Tuscan poly windscreen mystery

[NTEL]

Testing at Oulton today was cut short when the windscreen suddenly and inexplicably "shattered" on the passenger side At the time, and from where I was sat, it appeared that it was fluid that had been sprayed on the windscreen. I thought it was petrol at first and immediately pulled off the track and shut everything off. It wasn't until I got out and looked from outside it became apparent the poly had shattered just like toughened glass would do.

Has anybody experienced this before? I suppose it could be a combination of heat, age (its at least 12 years old), contamination??????? What do you reckon?

[heightswitch]

Did it catch a reflection of you in the screen??
N

[NTEL]

You cheeky little bugger man (you could be right though )

[heightswitch]

Are they deffo Polycarb / Lexan dave or Perspex?? Hopefully no screens were ever made in perspex for a Tuscan...have quite a lot of old Boat knowledge..Suns UV rays particularly on water used to weaken the outer shell surface of Polycarb..the appearance generally begins to look like polish swirls when UV has weakened old polycarb..Sounds like a sharp stone may have been the nail in the coffin for the old screen??

N.

[NTEL]

Definitely not a stone Neil. It happened somewhere between the pit lane and Cascades on my out lap with no cars in front. There are also cracks around the fixing holes so I suspect that the screen has gone brittle with age. There did seem to be a fine "substance" on that side windscreen though but I could not find any leaks under the bonnet. One thing I didn't check though was the brake pipes I'll look at those at the weekend....hmmmm I wonder.....

[Graham]

mines been a bit crazed on one side ever since ive had it. I've got a new one to fit when this one ever goes.

[bill tvr]

Mine had shattered at the near side weve replaced it...we reakon that came from simpley some one with brake fluid on their hands innocently putting their hands on the screen when working on the car

[Glassman]

The polyurethane extruders we use have a barrel made of some kind of PC or Lexan type material. There is a specific lubricating solution to spray on the inside to aid plunger movement. I know a couple of guys who used a penetration oil (like WD40) and got the same result: shattered.

[NTEL]

All fixed now. Cut a new one from a sheet of hard coat polycarbonate. Bleedin' expensive init!