recommended mechanic/shop in bethesda, md?

[scttotis]

I got my cf 30 shield yesterday. Its a substantial product, but how does the hardware fail? Do the screws just fatigue and break? Do you replace the thumbscrews with hex head bolts? Have you tried stainless replacements? hope you see this Thanks Scott

[Bogdan Swider]

> > > I got my cf 30 shield yesterday. Its a substantial product, but how > does the hardware fail? Do the screws just fatigue and break? Do you > replace the thumbscrews with hex head bolts? Have you tried stainless > replacements? > > hope you see this > Thanks > Scott

In my experience the only parts that fail - I believe it's vibration - are the bolts that hold the the two fitted pieces/clamps directly onto each side of the handlebar. They are the largest bolts included in the hardware. The trouble is that if that happens on the road - happened to me twice - you are likely to loose the the clamps which, unlike the bolts, can not be found in any hardware store. I went to a specialty fastener store and bought - what I was told - higher quality/strength bolts. I change them out every couple of thousand miles - or before a trip - hopefully before they fail. I also zip tied the clamps so that if the bolts again fail they will hold together and not hit the road. Looks shade tree but whatever. Bogdan

[scttotis]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bogdan Swider wrote:

> > > > > > I got my cf 30 shield yesterday. Its a substantial product, but how > > does the hardware fail? Do the screws just fatigue and break? Do you > > replace the thumbscrews with hex head bolts? Have you tried stainless > > replacements? > > > > hope you see this > > Thanks > > Scott > > In my experience the only parts that fail - I believe it's vibration

- are

> the bolts that hold the the two fitted pieces/clamps directly onto

each side

> of the handlebar. They are the largest bolts included in the

hardware. The

> trouble is that if that happens on the road - happened to me twice -

you are

> likely to loose the the clamps which, unlike the bolts, can not be

found in

> any hardware store. I went to a specialty fastener store and bought

- what I

> was told - higher quality/strength bolts. I change them out every

couple of

> thousand miles - or before a trip - hopefully before they fail. I

also zip

> tied the clamps so that if the bolts again fail they will hold

together and

> not hit the road. Looks shade tree but whatever. > > Bogdan

I am guessing that only one side fails at a time, so the windshield doesnt fly off in your face! I can see how if one side failed though, it might load up the other side and cause it to fail too. Have you ever had any close calls because of this? I'm thinking maybe of drilling some holes in the windshield vertical mount bars below where they mount on the bar clamp, and safety wire loop it to the handlebars. If you safety wired both sides, only one would fail at a time. I can see now why it fails. The entire windshield force puts a levered bending moment on those handlebar clamp bolts. That must be the reason that they say this shield is not rated for touring cause the fatigue looks like it will get those bolts every time. I'm going to have to figure a way to relieve the stress on those bolts. Any ideas out there ?

[Bogdan Swider]

> > I am guessing that only one side fails at a time, so the windshield > doesnt fly off in your face! I can see how if one side failed though, > it might load up the other side and cause it to fail too. Have you > ever had any close calls because of this?

In my experience one side fails at a time. The situation was not dangerous. It was inconvenient; last time this happened I was in the state of Coahuila in Mexico. Since I went to the better bolts and have been changing out the bolts I've had no problems. Bogdan

[scttotis]

I installed the cf30 last night and drove around with no helment up to 60mph(at 11:30p). I am 6'5 and I thought the cf30 w stock screen worked great. I looked over the top of the screen by a couple of inches probably when sitting up , will quantify better later. I could hear what was going on for the first time and even decided that I shouldn't be reving much past 4500 since at higher rpm the vibration noise sounds almost destructive...may be a problem w my setup doohickey,counterbalencer, loose fasteners etc. or maybe thats what a normal KLR does. I have decided that this MC cruises best at about 4000rpm in 5th..all sounds good(about 60 mph)and the engine seems happy at this speed, in the ideal torque/ power zone. But for a little turbulence at the partline, there was no discomfort at 60. With a helmet, I dont think I'll be able to feel that turbulance, it prolly isnt strong enough to move the helment, will test further. Should be able to ride all day with the face shield up with no blast. It also was real gusty from side and front, and I noticed no difference in handeling, and I did not get real cold like usual in the 45 degree weather at speed. The quality is great, I like this screen. I still think the way the 17 inch screen cycles /pulses constantly , levered to the 2 bolts that clamp the screen to the handlebar AT THE HANDLEBAR, is a problem. I like your solution as being the cleanest, but I'm going to try something and post pictures of. It will be 2 links that connect the junction where the handle bar cross bar is welded to the vertical shield support bars, and a third link connecting the the first two link ends where they connect with the 2 vertical shield support bars. It will take a pile of load off those bolts. I'll come up with some numbers. Scott

[Bogdan Swider]

I'm going to try something and post pictures of. It will be 2

> links that connect the junction where the handle bar cross bar is > welded to the vertical shield support bars, and a third link > connecting the the first two link ends where they connect with the 2 > vertical shield support bars. It will take a pile of load off those > bolts. I'll come up with some numbers. > Scott

Sounds interesting. I'll waiting to see how hard it is to do and how it works out. I also like the shield. Yours sounds like a fix and forget about solution. Bogdan

[thehowofnow]

I'm looking for a mechanic / shop in the Bethesda, Maryland area to help out on a few KLR issues who is remarkably savvy, incredibly efficient and astonishingly inexpensive. Any thoughts on anything that might come close to my fantasies? Bueller? Bueller? If ao, please drop me a line at Jfoust101@.... Many thanks. It's warming up!