Home made windshield failure...

[soazcat]

Originally Posted by 4WD CJ7

FWIW, Plexiglass will crack & shatter with the slightest provocation. Lexan will not. Lexan is very strong, flexible, & tolerant of stresses. Plexiglass is not. I suggest that Plexiglass not be used for a UTV windshield due to the safety aspect (getting cut from shattered shards). Lexan will not pose that same risk.

i agree with 4WD. i bolted my windsheild to the rollcage using big selftapping screws that had the rubber on the washers and i also built a frame to go across the top of the windsheild . i made it out of 1/2''aluminumn angle . i used 6 1/4'' bolts , washers and lock nuts . tighened them down till they were snug. this held everything together really well . i have broken 2 of theses winsheilds . one developed a crack down one side from vibration around a bolt hole . the other broke when i laid my cat over . the impact snapped the plexi down one side of the roll cage . i have not replaced it yet but the next one will be lexan or at the least thicker plexi. i had 200 + miles on both of mine . and i know one had 1000miles of trailer time at 75+mph so before it broke inthe crash .

just keep an eye on the plexi make sure it is supported all the way around and replace it if it shows any signs of cracking . good luck guys and be safe .

[Alf Wieme]

Lexan is the way to go, suggest 1/4 inch min. thickness for durability. When I manufactured signs I used a tablesaw with a fine tooth blade made for cutting plastic. If you are going to drill into the material use a drill press with light presure. The heat from the drill will melt rather than cut the lexan. You can use rubber tubing to place between your brackets that make contact with the lexon before attaching to the ROP's. If you wish to strengthen the windshield you can bend it by using a heated wire or rod to soften the material prior to bending (let the heat rise, do not let it contact directly to material). This process is used to make those menu holder used in dinners. Hope this helped.

[Dnspream]

Yes all of this helps a lot.
I am really glad i found this web site all of you guy are great, and full of very good info..
Hopefully I will be trying this again this weekend, Depends on if i have the money or not..
If all goes well I will post pictures once completed.
Again Thanks to all, for all the great information. I Really appreciate it...

[joes5091]

Originally Posted by Dnspream

Yes all of this helps a lot.
I am really glad i found this web site all of you guy are great, and full of very good info..
Hopefully I will be trying this again this weekend, Depends on if i have the money or not..
If all goes well I will post pictures once completed.
Again Thanks to all, for all the great information. I Really appreciate it...

Im Glad, There are a lot of Great people on here with Great information.

[CCDAMEEK]

I made my windshield set up. I used 1/4" aluminum plate, and 1/4" aluminum u-channel, to make a 'slip in-slip out' setup for 1/4" lexan.
I also used cardboard as a template. I have a 4" plate strip at the top of the windshield opening, and about a 7" strip at the bottom. I used J B weld to attach the u-channel to the edge of the plate, and screwed the plate directly to the roll cage. I have 3-metal clips retaining the edge, and I only have to remove one of those to slip the Lexan out for less wind drag when towing. Painted the aluminum parts with spray-on bedliner for good looks. This setup works great!
(Don't know why I couldn't insert some photo's. Asking for a url!) Check out my homepage as I will try to load them there.

[CCDAMEEK]

Go to Gallery for photo's.

Originally Posted by CCDAMEEK

I made my windshield set up. I used 1/4" aluminum plate, and 1/4" aluminum u-channel, to make a 'slip in-slip out' setup for 1/4" lexan.
I also used cardboard as a template. I have a 4" plate strip at the top of the windshield opening, and about a 7" strip at the bottom. I used J B weld to attach the u-channel to the edge of the plate, and screwed the plate directly to the roll cage. I have 3-metal clips retaining the edge, and I only have to remove one of those to slip the Lexan out for less wind drag when towing. Painted the aluminum parts with spray-on bedliner for good looks. This setup works great!
(Don't know why I couldn't insert some photo's. Asking for a url!) Check out my homepage as I will try to load them there.

[CCDAMEEK]

WELL, I was able to finally upload photo's to my album here on Prowler Talk. So I have the photo's of my home made windshield setup I discribed. You may notice two things. First, I have this same windshield on my old Prowler 650 H1, and transferred it to my new Prowler XTZ 1000. Exact fit, along with canvas top too! The second is the little plastic clips inside the top and bottom edges of the windshield. I could only find 3/16" lexan around my town instead of 1/4", so it is a little sloppy in the 1/4" track. I use the clips to stop any vibration. 1/4" lexan would not need them. If I ever do break this somehow, I will find the 1/4" stuff. I have had this setup for 2-1/2 years now!

Originally Posted by CCDAMEEK

Go to Gallery for photo's.

[Skeena]

Quit being so cheep....just put in a glass windshield and be done with it
I used boat glass....tinted and same laminated as an auto windshield
wont scratch and wipers work well on it

[Dnspream]

Originally Posted by Skeena

Quit being so cheep....just put in a glass windshield and be done with it
I used boat glass....tinted and same laminated as an auto windshield
wont scratch and wipers work well on it

How much did that cost?
The reason i have to do this cheap is because my wife and 4 kids take up all the profits before i even know we have some...

[Skeena]

windshield kit from "Cat" is about 400.00
if and when you break the glass, go to your local glass shop and get the boat glass