Anyone having trouble the last few years with LP windshields?

I have a couple 172s here on the field and the fit from LP has been really poor around the wing root fairings. One windshield was purchased 2 years ago and the other is recent but same troubles.

The windshields also have an odd surface finish that looks like felt used during the forming process transferred texture to the windshield or the mold finish is rough?

LP said they do not see a problem and their only solution is to remove the windshields and sent them back so they can check the fit in their mold. If they do not fit the mold then they will fix and sent back. If they do fit then I am responsible for return shipping.

Of course the windshields were installed by another shop and now the airplanes are painted and ready to go to Customers. Riveted, painted, PRC sealed etc. It is not just simply send it back.
Shop that did the work of course is not interested in removing them and replacing.

I don't want to eat the labor and cost to buy them from a different supplier either.

April at LP did say they have been using the same mold for several years. These are VERY common windshields for 70s Cessna 172s. I am wondering if the original mold was made from an original windshield off the inner surface. So that would be 1/8" thinner. Then another mold was made the same way and lost another 1/8".

A couple molds down and you would have the fit issues we have.

The airplanes are unmodified and had original windshields removed.

But if the molds are incorrect sure they would fit the mold if sent back. Getting a replacement would also not fix the problem.

I don't think this is a trimming or fit problem because the top edge has to fit into the retainer so there is no real other place it can be. LP did say they trim to lines on the molds which does not explain why the cut edges on the wing roots are so angled to straight.

None of this explains the surface finish issues. It's hard to get a camera to show it but very noticeable looking through them.

At this point I just want them to fix the molds to prevent it. If I need to buy another windshield I'll get it from Great Lakes.

I had a similar issue a few years ago. It was an L model which had the standard profile leading edges, but found it had M model wings (camberlift leading edges). Windshield didn't fit that area so we ordered one for an M model.
We did confirm the wing swap was approved. Cessna has a letter that says 100 series wings can be interchanged as long as installed wings are from a model with same or greater gross weight, and some other requirements.

I haven't noticed any fitment issues with LP products.

Thanks Del. yes I wondered if it was the wrong one but the windshield part number 345 is the same from S/N 50573 to 72884. if you believe their application guide. It covers non camber lift and later cambered leading edge wings.

I checked with LP and when ordering and again now with airplane S/Ns and they said we have the correct windshields.

The leading edge camber did not match on the originals also. It was still the old shape but that is not the problem. On the new windshields the problem is the leading edge of the radius at the wing root is too far back and the windshield is too narrow in the area of the fairings. It would take a 1/2" of felt or more to fill the gap and it would be a huge step at the leading edge.

Plus the surface finish problem distorting the view.

My IA has been installing GLAP windows since the mid 80's and I've done quite a few since the early 90's. I don't recall ever having an issue.

I have two Cherokee windshields there now waiting for pickup and I ordered a side window yesterday to pickup later this week. They are a great group of people and are the OEM manufacturer for a significant number of windows. I'm fortunate that I live 20 minutes from there shop.

That would put it in the mid 172D S/N range up into the middle 172N. Non camber airplanes to camber lift airplanes but same windshield P/N .

Odd no break in their applicability list between the L and M or camber lift vs non.

Here is Great Lakes Applicability range for the same windshield P/N.
Strange the same deal. No change in P/N with the wing leading edge change.

MODEL NUMBER SERIAL NUMBERS
172L
172M
172N
17259224 ~ 72884
F172L
F172M
F172N
F17200805 ~ 01909

I could be mistaken about the model numbers as I've slept since then . It might have even been a 182, but no doubt had the correct windshield for the aircraft serial and it didn't fit at the wing root due to later model wings. A later model windshield fit.

Yes no doubt it would be better. I wonder if I need one of the later P model windshields?

But I think it might be the case of a molded part made from another molded part and we are too far from the original now.

I'm not looking for a new replacement from LP I just want them to understand the mold is wrong and fix it so others don't have the same issue. But they seem oblivious that it is even possible.

Two similar stock airplanes with the exact same P/N windshields purchased 2 years apart having the same exact problems means there may be many more.