I found a picture of a later friendship model online. The windshield is almost identical. You can see it has quite a curve in it.
From what I read, it would be best to make the windshield out of polycarbonate. (lexan) But, according to the manufacturers you have to dry polycarbonate out (6hrs at 250f) before you heat form it. If you don't, the moisture trapped in it will cause bubbles to form in the sheet.
I was going to use a portable radiant heater to soften the plastic so I could bend it. I have no way of heat soaking a large enough piece for 6 hours at 250F.
Lexan (polycarbonate)is also not cheap. With a scratch resistant coating it is in the $120 range. So I thought I would check here and see what my odds of success were before proceeding?
It now seems that home heat forming is out of the question.
Can you cold bend 1/8 polycarbonate to this tight a radius without it stress cracking? If I successfully get it bent and screwed down, what are my chances of
it lasting for 3 yrs? I know it takes a pretty good beating in the wind. Cold bending would sure simplify things if it will last. I am hoping someone here has some
experience with the life expectancy of the plastic under this sort of stress.
Would it be a mistake to use plexiglass (acrylic)? I was planning to use the old windshield still mounted as a form. I was going to cover it with butcher paper to protect
the new acrylic sheet. Then heat the new sheet with a portable infrared heater and try to form it over the original.
Once I got it close I was going to try to work it with a heat gun. I have no idea if this will work either.
But I am open to advice! Right or wrong I'm going to try something shortly.
🙂
joe, from what I read polycarbinate is the way to go if you were going to make your own. I ended up ordering one from gustaffson and was very pleasantly suprised. they have a list of different colors also
Ratcollector did you order this one: "California Sidecar American spirit Friendship Sidecar 11 Hole"
http://www.bikescreen.com/proddetail.asp?prod=CaliforniasidecarAmericanspiritFriendshipSidecar
Did it fit well?
Any tips on drilling the holes so they line up or is it pretty much set it on, mark through the body and drill?
Did you buy the plastic bolt kit? What about the rubber gasket set ? Is there anything you would do different?
I drill the holes in plastic with a burr, or reverse if using a drill bit. If the edge catches on a drill bit it will split the plastic or start a crack.
Lonnie
that is exactly the one I ordered, well not exactly I went with clear not smoke. but it fit like a glove. I got the drill bit and nylon screws from them also. It took maybe 30min to mount most time is screwing in the thing. have a friend hold it in place and start with the front center hole. I then moved to the back corners, after that it was super fast.
Just ordered the new windshield.
Got one in light smoke.
Should go out Monday.
Life is good
Thanks everyone.
fastjoe - 6/9/2010 4:24 AM
I found a picture of a later friendship model online. The windshield is almost identical. You can see it has quite a curve in it.
From what I read, it would be best to make the windshield out of polycarbonate. (lexan) But, according to the manufacturers you have to dry polycarbonate out (6hrs at 250f) before you heat form it. If you don't, the moisture trapped in it will cause bubbles to form in the sheet.
I was going to use a portable radiant heater to soften the plastic so I could bend it. I have no way of heat soaking a large enough piece for 6 hours at 250F.Lexan (polycarbonate)is also not cheap. With a scratch resistant coating it is in the $120 range. So I thought I would check here and see what my odds of success were before proceeding?
It now seems that home heat forming is out of the question.
Can you cold bend 1/8 polycarbonate to this tight a radius without it stress cracking? If I successfully get it bent and screwed down, what are my chances of
it lasting for 3 yrs? I know it takes a pretty good beating in the wind. Cold bending would sure simplify things if it will last. I am hoping someone here has some
experience with the life expectancy of the plastic under this sort of stress.Would it be a mistake to use plexiglass (acrylic)? I was planning to use the old windshield still mounted as a form. I was going to cover it with butcher paper to protect
the new acrylic sheet. Then heat the new sheet with a portable infrared heater and try to form it over the original.
Once I got it close I was going to try to work it with a heat gun. I have no idea if this will work either.But I am open to advice! Right or wrong I'm going to try something shortly.
🙂
I used 1/8" polycarbonate to make a windshield for an old TLE sidecar about 15 years ago. It bent very nicely but I didn't get the scratch resistant polycarbonate. If you are careful and place a clean wet towel over it to wet down the bugs and so forth before wiping it off, it doesn't scratch unduly. I believe that the so-called "scratch proof" coating will scratch anyway.
As you point out, however, polycarbonate is now rather expensive, although if the windshield you need isn't available commercially, it may be your only choice.
