windshield quick release
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,536
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
They are bent out of position, and the windshield may not be seated correctly in the 4 grommets.
They need installed properly, and they will catch under as they should.
Without them, if sitting still, the wind can push your windshield forward and into the headlight nacelle.
Begin by lifting them slightly out of the way, and insure the windshield lower mounds are properly seated in the centers of the rubber grommets. In fact, it's even better to move the windshield a little forward, then lift up and remove it. Sit it down somewhere safe, and closely examine your two lower rubber grommets, and the two upper grommets. It may show wear that the windshield has not been seated correctly. If so, with a finger you can rotate the grommets to where a good center notch is at the top for the windshield mounts to go in. Then carefully ease the windshield back on as you focus on the lower windshield mounts to center the grooves in the lower grommets FIRST. The lower grommets go in first, straight up and down, then the windshield pushes back toward the rear of the bike to engage the upper grommets. Then the wire retainers bend down to keep the windshield from moving forward.
It's not a bad design, just study it a little. Just takes a little focus.
Mine was not installed correctly when I bought it brand new, and was like yours. When I got home, I figured it out.
As I was about to leave the dealer when I bought it, a lazy fat azz salesman walked over and quickly said "You know this bike has the quick release windshield", and jerked and snatched the windshield off. Then He fooled around and fooled around with it frustrated and said "It comes off quick, but takes you a damned hour to put it back on". What a fool, He didn't have a clue.
I figured it out. Just look it over, and focus on the grommets.
They need installed properly, and they will catch under as they should.
Without them, if sitting still, the wind can push your windshield forward and into the headlight nacelle.
Begin by lifting them slightly out of the way, and insure the windshield lower mounds are properly seated in the centers of the rubber grommets. In fact, it's even better to move the windshield a little forward, then lift up and remove it. Sit it down somewhere safe, and closely examine your two lower rubber grommets, and the two upper grommets. It may show wear that the windshield has not been seated correctly. If so, with a finger you can rotate the grommets to where a good center notch is at the top for the windshield mounts to go in. Then carefully ease the windshield back on as you focus on the lower windshield mounts to center the grooves in the lower grommets FIRST. The lower grommets go in first, straight up and down, then the windshield pushes back toward the rear of the bike to engage the upper grommets. Then the wire retainers bend down to keep the windshield from moving forward.
It's not a bad design, just study it a little. Just takes a little focus.
Mine was not installed correctly when I bought it brand new, and was like yours. When I got home, I figured it out.
As I was about to leave the dealer when I bought it, a lazy fat azz salesman walked over and quickly said "You know this bike has the quick release windshield", and jerked and snatched the windshield off. Then He fooled around and fooled around with it frustrated and said "It comes off quick, but takes you a damned hour to put it back on". What a fool, He didn't have a clue.
I figured it out. Just look it over, and focus on the grommets.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
Install the windshield on the grommets and make sure it's fully seated; loosen the acorn nuts holding the locking springs; position the locking springs lower so they are behind the top grommet, then tighten the acorn nuts. It's really that simple.
Last edited by Campy Roadie; May 19, 2019 at 02:01 PM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,536
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
That should work, but I have never had to touch the acorn nuts, and I have had mine off and on several times.
OP just look it over, it's not that big of a deal. When right, the wire just kind of clicks down into place.
OP just look it over, it's not that big of a deal. When right, the wire just kind of clicks down into place.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 119
Likes: 76
From: Toledo Ohio
OP...I know this is too late for you.. But mine looked just like yours. I loosened the acorn nuts, etc...made sure the grommets were settled, etc. No. None of that was the problem.
The issue is your retaining springs are bent. Pull the shield off, and bend those things downward. Pull them medially beyond and below the acorn nuts. They should be in your way when you go to put the shield back on. That's really the point. You have to pull them out of the way to get the shield on or off. Anyway, worked for me, and was actually a simple solution, had I tried that first!
The issue is your retaining springs are bent. Pull the shield off, and bend those things downward. Pull them medially beyond and below the acorn nuts. They should be in your way when you go to put the shield back on. That's really the point. You have to pull them out of the way to get the shield on or off. Anyway, worked for me, and was actually a simple solution, had I tried that first!
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 926
Likes: 135
From: Central, NJ
OP...I know this is too late for you.. But mine looked just like yours. I loosened the acorn nuts, etc...made sure the grommets were settled, etc. No. None of that was the problem.
The issue is your retaining springs are bent. Pull the shield off, and bend those things downward. Pull them medially beyond and below the acorn nuts. They should be in your way when you go to put the shield back on. That's really the point. You have to pull them out of the way to get the shield on or off. Anyway, worked for me, and was actually a simple solution, had I tried that first!
The issue is your retaining springs are bent. Pull the shield off, and bend those things downward. Pull them medially beyond and below the acorn nuts. They should be in your way when you go to put the shield back on. That's really the point. You have to pull them out of the way to get the shield on or off. Anyway, worked for me, and was actually a simple solution, had I tried that first!
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 32
Likes: 18
From: Adbindon, MD
For what its worth I just bough a taller windshield from Freedom shields. The directions said it was for the Road King, Heritage, Switchback, Fatboy and Freewheeler. It fit right up to my 25 hardware. Sounds like the hardware may be whats hard to get. RIde Safe.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 2,919
From: Oklahoma
The wind in Oklahoma makes those "retainers" a necessity. Even though mine were in the proper locking position, a tail wind at a stop light pushed my windshield forward. I had to bend the part that engages the grommet slightly past 90 degrees to make an "over center" retaining position. They never slipped again.
With the windshield removed, it is obvious the part of the retainer that is held in position by the two bolts is formed in a long loop allowing the retainers to be adjusted forward or backward so they snugly engage the upper mounting grommet. It must have been the factory guy's first day on the job installing windshields as he had no idea what he was supposed to do. Riding where there are lots of bugs requires frequent windshield removal to clean the area behind the headlight opening. A little practice makes it easy.
With the windshield removed, it is obvious the part of the retainer that is held in position by the two bolts is formed in a long loop allowing the retainers to be adjusted forward or backward so they snugly engage the upper mounting grommet. It must have been the factory guy's first day on the job installing windshields as he had no idea what he was supposed to do. Riding where there are lots of bugs requires frequent windshield removal to clean the area behind the headlight opening. A little practice makes it easy.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 3,439
From: Idaho Panhandle
Old thread brought back to life. That said, I replaced my QR with bolts, heavy duty washers and chrome spacers and it has not moved in 60,000+ miles.
Oh to removed, loosen 4 bolts. I don’t need no stick’s badges…err I mean Quick Release.
Oh to removed, loosen 4 bolts. I don’t need no stick’s badges…err I mean Quick Release.
Last edited by son of the hounds; Apr 25, 2026 at 11:38 AM.
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