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I've used the windshield in the "up" and "down" positions, but yesterday, 700+ miles from home, while in the "up" position, the windshield mounting arms folded back, leaving the windshield tipped back at 45 degrees or more
When I put it back in the "up" position, it tips back again after running for a while at high speed.
Anyone else had this problem? What the solution?
Welcome to the forum.
Not sure what arms are folding.
Are you able to post a picture?
Are you talking about the plastic silver support arms or the little levers I have marked in my picture?
[ATTACH]75750[/ATTACH]
Lee,
The little levers. I'll try some pictures.
Windshield up[ATTACH]75752[/ATTACH][ATTACH]75752[/ATTACH]
Arms "folded back"
[ATTACH]75753[/ATTACH]
Result
[ATTACH]75754[/ATTACH]
There appears to be extra pieces for your aftermarket shield.
Maybe someone with the same shield can help.
Lee,
I think maybe the main extra part is the dark plexi deflector. The arms are the issue. Not sure though, since the whole unit came to me this way. What are the springs in your photo?
[QUOTE=richw;1179918]Lee,
I think maybe the main extra part is the dark plexi deflector. The arms are the issue. Not sure though, since the whole unit came to me this way. What are the springs in your photo?[/QUOTE]
The springs are hidden inside the silver support arm. They keep tension on the shield to hold it in place.
I don't remember this piece on our bikes. We no longer have them so I can't check to be sure.
[ATTACH]75757[/ATTACH]
Rich,
Welcome to the forum!
We ask that every time you start a thread on this forum, you include the YEAR and model of the bike in question in THE TITLE of the thread. This helps in getting more pertinent answers and helps members search for similar issues with their bikes.
Adding the year to the title of your thread, after it has already been posted, is not easy for anyone other than the moderators, so if you would mention the year in your next post, I will add it to the title.
:dance:dance:dance
Rich,
Your bike has an aftermarket windshield, and with it, mounting bits that are unique to that shield.
As to your problem, my guess would be that the size of your shield, at speed, puts more force on the mechanism that BMW supplies which is designed for the smaller stock shield. That force causes the shield to collapse.
In truth I'm not clear on your failure mode, so I can't suggest specific approaches for a fix, but in general terms your options are clear.
Slow down (LOL!)
Switch back to a stock shield.
Redesign the pivoting mechanism in some manner to allow it to withstand greater wind forces.
And just spit-balling here: the K12GT of the same generation has a power windshield system. It might be possible to integrate that mechanism which may be able to better withstand the deflection forces.
FWIW, stock shield down and up, attached and I have no idea why they are upside down. Sorry.
Good luck.
[QUOTE=JeffDiCarlo;1179988]R
In truth I'm not clear on your failure mode,.
.[/QUOTE]
Same for me.
He says the shield tilts back 45 degrees.
I wonder if the shield is just dropping to the low position.
If it's dropping to the low position it's probably due to the oversized shield.
Thanks, gentlemen.
I took off the shield and lubed and tighter everything without taking off the silver covers. Went about 5 miles towards home (in Georgia) from my daughter's (in Illinois), and the silver cover came loose on one side. I stopped.
Tornado warning was issued, two kids (tracking me on Google maps) called to tell me that I was stopped in the wrong place and a tornado was coming. Headed back, and the windshield came entirely loose at the bottom
Arms broken on one side, and plexi broken on the other.
I've repaired the broken arm with JB weld, hopefully it will hold until I get home at least. It was most likely broken for some time, causing the original problem. For what it's worth, there has been quite a bit of vibration on the windscreen for some time, and I suspect if I had taken the time earlier to tighten everything, I wouldn't have had this problem.
It's somewhat hard to describe the actual failure mode, and I'm assuming that the windshield on this model has only two positions, down, and up. In the up position, both halves of the upper arms on each side are aligned perpendicular to the windshield. In my case, the wind, vibration, and probable broken lower mount allowed the windshield to raise sufficiently for the outer portion of the upper arms to fold back.
Don't know if parts are available for replacement, but will look after this post. Sorry, but I didn't take a "before" picture - but am attaching an "after" of the repaired part.
Also, my K1200RS is a 2003 model year, sorry for the omission.
"Good" side of lower mount.[ATTACH]75779[/ATTACH]
"Repaired" side of lower mount.[ATTACH]75780[/ATTACH]
Thanks for the update.
