Windshield re-curve

[SubDude]

Hello everyone,

Not to say l like to improve things when I can, but I try and am mostly successful.

My windshield (WS) was still a little low after raising my fairing up as much as I could; it’s a 10” model.

I started looking at replacement WS’s as well as the little wind deflector clip on type.

I thought I might as well see if I can fix what I already have, if I ended up replacing it I’d would have at least given it the Navy try.

A long time ago (4 decades) in High School I took a shop class in plastics, we did stuff with hard plastic and resins.

So I took a look at about where I wanted to have a bend in the windshield, removed it from the trike, got out some leather gloves, and cleared off the kitchen counter next to the stove.

I lit the gas stove (we bent hard plastic with an electric heated rod in High School) so I wasn’t sure if I would mess the plastic WS trying to heat it.

Anyway I took my time keeping the WS about 4 to 5 inches from the flame, along with keeping the WS constantly moving over the heat.

It took longer than I expected to heat the WS sufficiently enough to bend the WS approximately 5 minutes.

Using the counter to hold the WS flat and working with my leather gloved hands I reshaped the WS. (Yes the gloves get pretty warm; I just worked fast before the WS cooled).

Attached are one Photo Before, and three after (there is a small bit of distorted view in the bend but not too bad), what do you think?



David Hilton

Ret. USN ETC/SS

[hogcowboy]

That is a very good job given what you are doing. I have no idea how Freedom Shields does it but theirs is almost distortion free. I tried one from another company and I couldn't stand it the distortion was so bad. Yet others raved about the company. I'm convinced people do that just so they aren't the only one with a product you can't stand. But doing a curve on a curved surface cannot be easy as you now know. But I think you did darn good. Harley sells one that looks much worse than what you did and they sell those things for big bucks. So pat yourself on the back once your hand heal from the burns.

[Lee H. Mann]

Dave, I am impressed. A fine job too.

[Marc H]

Looks good.

[trikeman]

[Philip R]

WOW! Great job. I don't think i could have done it. I ordered from Freedom Shield. I've always liked their products. The cost doesn't break the bank either.

[Zammy]

Wow David, that looks pretty darn good in the pictures, congrats.

[LadyonaMission]

Just one question. Did you do this in the kitchen while your wife was at home?

[SubDude]

Hello and thank you for the message,

The answer in NO. I didn't do anything wrong.

Although there was no mess or smells given off from heating the plastic windshield, so I'm pretty sure I would not have had a problem if my wife had been home.

Thanks again,

David Hilton

Ret. USN ETC/SS

Just one question. Did you do this in the kitchen while your wife was at home?