

I fixed one on my last barth i will be glad to give you pointers if you need them Richard