Replacing windshield arm

[SpyderCruiser]

Hello Spyder Friends,
Meg and I are heading to Valcourt this year, as many of you are. And we hope to meet many of you there.

I am the type that is always concerned about what issues with the Spyder can ruin a trip like this. Our Spyder has been flawless and has never let us down, but doo doo happens! The one flaw I keep coming back to is the windshield arm.

Many of you have had that arm break as many as 2 times, and it would really suck if it were to break on a trip like this. I had purchased the windshield arm from noboot (Ron), just to have in case mine ever broke. Then I started thinking of the interstate speeds we will be traveling at, and the stress on that arm. The thought of Spydering down the road with a windshield on my lap did not appeal to either one of us. And we always ride with it fully up, so mine has been stressed since new. With that thought in mind, we decided to change it yesterday, and have one less thing to worry about.

Ron provides great written instructions with the arm, but has an excellent video here

Followed all the steps in the video and all went well until it came time to remove that little screw from the end of the gear. Being a electronics guy, I have every type and size of screwdriver imaginable. A pozidriv Philips seemed to fit the screw well without slipping. The issue I experienced was that the screw was starting to break apart before loosening. No doubt caused by the copious amounts of Loctite BRP uses on all their screws. Could not use heat to free the Loctite, as the plastic gear would melt. Rather then break the head off of the screw, decided to remove the magnet end. We marked the magnet well so after reassembly it would still be in the proper place.


We used a bearing separator from harbor freight, and placed it under the magnet.



We then flipped it over and used 2 screw drivers to pry the old arm and shaft up out of the magnet.



We would up using larger screwdrivers then shown, it initially was really stuck on there. Meg was holding the gear on top as I pried. I expected it to come off slowly, but it let go and moved quickly when free.

You can see from the paint marks, the plastic is engaged rather deeply on the shaft.



Installed the new arm following the steps in the video. Installed the magnet back in the bearing separator like this.



Gently used a rubber mallet tapping the gear and shaft back into the magnet.



Everything went back together well and worked fine. I would recommend using some tef-gel http://www.tefgel.com/contain.php?param=tefgel_infor as I did on the bushings that are in the aluminum windshield frame. The bushings are brass and the frame is aluminum and they were a little tough to get out due to corrosion from dissimilar metals.

Hope this is helpful, Take Care, Louie and Meg

[PW2013STL]

Outstanding information!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

WINDSHIELD ARM

I have been recommending and posting about doing the Magnet end for a long time ...... ...... and yours had SCREWS??? .....mine were tension type pins!!!! I just tapped them out with a small nail ........... Mike

[eddieshep999]

I have been recommending and posting about doing the Magnet end for a long time ...... ...... and yours had SCREWS ??? .....mine were tension type pins !!!!, I just tapped them out with a small nail ........... Mike

Mike I think the screw he was on about was the one in the end of the shaft which helps secure the gear wheel to the shaft
You can see the screw in his 2nd photo
It is a good suggestion to take the magnet end off instead of the gear end
When I did mine the magnet fell out and to get it back I had to put the magnet into the freezer for a couple of hours and once out I fitted straight into the holder I have not had any problems with the operation of the new arm and it's been in use for over 4 years now

[cptjam]

Windshield arm

I'm doing one tomorrow. Perfect timing for this thread! I saw the video. If the gear is stubborn, I'll do the magnet!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Mike I think the screw he was on about was the one in the end of the shaft which helps secure the gear wheel to the shaft
You can see the screw in his 2nd photo
It is a good suggestion to take the magnet end off instead of the gear end
When I did mine the magnet fell out and to get it back I had to put the magnet into the freezer for a couple of hours and once out I fitted straight into the holder I have not had any problems with the operation of the new arm and it's been in use for over 4 years now

The screw

Eddie - I stand corrected .... In 2014 right after I bought my 14 RT, I took my entire WINDSHIELD ARM assembly off and took it apart .... I removed the OE (crappy) Arm and made a steel cover for it from 3/64" sheet stock ... I now see that Phillips Screw at the Gear End .... I had to drill the end off to get the Gear Wheel off ..... I then took the Magnet End off and discovered it was FOUR times as easy .... So I have been telling folks to do the Magnet end ever since ...... Then a year later "Noboot" made the aluminum copy. ........ Mike

[cognaccruiser]

SpyderCruiser,
Thank you for a timely post. noboot/Ron shipped mine out yesterday so I'll be doing this very soon.

Like you I'm traveling to Valcourt for the Homecoming event. But our ryde will be much further. I recently changed over to a F4 Tall and Wide windscreen and although my oem bracket does not show any cracks I was concerned about the extra weight and size of the new windscreen and having the arm let go along the way. We've done some pretty long trips previously but didn't want to press my luck.

I'm hoping everything cooperates in the change over but historically Murphy's law always seems to through me a curve. Your information just might help make the process go a little smoother.

I have to say that dealing with noboot was a smooth and enjoyable process.

Cheer,
Gary

[DJFaninTN]

it looks like major surgery but once you get started, it's not that hard! I totally agree that taking the magnet off is MUCH easier.

[Lagaffe]

Nice job... Thank You !

[YIRYDE]

Thanks for this thread, I have had my replacement arm for a couple of months and I'm getting ready to replace it soon.