Yes, the shield only has 2 positions.
The lower arm part number is 46 63 7 658 866
Are you sitting down? The cost is $59.43 for one.
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Make sure I pictured the correct part.
I have a broken shield arm from Deb's 03 K1200RS and it looks different compared to your picture.
Lee,
Thanks for all your trouble.
Actually, it is not the arm that failed. It is the flex f shaft that the arm mounts to, or specifically, the fitting on the end of that shaft. I found part 46632307796 - but that is the older version. I found the rod itself, part 9 in the attached drawing, and the part you referenced, part 8 in the attached drawing. There is an additional fitting, 2 required, that fits into the rod and connects the rod (9) to the crank (8). It also has the crank for the spring as shown in your previous photo. One of those fittings is broken where it clamps to the crank (8). I don't see it in the drawing, and the rod appears to be permanently crimped to the fitting in any case. It seems that the item must be replaced as a unit, the rod (9), and the two ends missing from the drawing.
[ATTACH]75783[/ATTACH]
Lee,
Thanks for all your trouble.
Actually, it is not the arm that failed. It is the flex f shaft that the arm mounts to, or specifically, the fitting on the end of that shaft. I found part 46632307796 - but that is the older version. I found the rod itself, part 9 in the attached drawing, and the part you referenced, part 8 in the attached drawing. There is an additional fitting, 2 required, that fits into the rod and connects the rod (9) to the crank (8). It also has the crank for the spring as shown in your previous photo. One of those fittings is broken where it clamps to the crank (8). I don't see it in the drawing, and the rod appears to be permanently crimped to the fitting in any case. It seems that the item must be replaced as a unit, the rod (9), and the two ends missing from the drawing.
[ATTACH]75783[/ATTACH]
[QUOTE=richw;1180268]Lee,
Thanks for all your trouble.
Actually, it is not the arm that failed. It is the flex f shaft that the arm mounts to, or specifically, the fitting on the end of that shaft. [/QUOTE]
:thumb
Part 9 from the exploded assembly drawing is 46637653390, and does include the ends to connect to part 8. Now all it will take is money, time, and effort.😃
Weighing whether I want to wait in Illinois, or ride to Georgia without a windshield.
Can you place the shield in the low position and duct tape it in place?
Darn it.
There's one problem with that idea. . .
It never occurred to me. That's what I'll do.
[QUOTE=richw;1180363]Darn it.
There's one problem with that idea. . .
It never occurred to me. That's what I'll do.[/QUOTE]
The little lever on Debbie's RS broke when both bikes went over in a storm.
JB weld did not hold to fix the lever so I used a little duct tape to kept the shield from shaking.
It worked on the 1,000 ride from Texas to Iowa.
[QUOTE=Lee;1180366]The little lever on Debbie's RS broke when both bikes went over in a storm.
JB weld did not hold to fix the lever so I used a little duct tape to kept the shield from shaking.
It worked on the 1,000 ride from Texas to Iowa.[/QUOTE]
Something like this?:
[ATTACH]75797[/ATTACH]
I'll let you know how it went when I get home. Thanks.
I'll need a new windshield. The options that I'm considering are:
AeroFlow (tall) -
I'm willing to assume that the breakage of the linkage was induced by lack of maintainance or some other oddity. They can make me a windshield, even though they will no longer make the mounting hardware. The windshield looks good on the bike, and is fairly rigid due to compound curves. However, I always wished it was taller, maybe 2". I'm 6'1" plus, and mostly from the waist up.
BMW "Comfort" windshield. Probably the best choice, except I think it's even shorter than the AeroFlow. I have the long bar-backs, and suspect it would be more windy than the AeroFlow.
Parabellum -
From the pictures, they look to have single axis curves only, and are about the same price. They also look taller, so might be better for wind noise.
I would also consider a top extension.
Anyone have any thoughts/advice/experience to share?
[QUOTE=richw;1180376]Something like this?:
I'll let you know how it went when I get home. Thanks.[/QUOTE]
I used less tape but that should work :)
Remove the tape as soon as you get home so it does not react with paint.
[QUOTE=richw;1180378]
Anyone have any thoughts/advice/experience to share?[/QUOTE]
I'm a bad one to ask, both me and my wife used the stock RS shield in the low position.
