Question on windshields and welding

First of all..... hey boys hope you all have been well. i haven't been on in a long time and miss this place. hope everyone is gettin along Ok with all that's been goin on.

now, back to business and my questions.

First, i gotta break down and buy a detachable windshield for my 04 FXDWG. We are doing our annual boys run this summer and i will be riding my bike and i don't know if i want to go another 1500 miles without a windshield. (i must be gettin old! ) Does anybody have any suggestions on which one is good and reasonably priced.

Second, i have decided to re-do my original sissy bar to fit my wide asss rear fender. this involves cutting and re-welding my existing chrome bar. What do i have to do in order to weld to the chrome and what will have to be done to it so that i can have the re-worked one re-chromed? i know the basics like grinding off the chrome where i want to weld to it but i wanted to run it by some of you more experienced welders/wrenches here. again, any info would be appreciated and helpful.

thanks,

yup remove the chrome first, mock it up like you did when you did your wide tire by tacking it together first, and when you weld it back please don't grind the weld back down that takes the strength back away, if you don't like the looks of the weld grind it out and do it again, remember that someone will be leaning back against it rolling down the road. then call around there are plenty of chrome applicators around, but don't be afraid to powder coat also you can get some wicked colors in powder coat, ask if you need to prep it or if they prefer to cause they might do it anyway and no since doing it twice

Ironhorse, if i chamfer the edges back on a 45 degree angle on all sides, then fill that void with the weld, can i grind and sand it smooth? or should i just leave the weld exposed? i was always told to bevel the edges and then fill in. i would trust you since you do it all the time. i was actually going to make a half lap where the pieces were going to be extended. (can you tell i work with wood and not metal... ) Thanks for the advice

hey Chuck, can you send me a pic and do you know if it will fit my 04? if you can also send me a pm with a $$ amount as well that would be great. if the windshield is too high i can always cut it down, right? and one more thing, which is better, to look through the windshield or over it? is one way more functional than the other or is it personal preference?

thanks again guys, i knew i could get some good answers here!

i just don't want to feel like i've been hammered after 4 or 500 miles of riding! never rode with a windshield until last year on my trip, always rode without. the only thing i didn't like with the high shield on the heritage was the exhaust fumes behind the screen and i definitely don't want that! so i'm always up for suggestions from guys that ride with them.

My windshield is just below normal eye level, if that makes sence. I can look over or through it. It's a Harley unit, on a '04 Wide Glide. They made some changes to the WG front ends in '06. Parts and Accessories book shows the windshields the same till '06. Chucks will probably work.

well if you can v it out /chamfer it, that brings the penatration % up to where you can grind down flat. the quality of the weld is what counts (kinda anal about grinding off a weld unless there is a clearance issue) seen too many bad welds hidden because they are ground off and later broke. a good weld depends on its preparation, if you don't weld often you might get some like material to warm up on first and get your heat set. too hot of a weld can be just as bad as too cold (migs are great for the home shop doit yourselfer), and chrome or powder coating will cover some of the scratches and minor flaws.hope this helped V-child,
P.S. I don't work with wood much cause it catches fire when I'm welding it back together:roflmao:

Yeah ironhorse i guess the wood would tend to catch fire with that kind of heat... i always have test material around of the same gauge and practice till i get it perfect, then i weld my pieces. i have a 120v mig welder with gas that i use and this is only 1/2" bar stock so i thought i would be ok, but i like to check with the experts first. thx again

thanks guys for the tips on the shield, and the info on the compatibility it helps alot. i don't know why i was getting the exhaust fumes but it was really bad at times, i actually was getting dizzy from it. i could only smell it while cruising, not sitting at a stop. i could feel the wind swirling behind the shield and i just thought the turbulence was sucking the fumes back towards me. WTF do I know, i never rode with one prior to that trip.....i thought it was normal.

thx again guys i knew i could count on y'all! appreciate it!

don't forget the pics when your done

Winshield/Welding

If you ride with a windshield too short, why have one at all? A windshield that you have to see thru protects you from stones or road debris that flys out of truck and cager tires. You only have to get hit once in the face with a sizeable rock and you will be looking for that taller WS. As for a hard rain downpour,I've ridden in some so bad even after removing my glasses I couldn't blink my eyes fast enough to keep them clear so that I could see so if you are looking over the top of a WS good luck. The worst rain I've ever ridden in hit me so fast plus I was running about 75 mph that I didn't even have vision enough to find a safe place to pull off the Interstate. Flagstaff,Arizona, 2006, thanks to the 18 wheeler behind me for blocking the cagers when he saw I was in trouble. Think twice before you buy a shot WS.

Check out the MEMPHIS Shade site to see what they have to offer. The prices aren't to bad and they will bolt right up to stock mounts. They have a wide selection of tall and short ones in various shades and they look great to.
PS> Ya got to get a wood welder if ya don't want to burn the wood when ya weld!:roflmao:

I agree FLHT to each his own. I've been riding for over 40 years, no WS, Short WS and the stock ones that come on the Heritages and Ultras. True even with a stock WS something can always find a way to smack you in the face or helmet. My WS is just above my visor level on my present 08 Heritage. As for fog it can be nasty but when I travel West each year I put Harley S 100 or use the wipes they sell, it will roll fog build up and rain off either side of WS. Only problem is when you clean bugs off WS you have to keep re-applying another coat. I'm surprised that someone hasn't come up with a manual spring loaded WS Wiper that would follow the contours of the WS, something comprable to the ones that use to be on the old Model A Fords.