Road King Windshield Bushings and Studs
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 13
From: Beautiful CNY
Road King Windshield Bushings and Studs
You know, sometimes it's the damnedest things that bug me that I need to fix. This time it's the half assed RK windshield mounts. So tonight I decide to do a little experiment and remove the fangs in the hot weather to see if there's any improvement with more air flow in the heat coming off the back pipe under my right thigh. Not loving that.
So the simple plan is pop off the acorn nuts, remove the deflectors and reinstall the acorn nuts. Ten minutes max, recall thinking less than five. But, as was the case when I installed in three out of the four studs the entire stud comes out. And with that the black bushings are falling off, etc. etc.
I then hatch a plan to red Loctite the studs in so they don't so easily come out in the future. Easy enough except I have to get the acorn but off the stud first. So after futzing with two nuts tightened together on the other side they are all off. Then, using the same method I installed them back into the holes. But it took some trial and error to get the depth right. I thought they would seat themselves. Not so much but they are in. We will see how that works out in the future.
But the real point of all this that I am finally getting to is how crappy the black bushings perform with everything tightened down. They deform and the shield is then so damned difficult to install. And do those silly 'locking' thumb wires actually do anything but get in the way? Or have you taken them off?
Am I doing something wrong here like over tightening the nuts? Seems like they oughtta be pretty snug for what they're holding on. Has anyone installed a metal spacer in the bushing hole to create a positive surface to tighten against while not deforming the black rubber mounting bushing?
So the simple plan is pop off the acorn nuts, remove the deflectors and reinstall the acorn nuts. Ten minutes max, recall thinking less than five. But, as was the case when I installed in three out of the four studs the entire stud comes out. And with that the black bushings are falling off, etc. etc.
I then hatch a plan to red Loctite the studs in so they don't so easily come out in the future. Easy enough except I have to get the acorn but off the stud first. So after futzing with two nuts tightened together on the other side they are all off. Then, using the same method I installed them back into the holes. But it took some trial and error to get the depth right. I thought they would seat themselves. Not so much but they are in. We will see how that works out in the future.
But the real point of all this that I am finally getting to is how crappy the black bushings perform with everything tightened down. They deform and the shield is then so damned difficult to install. And do those silly 'locking' thumb wires actually do anything but get in the way? Or have you taken them off?
Am I doing something wrong here like over tightening the nuts? Seems like they oughtta be pretty snug for what they're holding on. Has anyone installed a metal spacer in the bushing hole to create a positive surface to tighten against while not deforming the black rubber mounting bushing?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,998
Likes: 655
From: bklyn,ny
Ha,for some reason the top studs stay on and the bottom comes off. I'm used to it. I keep a few extra bushings around as i had buggered a few in the past.yes,those little spring latches don't see to be needed.
Banned
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 2
From: USA
Heritage has those springs also. Looking at them logically I've never been able to figure out what they do either. Something seems out of whack, my windshield goes on/off and fits perfectly and I use the same mounts for my Reckless Batwing. Sorry, no help.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 2,421
From: USA
In a perfect world, those springs sit positioned to hold the windshield against being pulled forward. You would need to lift them in order to get the windshield off. In a perfect world.
Mine habitually sit high, doing nothing for security. They do provide an entertaining buzz as they vibrate wildly at certain road speeds or engine rpms.
My springs are apparently made from a mild steel, not a spring steel. They bend easily and don't retain their shape worth a darn. It means every time I reshape or reposition them to actually work, they promptly get bent into a non-working shape.
Why we get blessed with this poor design, while the soft tail mounts use a far more effective design, I've no idea.
Mine habitually sit high, doing nothing for security. They do provide an entertaining buzz as they vibrate wildly at certain road speeds or engine rpms.
My springs are apparently made from a mild steel, not a spring steel. They bend easily and don't retain their shape worth a darn. It means every time I reshape or reposition them to actually work, they promptly get bent into a non-working shape.
Why we get blessed with this poor design, while the soft tail mounts use a far more effective design, I've no idea.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 485
Likes: 4
From: Kansas
When I added the fangs to my bike, all 4 bolts came off with the acorn nut. on the first one, I was like what the hell so I tried another. When it came off with it I figured this must be how it is and the MOCO used acorn headed bolts instead of what I had assumed was a fully threaded piece and took all 4 off. They all came out completely, and of course a couple of the black bushings dropped and rolled on the ground.
Next time I have that loose, I will use a couple nuts and separate them as you did.
As for the springs, they don't do anything other than ride high to no effect as far as I can see.
Next time I have that loose, I will use a couple nuts and separate them as you did.
As for the springs, they don't do anything other than ride high to no effect as far as I can see.
Last edited by RushKing14; Jul 1, 2014 at 07:18 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
Yes, you are over tightening them. There is a torque value for those in the book. Over tightening will deform them and yes, they suck.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 263
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From: Beautiful CNY
Gonna check that torque spec but it would seem they should be snugged up pretty good. I am going to look into some spacers through the bushings though. I think that would be a solid problem solver here.
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From: Spokane, WA.
springs
In a perfect world, those springs sit positioned to hold the windshield against being pulled forward. You would need to lift them in order to get the windshield off. In a perfect world.
Mine habitually sit high, doing nothing for security. They do provide an entertaining buzz as they vibrate wildly at certain road speeds or engine rpms.
My springs are apparently made from a mild steel, not a spring steel. They bend easily and don't retain their shape worth a darn. It means every time I reshape or reposition them to actually work, they promptly get bent into a non-working shape.
Why we get blessed with this poor design, while the soft tail mounts use a far more effective design, I've no idea.
Mine habitually sit high, doing nothing for security. They do provide an entertaining buzz as they vibrate wildly at certain road speeds or engine rpms.
My springs are apparently made from a mild steel, not a spring steel. They bend easily and don't retain their shape worth a darn. It means every time I reshape or reposition them to actually work, they promptly get bent into a non-working shape.
Why we get blessed with this poor design, while the soft tail mounts use a far more effective design, I've no idea.
Not sure if my RKC shield springs are more flimsy or not- pseudo functional at best it seems on them too.