Good timing

[noboot]

It doesn't matter if you go the magnet end or the worm wheel end as long as you take it steady and take your time It ends up with the same result, a safer better fitting arm that won't break like the OEM ones do.

Anyone with an RT should regularly (maybe while drying the bike after a wash) look out for the tell tale sign usually the crack. I went to one Spyder Rally and seen 11 RT's with a minor crack in the arm.

RT Spyder Bracket damaged.jpg

[cptjam]

What a beautiful piece that Arm is! Just a nice hunk of billet, expertly machined. Thanks again! Joe

[Av8er]

Where is everyone getting the replacement arm?

[cognaccruiser]

Where is everyone getting the replacement arm?

From noboot. A member and sponsor. Send him a PM.

Gary

[cptjam]

Stock hardware is junk! The Phillips screws need to be Allen heads, for sure!
Works perfect!
If you have even a trace of a crack, replace it with one of these!
Ron, build matching support arms - this one makes those look shabby!
Love this thing! Thanks for a great piece! Joe

[Purple Guy]

Placed my order today!

[noboot]

Stock hardware is junk! The Phillips screws need to be Allen heads, for sure!
Works perfect!
If you have even a trace of a crack, replace it with one of these!
Ron, build matching support arms - this one makes those look shabby!
Love this thing! Thanks for a great piece! Joe

matching Support arms are currently on the drawing board and could become an item in the short term future.

[eddieshep999]

matching Support arms are currently on the drawing board and could become an item in the short term future.

Please post if if you do manufacture them
I would purchase them Especially if they are of the same quality (Whiich is more than likely)
of your middle arm
Thanks for the update

[GA_Spyderman]

Has anyone tried wd40 to loosen up the stubborn screws? It works well on some super glues. Might be worth a try.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OverHillAndDale]

Mine will be here tomorrow.

What type of marker are y'all using to mark the components? Looks like a paint applicator.

[eddieshep999]

Mine will be here tomorrow.

What type of marker are y'all using to mark the components? Looks like a paint applicator.

I used a white paint pen

[cognaccruiser]

And I used a Sharpie "Metallic Silver" permanent which seems to work as well as white.

OverHillAndDale: Good luck. As I posted in my thread on this, heat seemed to help get the Phillips heads out. Let us all know how it goes.

Gary

[agedbikeman]

Hello Spyder Friends,
Meg and I are heading to Valcourt this year, as many of you are. And we hope to meet many of you there.

I am the type that is always concerned about what issues with the Spyder can ruin a trip like this. Our Spyder has been flawless and has never let us down, but doo doo happens! The one flaw I keep coming back to is the windshield arm.

Many of you have had that arm break as many as 2 times, and it would really suck if it were to break on a trip like this. I had purchased the windshield arm from noboot (Ron), just to have in case mine ever broke. Then I started thinking of the interstate speeds we will be traveling at, and the stress on that arm. The thought of Spydering down the road with a windshield on my lap did not appeal to either one of us. And we always ride with it fully up, so mine has been stressed since new. With that thought in mind, we decided to change it yesterday, and have one less thing to worry about.

Ron provides great written instructions with the arm, but has an excellent video here

Followed all the steps in the video and all went well until it came time to remove that little screw from the end of the gear. Being a electronics guy, I have every type and size of screwdriver imaginable. A pozidriv Philips seemed to fit the screw well without slipping. The issue I experienced was that the screw was starting to break apart before loosening. No doubt caused by the copious amounts of Loctite BRP uses on all their screws. Could not use heat to free the Loctite, as the plastic gear would melt. Rather then break the head off of the screw, decided to remove the magnet end. We marked the magnet well so after reassembly it would still be in the proper place.


We used a bearing separator from harbor freight, and placed it under the magnet.



We then flipped it over and used 2 screw drivers to pry the old arm and shaft up out of the magnet.



We would up using larger screwdrivers then shown, it initially was really stuck on there. Meg was holding the gear on top as I pried. I expected it to come off slowly, but it let go and moved quickly when free.

You can see from the paint marks, the plastic is engaged rather deeply on the shaft.



Installed the new arm following the steps in the video. Installed the magnet back in the bearing separator like this.



Gently used a rubber mallet tapping the gear and shaft back into the magnet.



Everything went back together well and worked fine. I would recommend using some tef-gel http://www.tefgel.com/contain.php?param=tefgel_infor as I did on the bushings that are in the aluminum windshield frame. The bushings are brass and the frame is aluminum and they were a little tough to get out due to corrosion from dissimilar metals.

Hope this is helpful, Take Care, Louie and Meg

Thanks for your video, very helpful. At times I'd be sunk without guys like you puting videos here. Cheers.

I don't see that it matters if the screw on the gear wheel is broken, the gear is on a hex shaft and its position on shaft does not matter, only the magnet end matters. Without the screw and the unit in position with the caps on, where is it going to go, it's not a constantly rotating machine, it's an occasional 1/2 turn in each direction once or twice a day. My screw is broken and it's not going back, no Locktite either. Important thing is to grease all the bushing parts on the way back.

Thanks again,
Alex

[TIMMB]

I have a new one for sale, don't have a RT anymore & never put it on.

$125.00 includes shipping to the US 48.

[davehirst]

Ok, I have everything out but can't get the gear or the magnet off of the shaft. Help!!