For you people who have had trouble with the threaded fairing inserts on changing your windshield, here's a fix. Use 5 minute epoxy, and push them back in. I bought some of the Harley repair inserts and was not impressed. At a cost of 7.70 apiece, I wish I had used the Epoxy.
I had bought a new windshield, and on replacing the bolts, one threaded insert began to slip. It's been too hot to ride through the day, in Illinois, lately. So I thought I'd take off the fairing and repair the insert. I went to my local HD dealer and bought 2 of the repair inserts and some Boom Audio speakers. (While the fairing was off, I thought I would upgrade speakers as well. This was the easy part of the day) The repair insert is a new threaded insert that is split on top. You put the bolt in, and twist it in where the factory insert has been removed. The split portion breaks off and then you back out the bolt. Easy right ? (The portion that breaks off isn't square.) So when I tried to put the fairing back on, The insert on the other side broke loose ( this was the last bolt of the job) No matter, as I had bought two repair inserts. So, Off with the fairing, and in with another repair insert. For some of you who turn a wrench more often than I, I'm sure this would be no problem. But, In backing out the bolt from the first repair insert, the threads hung up and came out on the bolt. Eventually, I got both repair inserts back in and the fairing is back on. I was wringing wet but, a little wiser for the process. I'm hoping this may save someone else a little frustration if you have to do the same thing some day... Good Luck

 

Sounds like you put the inserts in wrong. The split end goes in first. I repaired two of mine and the inserts worked great.

 

What he said.

 

So the "wings" aren't there to break off on purpose ? Woops, I hate when that happens.

 

They've worked great for me too, much better than the stockers. It's a common mistake to thread them in backwards, and I've even seen dealer techs do it wrong. The slot is there to start the thread cutting, as the stock inserts are a press-fit. Use the stock screw and thread it into the insert all the way, and you can use that to screw the insert in and cut the new threads.

 

Same here, I just repaired one. The split goes in first. I had no problems.

 

And if you run a tap to cut the threads first. This is a piece of cake job.

 

Gives the "Ask first before doing" some more support doesn't it ???

 

Worked like a charm for me too. I also bought a 3/8 tap to start the thread.

 

I don't remember paying $7.70 apiece for them - I think they were only a couple of bucks.