windshield issue

[SacramentoMike]

Mine makes a howling noise when it retracts.

Wait, wait. "Howling noise?" When WHAT retracts? Who does? Could you be retracting too soon?

 

[copron]

Mine makes a howling noise when it retracts.

Wait, wait. "Howling noise?" When WHAT retracts? Who does? Could you be retracting too soon?

HHHMMMM..........yep...........just possible.

 

[bikemiser]

Mine did that for a while after riding in the rain. After everything dried out, it quit. I just figured it was the steel arms dragging on the rubber seals.

 

[FJR Bill]

My 09 was fine until I read this thread...then a few days later there it was, a groan as the windshield retracts. I'm a gonna stop reading these threads.

Bill

 

[Dale2010]

My 09 was fine until I read this thread...then a few days later there it was, a groan as the windshield retracts. I'm a gonna stop reading these threads.Bill

That will do it every time ;-)

Although my hasn't caused me trouble since I added the white lithium grease a week or two ago, I'm taking mine apart this afternoon (for another unrelated issue -dropping the bike and now require a paint job) :-( If I come up with anything earth-shattering, I'll post it on this forum.

Dale

 

[J. Parrie]

My 2008 suffered from this problem as well. I took all the plastic off to ivestigate. There are four tracks with nylon sliders that move up and down in them, very much like the window regulator in a car door. I could see that there was a lot of road grime and dirt in the tracks along with the original grease which had hardened up a bit. I cleaned all the old grease and dirt out of the tracks and lubricated it with fresh grease. The shuddering was now worse than before, WTF! I lubed the cable and pullies that drive the mechanism, and noticed that there was some slack in the drive cable, so I adjusted the tension on that. Still shudders!

After a closer look, I could see that the shuddering was taking place on the outside tracks only. I removed the bolts that hold the outside sliders to the W bracket and slid the sliders out of the tracks. They were very stiff coming out, and cleaning and re lubing did nothing to remedy the issue. After cleaning them again and looking closely, the nylon was scarred in grooves that ride on the track. I took some fine emery cloth and polished the grooves in the sliders till they were very smooth. Lubed them up and re-installed and all is good. Windscreen moves up and down smoothly and silently.

 

[Dale2010]

Been a while since I've posted here so here goes. I've got an 08 FJR ABS. Lately, I've noticed when the windshield goes either up or down it makes a horrible noise like its seriously in need of lubrication. My question, how big of a pain is it to get to the lube points for the retract mechanism? How much of the fairing do I need to remove? I googled this but couldn't find any specific answers to this. Anybody else have this problem? Thanks for the help!

I too have a 2010 FJR (Canadian) and have experienced the windshield noise problem (when it's lowering). Nothing seemed to work until I finally removed the windshield, the section of fairing under the windshield (to gain access to the arms mechanism) and filled the sliding tracks with white grease.

If (when) you do this, ensure that the sliding mechanism is covered completely.

Also, when reinstalling the windshield, be very careful not to break any of the plastic screws or lose the nuts holding the windshield to the frame. Use little more than finger pressure when tightening the screws.

The fix has worked quite well for me for at least a year and a half. When they start to squeak again, I'll likely have to re-do the procedure.

Dale

 

[bugmaster88]

My 2011 started doing it. Will shimmy when going up or down along with a squeaking noise. I guess I'll disassemble the fairing and see what is happening. I asked another forum for help and their suggestion was to spray a "dry" lubricant on the mechanism. That didn't help. With the slots big enough to allow water to enter this area, the mechanism may need to be lubricated often. Funny, my 2005 model didn't make a sound for all those years I had it and the slots were the same size.

 

[RadCat]

Old topic but maybe I'll get an answer. My 2010 shudders and shakes when moving in both directions. Problem now is that it does not completely retract. It goes all the way down but does not pull in towards the fairing that last inch. I've tried different lubes with no success. Any ideas guys?

 

[RossKean]

The "gasket" may be partially detached and is bunching up so it doesn't allow complete retraction.

 

[mcatrophy]

Old topic but maybe I'll get an answer. My 2010 shudders and shakes when moving in both directions. Problem now is that it does not completely retract. It goes all the way down but does not pull in towards the fairing that last inch. I've tried different lubes with no success. Any ideas guys?

Does the neutral light stay on and does your battery get flattened after it's retracted as far as it goes?
Drive to the motor stops when the slider reached the limit switch. Until that happens it keeps trying (with the neutral light on) even if it is stalled.

(Click on image for larger view)

Front view of mechanism and view from below showing the bottom limit switch at the bottom of the right hand guide



If your neutral light goes out, the limit switch has been operated before the windshield has reached its lowest position. I suspect it needs further investigation.

 

[jmgrif]

For the first little while of ownership my windshield seemed to chatter especially going down? I have the auto retract disabled to use as switched power for my power distribution box. I can't remember when it stopped making the noise but without any inputs on my part it just improved?

 

[RadCat]

mcatrophy,

Thanks for the reply.

It sounds like it hits the limit switch and stops. I can hear the click and neutral light goes out. The only thing I have done to the bike recently is change the battery.

It appears further investigation is needed but I don't really like tearing into it not knowing what I'll do when I reach the switch. It may just be an imperfection I will have to live with. I don't see any shortcuts to get to the mechanisms without removing almost everything. I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks for your help.