WARNING FOR ALL RT OWNERS * You may want to check this on your machine

[ARtraveler]

:welcome:




ldpost: This thread dates back to 2011. We have not heard of windshield arm issues for a long time now. No problems with my 2011 or 2014.

 

[LeftCoast]

21,000 miles and mine is fine. Guy who sold me the bike warned me to not leave it lowered or raised all the way though and I think that's in one of the new owner stickies too.

 

[ARtraveler]

21,000 miles and mine is fine. Guy who sold me the bike warned me to not leave it lowered or raised all the way though and I think that's in one of the new owner stickies too.

I do the same. :yes:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

21,000 miles and mine is fine. Guy who sold me the bike warned me to not leave it lowered or raised all the way though and I think that's in one of the new owner stickies too.

Before " No Boots " designed the Aluminum ones, I took mine apart and added 22mm metal sides and a strap that went completely around the arm …. I then welded the three pieces together , it's now almost indestructible ….. Something I did discover was when the ARM is fully down, it doesn't actually rest on anything ….. while testing my ARM I put a piece of paper on the metal part under ARM when it is lowered. I could easily take the paper out, the ARM wasn't touching it...… some Myths need to be debunked, like the " remove key and walk 20 ft. away for 10 minutes to re-set the computer " and you should be able to re-start the Spyder :roflblack: …. Billy Bovine has written a few post on this …… Mike hyea:

 

[noboot]

The arms still appear to be breaking "now and again" as we get someone wanting a replacement.
A lot of people seemed to have moved onto F3 Spyders

 

[ThreeWheels]

The arms still appear to be breaking "now and again" as we get someone wanting a replacement.
A lot of people seemed to have moved onto F3 Spyders

Is it too early to know if your arm fits the 2020 RT ??
Upgrading to your arm was the first mod I made to my 2014 RT.
I'm thinking the 2020 isn't going to be any better.

 

[noboot]

Is it too early to know if your arm fits the 2020 RT ??
Upgrading to your arm was the first mod I made to my 2014 RT.
I'm thinking the 2020 isn't going to be any better.

We in Australia don't get to see a 2020 model before March / April and there are no parts lists available on line so we don't know what the 2020 model windscreen arm looks like.
But if it's the same as previous years, yes it's available.

 

[Snoop]

Great information! Thanks for sharing. I'll keep an eye on mines.

 

[farmgal]

I realize this whole discussion was a long time ago but I am needing the arm to lift my windshield. Any idea where I can locate one? Mine broke while trying to fly home in the start of a storm and high wind....that was a thrill! LOL

 

[UtahPete]

I realize this whole discussion was a long time ago but I am needing the arm to lift my windshield. Any idea where I can locate one? Mine broke while trying to fly home in the start of a storm and high wind....that was a thrill! LOL

Go to this thread instead https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?139831-I-broke-the-windshield

 

[bikerchris1270]

I think that is the third of forth one I've seen now. :sour:

********* He’s BACK!!!**********

 

[Peter Aawen]

I think that is the third of forth one I've seen now. :sour:

********* He’s BACK!!!**********

ldpost:

Sorry... :sour:

 

[noboot]

Have sent you a PM to farmgal

 

[2dogs]

A few weeks ago I had a long slow ride on a very rough road. I normally ride with my windshield up about 1" off the bottom. I noticed a lot of flex going with the windshield and the arm in question. When I dropped the windshield all the way down I could see the arm absorbing all the flex. Same when I raised it up all the way. So, I think there is a bit of truth and good advice from those who say don't ride with the windshield all the way up or down.
Thanks to those of you who brought this to my attention.

 

[noboot]

A few weeks ago I had a long slow ride on a very rough road. I normally ride with my windshield up about 1" off the bottom. I noticed a lot of flex going with the windshield and the arm in question. When I dropped the windshield all the way down I could see the arm absorbing all the flex. Same when I raised it up all the way. So, I think there is a bit of truth and good advice from those who say don't ride with the windshield all the way up or down.
Thanks to those of you who brought this to my attention.

It's excellent advice and well worth doing but as you mentioned "you could see the arm absorbing all the flex" and that's where the problem lies in that the arm finally gives up on all that absorbing and tends to crack and eventually break. So it's worth checking the windscreen arm at least once a month and look for the tel tale signs of any cracking.

Safe Riding all

 

[pegasus1300]

I don't know if it has made any difference, if I have just been lucky. or if I have an exceptionally good lift arm but in 8 years and 65,000+ miles I have never had any trouble with the arm. Since the only thing I can control in this equation is whether or not it is all the way up or down I will continue to raise or lower my windshield by just a hair until I quit riding it or it breaks.

 

[2dogs]

It's excellent advice and well worth doing but as you mentioned "you could see the arm absorbing all the flex" and that's where the problem lies in that the arm finally gives up on all that absorbing and tends to crack and eventually break. So it's worth checking the windscreen arm at least once a month and look for the tel tale signs of any cracking.

Safe Riding all

Luckily no crack yet. I recently bought some low temp welding rods the other day. The kind you use with just a single bottle torch. If I ever find a crack I think I'll try filling the arm in with that low temp welding rod material. It might work and then again it might not.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Luckily no crack yet. I recently bought some low temp welding rods the other day. The kind you use with just a single bottle torch. If I ever find a crack I think I'll try filling the arm in with that low temp welding rod material. It might work and then again it might not.

Will those lo-temp rods actually let you weld cheapie 'pot metal'?? Check with Blueknight911 - I believe Mike hadta substantially add better metal to the OE arm in order to fix it; but now that he has, it probably won't fail ever again! Not something I'd expect from just a welded OE arm tho! Have you seen a broken one of them? It ain't good looking metal! :yikes:

There again, Ron's replacement billet arms are a strong & sexy piece of kit that come with a set of good, clear instructions & all the necessary bits to readily replace the dodgy arm with his billet version - cheap at twice the price! hyea:

 

[UtahPete]

I received one billet arm from Ron and will soon install it on my wife's windshield (she has the huge F4 and rides with it raised).

I'll carry her old one as a spare in case mine should fail.

 

[2dogs]

Will those lo-temp rods actually let you weld cheapie 'pot metal'?? Check with Blueknight911 - I believe Mike hadta substantially add better metal to the OE arm in order to fix it; but now that he has, it probably won't fail ever again! Not something I'd expect from just a welded OE arm tho! Have you seen a broken one of them? It ain't good looking metal! :yikes:

There again, Ron's replacement billet arms are a strong & sexy piece of kit that come with a set of good, clear instructions & all the necessary bits to readily replace the dodgy arm with his billet version - cheap at twice the price! hyea:

I haven't had one in my hand to know what it's made of so I can't positively say I could fix it with low temp weld rod. I like BK's idea of adding a channel-type support and attempt to fix a cracked one that way. If it is only cracked it may work but if it's broken in half I think I'd opt for a total replacement arm.