| Author | Message | ||
     Thump4fun |
All last year and up to now I've been running my light switch rocker in the middle position to keep both lights on. But I probably knock it to low or high beam twice a week and have to re-locate that sweet middle position. I finally got irritated enough to do the "both headlights on at high-beam" mod (and since I'm in there, probably add the Stebel Nautilus air horn). So I went to remove the windscreen on my Lightning. Three out of four screws came out without any problem. The fourth screw is really giving me some issues and won't budge past a quarter turn. Now with my messing with it it won't tighten back up either. It moves about 1/4 turn either way, but won't tighten down and definitely won't come out. I've now stripped the hex head out completely as well. Thankfully it's "almost" all the way in still, so I can ride with just a slight rattle on the windscreen where the screw is loose. Anyone have any suggestions on how best to get the screw out, hopefully without ruining the metal bracket behind it OR my Zero Gravity windscreen? Worst case I'll have to tap it out which will likely ruin the nut threads on the bracket. If it comes to that, can anyone tell me if it's just a simple bracket that I can pre-order from HD and have ready - or is it welded to something else that I'm going to have a bitch of a time replacing cost and/or headache wise? btw - no, I'm not the one that put the Zero Gravity windscreen on in the first place and likely cross-threaded this damn screw. Previous owner did that.  Suggestions please! | ||
| Ducbsa |
It screws into a separate steel bracket inside the housing that can be replaced. | ||
| Thump4fun |
Thanks Ducbsa, I'm happy to know that. I think I will call HD and order the bracket just in case. Unless anyone has a better suggestion I think I'm stuck with drilling the darn thing out. | ||
| Coops53233 |
You might try to slot the head of the bolt with a dremel and then use a flathead screw driver to remove the bolt - the screwdriver might give you the leverage you need to remove the bolt. Tape the area around the bolt head to avoid scratches from metal shards while cutting. | ||
| Jlnance |
Some light reading while you plan your extraction: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/451061.html?1240272091 | ||
| Thump4fun |
Thanks for all the advice! I looked in my service manual about the bracket and see what it is I need to get now - just in case. Jinance - thanks for the link! Somehow I missed that when I searched before posting this. That was extremely helpful. I am going to pick up a screw extractor and a 10x32 tap today and see what I can do. | ||
| Thump4fun |
Well, I tried getting that dang screw out but I just couldn't get it to budge. In the end I removed so much metal from the head that I simply ended up grabbing it with a pair of locking pliers and twisting the head off. Scratched the flyscreen just slightly around the bolt opening...*sigh* This at least allowed me to finally remove the flyscreen, but I will need to replace the bracket (which is the entire headlight bracket as well) in order to use that fourth hole. The three remaining bolts seem to hold the screen on tight enough at the moment, although it rattles a bit. I'll definitely be going to Home Depot and picking up some stronger 10x32 screws to use...ones that won't strip out. Thanks all! |
