The fix for that particular building was solving the resonant frequency equation for the building & then suspending a calibrated weight on a spring inside the building to dampen the resonance. An egg head at MIT was the first guy to get the equation for that building figured out. I forget his name. The problem was actually caused by winds blowing at a steady speed next to the building & setting up a mechanical resonance. If you google "
galloping gertie", you should find a video of the most famous example of this type of mechanical design issue.
How to remove Hunter Windshields
I had to remove one of my windshields to fix a leak.
Hunter told me to scrape away sealant, and tap wedges in to try & pry the window out. Frankly, I didn’t like this approach, and thought it would possibly crack the plexi. I found a very easy way to remove windshields, without damage.
Once I figured out the trick, it was out in about 30 minutes. This technique can be adapted to any hunterwindshield. It will also work on the really big ones, such as the wrap around types. As you know, these are almost impossible to remove in 1 piece.hu
First, take a sharp knife on the deck, and cut all of the external sealant. It doesn’t have to be fully removed: just cut a full depth line around the perimeter.
Next, the “trick”
Attach 2 glazier’s double suction cups to the windshield close to one end.
Then attach the suction cups to the spin halyard.
Crank up some tension, until it is fairly taught. Think of a violin string.
Be sure to attract a safety line to the shackle so you don't masthead it.
Now go below. Take some putty knives, and drive them into thewindow to deck joint. As you get 1 fully in, then leapfrog the next putty knife over it.
If you are working directly below the suction cups, you will start to feel a slight lifting of the window where you are breaking the seal.
Once this happens, slack the halyard, and move the suction cups along the window perimeter. Crank up the tension again
Keep tapping in the paint scrapers, and the window will continue to lift along where you are working.
Once you have one edge, work your way fully around. There is no need to lift the window more than ¼” as you work it. You will notice that as more of the sealant is removed, the faster the window will break free. As you are always working under the suction cups, it will be very obvious when you are successful with that section, as it will lift.
In about 30 -45 minutes, the window will literally pop out. Its almost funny when this happens, because its just so easy to do something that you would have thought next to impossible.
Good idea to then tape plastic sheeting inside, so that you don’t get boat full of sealant when you clean off old sealant. Leave the plastic on when you put on fresh sealant so it doesn’t drip on the floor.