I'm 6' with 34" inseam and my wife is 5' 10" with 34" inseam.
A tall shield will keep more air off of you but a short shield or no shield is quieter a lot of times.
Got back Thursday. Tape held fine from Central Illinois to home 100 miles south of Atlanta.
The whole trip involved trailering from Atlanta to Reno for the National Air Races. Circled and visited Virginia City, Lake Tahoe, North to Crater Lake, back to Reno, then to Salt Lake, snow storms and camping in Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, across Wyoming and Nebraska, daughter and grandkids in Illinois, and back to 98 degree temperatures, stop and go traffic, and smog warnings through Atlanta.
Gone a month, camped a little less than half. Nice to be home. I'm ready to do it again.
[QUOTE=richw;1180717]Got back Thursday. Tape held fine[/QUOTE]
Good deal :thumb
[QUOTE=Lee;1180391]
A tall shield will keep more air off of you but a short shield or no shield is quieter a lot of times.[/QUOTE]
I removed what was left of my tall Aero-Flow windshield and rode about 20 miles at up to 75 mph or so. Windy, of course, but not much noisier, if any, as you suggested. Maybe quieter, or at least a higher pitch hiss rather than a low turbulent rumble, if that makes sense. Anyway, I get your point. Thanks.
I bought the 'last ever' tall AeroFlow (according to them).
Somewhat to my surprise, it is taller than what I had. The previous owner must have inadvertently mislead me.
The top of the windshield is just below eye level when in the up position, and is much quieter than my old windshield.
I'm happy with it.
[QUOTE=JeffDiCarlo;1179988]Rich,
Your bike has an aftermarket windshield, and with it, mounting bits that are unique to that shield.
As to your problem, my guess would be that the size of your shield, at speed, puts more force on the mechanism that BMW supplies which is designed for the smaller stock shield. That force causes the shield to collapse.
In truth I'm not clear on your failure mode, so I can't suggest specific approaches for a fix, but in general terms your options are clear.
Slow down (LOL!)
Switch back to a stock shield.
Redesign the pivoting mechanism in some manner to allow it to withstand greater wind forces.
And just spit-balling here: the K12GT of the same generation has a power windshield system. It might be possible to integrate that mechanism which may be able to better withstand the deflection forces.
FWIW, stock shield down and up, attached and I have no idea why they are upside down. Sorry.
Good luck.[/QUOTE]
IMHO Jeff is correct in his assessment of the problem- your larger after market windshield has overloaded the spring assembly installed to secure the stock RS windshield in its up or down position. I have a 2003 K1200RS also and have never experienced any problem with the windshield positioning assembly.
Adding the GT’s electric windshield operator will not fix the issue—there are plenty of GT riders who are unable to adjust their aftermarket screens on the go and who experience issues with the WS mechanism. Perhaps you can increase the spring tension on your existing setup?
Best,
DeVern
Hard to describe what I think actually happened, but I think it started with loose bolts and enlarged holes in the windshield, leading to a cracked lower mounting holes in the windshield, leading to the mounting bracket being over stressed, breaking, and allowing the upper bracket to go over center and the windshield to fold back.
I ordered the new Areo-Flow, and as I indicated, it is even taller than the one I had - so I understand the concerns about stress on the mounting assembly. However, it is more pleasant than the old one. The old one seemed to deflect the rough air right to my helmet. I suspect as Lee pointed out the lower stock windshield would have been quieter. I can attest that the higher current one is.
As far as mechanical strength, I'll be sure to keep the mounting screws tight. I've had this windshield up to triple digits briefly, and it seems OK. I'll post back here if the BMW mounts aren't up to the added stress.
The windscreen that came with your bike is a double windscreen with air capture.
When set up correctly, these essentially eliminate wind noise and buffeting.
Air is captured by the large leading screen as it protrudes out over the headlight.
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It is then channeled up along the trailing/backside of the leading screen by a smaller trailing screen.
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This design reduces or eliminates negative trailing pressure behind the windscreens.
And keeps direct airflow off of the rider.
It thus reduces or eliminates wind noise and buffeting on the rider.
MadStad has a line of screens with similar aerodynamics but these also have attitude adjustment mechanisms to achieve optimal windscreen angle ([url]https://madstad.com/[/url]).
Unfortunately, they don't have a kit for the K12RSs.