Cracked windshield
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 640
Likes: 44
From: Mancheser UK
I'm going through the same thing on my 2013 RG Ultra. I've never touched the stock windshield - only the dealer has. It started cracking last fall, not longer after I bought the bike, and I didn't worry about it until I took it in last week for other service. I asked if warranty would cover it. The answer: No. I'm not a happy HD customer right now. The bike is a year old and I only have 6K miles on it. The windshield shouldn't be cracking. It's cr@p.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,363
Likes: 127
From: Yooper North of da lift bridge
My 10" HD shield I put on my SG cracked after I had it in for warranty work. I asked the dealer about replacing it and they said nope, after market trim and they did not install !
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 519
Likes: 83
From: NC
My 10 inch Windsplitter started cracking after about 6 months around the mounting holes. Dealer replaced it under warranty no problem even though I installed it. The dealer claimed that I over torqued it, but I didn't argue since they were giving me a new one. I installed the replacement and torqued it to Harley's exact specifications. Now the replacement is developing very small cracks at the same place. I've placed electrical tape around the edges of mounting holes to pad them. Close inspection of the holes revels that the hidden edges are very poorly finished and not finished at all in some places. I like the Windsplitter, but if this one continues to crack I'll replace it with an aftermarket.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 770
Likes: 1
From: Coeur d' alene, Idaho
I put on a Clearview shields recurve and it developed cracking. They replaced it in a heart beat, no questions asked.
I have read a number of articles and they all point to overtightening as a reason for the cracks.
I have read a number of articles and they all point to overtightening as a reason for the cracks.
Cracking -
1- Over tightening of the screws
2- Windshield pouches can allow excessive flexing of the shield
3- Bumping into it multiple times stresses the mounting point
4- HD OEM shields are Lexan polycarbonate with a hard coating. Due to vibrations, often the hard coating will develop multiple small cracks that look like its all the way through but are not.
5- If several windshields crack in the same place, its not the windshield but most likely installation.
6- Tall shields are more prone to cracking than shorter ones are.
7- Lower quality materials ( often used to reduce costs) can be more brittle than higher quality materials. Just because it says Lexan or polycarbonate doesn't mean its the correct chemical formula for a windshield.
Anyways... just my opinion.
1- Over tightening of the screws
2- Windshield pouches can allow excessive flexing of the shield
3- Bumping into it multiple times stresses the mounting point
4- HD OEM shields are Lexan polycarbonate with a hard coating. Due to vibrations, often the hard coating will develop multiple small cracks that look like its all the way through but are not.
5- If several windshields crack in the same place, its not the windshield but most likely installation.
6- Tall shields are more prone to cracking than shorter ones are.
7- Lower quality materials ( often used to reduce costs) can be more brittle than higher quality materials. Just because it says Lexan or polycarbonate doesn't mean its the correct chemical formula for a windshield.
Anyways... just my opinion.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 8
From: General Sherman's Christmas Location 1864
Rule #1 Make sure the "keyhole" slots on the windshield do not touch or it will be stressed when you tighten it down. I found mine stress cracking from that . I made my own and gave it plenty of "play" problem solved and that was 3 yrs ago
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