windshield replacement

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by incoming

I have experience with both Lexan and Poly windshields. I ride a Harley FXRT and need taller than stock windshields. Have had it many years. I also work in the commercial kitchen equipment industry and have a lot of sneeze guards and such custom cut and bent.

I personally wouldn't use either unless absolutely necessary for a car unless she's a trailer queen.

Through experience on long rides, my windshield comes off with a couple of screws and goes into the bathtub at the motel to soak to remove bugs.

Poly is a little better but not much.

I do use a silicone based stuff given to me to clean my windshields. Looks like old school Armor All. Supposed to make stuff not stick to it.

Is there a hidden reason you are cracking windshields?

The windscreen frame is a soft aluminum, I believe, and quite flexible. Some of the screws used to attach or hold things together, I suspect but don't know with certainty, abrade against the edge of the glass producing a fracture point much like scribing a line on a glass pane with a glass cutting scribe. Sooner or later a bump in the road pushes the windshield against the offending fastener once to often and you have a cracked windshield.


Ed

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by eschaider

The windscreen frame is a soft aluminum, I believe, and quite flexible. Some of the screws used to attach or hold things together, I suspect but don't know with certainty, abrade against the edge of the glass producing a fracture point much like scribing a line on a glass pane with a glass cutting scribe. Sooner or later a bump in the road pushes the windshield against the offending fastener once to often and you have a cracked windshield.


Ed

Indeed. It is some of the screws that hold on the side wings that are usually a tad too log and can go beyond the frame and then touch the glass. It doesn't take much when the frame flexes for it to touch the glass from the side and crack it. When removing one of those mounted to the frame always put the screws back in the same location and don't overtighten wne replacing them.

[Mark IV]

Also ensure that the stanchions are tight to the body structure before you torque them. We have seen several screens busted because there was 3/16" or more of gap and when the bolts were tightened, the stanchions pulled on the frame and caused the glass to crack. Snug fit before tightening is the rule.

[xlr8tr]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Indeed. It is some of the screws that hold on the side wings that are usually a tad too log and can go beyond the frame and then touch the glass. It doesn't take much when the frame flexes for it to touch the glass from the side and crack it. When removing one of those mounted to the frame always put the screws back in the same location and don't overtighten wne replacing them.

LOL- exactly this happened to me, operator error overtightened. I've been living with the crack as its on the low corner passenger side, but got a rock dead center when moving it into its winter storage