touring tailgate rust prevention

[jmc330i]

I've got a rust free tailgate to fit to my touring, but what's the best way of getting rid of the water trap under the lower seal between the metalwork and glass?

I think I've seen mention of filling the gap with black silicone sealer and pushing a new seal into it and I'm fairly sure it needs to be a non acidic silicone sealer as the acid used for curing can eat into the paint and cause rust itself, but is filling the gap the best way to go?

Cheers

[daimlerman]

I used a black silicone sealant when I built my M50'd touring,but if I were doing the job today I would seek out a polyurathene sealant....hunt under 'frame sealing mastic'.

Tailgate design is poor,that seal gap has no natural way to drain water that runs down the glass into the channel,with the end result that the thing rots once the paint has eroded away.

[jmc330i]

Nice one thanks Filling the gap seemed the right way to go but I didn't want to make things worse.

Would something like this be good enough?...
http://www.sealantsonline.co.uk/Product ... ne-Sealant

It doesn't say anything about contact with glass so it shouldn't cause any issues.

[daimlerman]

That looks fine,but being a known tight git,this one is a bit cheaper!

http://www.3mdirect.co.uk/3825-4384-ds272991433-1.html

[capri_rob]

I keep mine in the garage and don't drive it in the rain. It's worked so far

Sorry couldn't resist.

In seriousness I would go with your own suggestion of filling the gap with some sort of sealant - maybe something like what they use to fit bonded windscreens ?

[Brianmoooore]

A black polyurethane sealant would be the best to use, and can be shaped/polished while wet by a rag soaked in white spirit

[jmc330i]

can be shaped/polished while wet by a rag soaked in white spirit

You mean to only use the sealant and not fit the rubber seal?

[Brianmoooore]

Yes, dispense with the rubber bit completely. It will have shrunk away from the ends anyway.