Simple "Like" windshield, My saturday project!!!

[flying old guy]

I couldn't find a windshield for my 2018 Like I just bought. This is what I came up with Saturday. About $30 total

[TBR125]

Thanks for the inspiration! I think the agility needs one. What did you use for the screen or did you buy one?

[flying old guy]

I bought a small sheet of 1/8 acrylic plastic at the hardware store and heated with a heat gun to put some curve in it. The frame from the same store. 1inch x 36inches, 1/8 thick. bent in a vice.

[TBR125]

Ok, I might give it a try with plexi-glass.

[CROSSBOLT]

Very nice!

[big blue]

Very nice engineering on that!

[Stig / Major Tom]

Very nice red LIKE!
Clever project .
How's it work?

Stig

[monkeybongos]

Like the size.  Does it reduce wind noise at high speed?
If you could elaborate on the frame, that'd be great.

[flying old guy]

Thanks for asking. The frame is aluminum. I failed to mention so its strong and very lite. The size I made, takes the wind off my chest. I wear a full helmet and the wind hits just about the middle of the shield so I can open the shield 1 click and let a lite breeze in if the weather is hot. Now to keep the windshield from any vibration ,I added at the top 8-32 screws ,a large size zip tie around the rear view mirrors and a small hole drilled through the other end to the screw. There is no vibration at all. If that makes sense.

[flying old guy]

I failed to mention that the zip ties are large ones, about 3/8 inch wide.  I put a strip of thin foam rubber between the windshield and the bars and the 8-32 screws have a large thin washer and made a rubber washer under the metal washer made from an auto inner tube.

[scooterfan]

Thanks for asking. The frame is aluminum. I failed to mention so its strong and very lite. The size I made, takes the wind off my chest. I wear a full helmet and the wind hits just about the middle of the shield so I can open the shield 1 click and let a lite breeze in if the weather is hot. Now to keep the windshield from any vibration ,I added at the top 8-32 screws ,a large size zip tie around the rear view mirrors and a small hole drilled through the other end to the screw. There is no vibration at all. If that makes sense.

Stupid question. I assume you had to apply heat for bending the aluminium at the sharp bends ? What did you use to apply heat to the aluminium ?

[flying old guy]

No heat was used. The first right angle bend was done in a vise and did not try to get a sharp bend so it would follow the shape of the headlight. Only other bend was the twist in the bar to follow the curve of the windshield. The first windshield was cut with a Dremel tool out of an old motorcycle windshield. I used it for a few days but it wasn't real clear so that's why I made the one I am using now.

[TBR125]

Depending on the alloy used I think aluminum is a little less tolerant to stress bends than a mild steel stock. cold bends can totally work especially if the stock is larger than the application demands, but 500-700 degrees F on aluminum bends can retain over 200% of what a cold bend holds. I like aluminum work because of the low temps required.

Nice project. How did you heat the acrylic? I haven't worked much with it, mainly just pvc.

[flying old guy]

After cutting the windshield to the size I wanted, I took two  1/8 welding rode and bent a hook on both ends. shorter than the width of the shield by about 2 inches, now you can spring the shield on the hooks. you will want to make the curve more than you think because after heating a lot of the curve will spring back. Kind of trial and error. while it's in the hooked rods, I used a heat gun and applied heat as evenly as you can. Get it good and warm then cool it off. after it's cool, and I ran it under the garden hose, take the rods off and see if you have enough curve. If not, reheat. You may even need to shorten the rods a little more. Sounds like a lot of work, but it's fun work. Ernie

[TBR125]

I hadn't thought of that method. Will be simpler than baking and laying over a mold.