As always, I've experimenting with ways to improve the performance and stability of the bumpers we provide with our windscreen. I've finally found an inexpensive and easy-to-install solution: bumper strips.

The strips are made of rubber about 3-1/2 inches long, 1/2 wide, and 3/16 deep, and they distribute the forward pressure on the screen over a much wider area, which greatly enhances the stability of the screen at speed and reduces stress on the mechanism. Properly applied, they will [b]never[b] come off.

Here's one on my car.



The bumpers are simple to make. They're made from a CargoLoc EPDM rubber strap, which is sold at Lowe's, Home Depot and other such place. Here are a few photos of what the strap looks like:





Installation is simple.

First, here's what you need:

Heavy duty scissors
Alchohol wipes
Gap filling superglue (any good superglue will do, no special brand or type needed, but it should be gap filling -- a thicker variety sold at hobby stores).
Superglue accelerant (speeds up curing and is sold in small spray bottles, also at hobby stored)
Towel large enough to cover the screen

Here's what to do:

1. If you're replacing a dome bumper, break it lose from the roll bar with your fingers, then clean off any excess or left over super glue with superglue remover (which is a form of acetone nail polish remover).

2. Cut two 3-1/2 inch pieces off the strap (avoid the area with the safety warning embossed onto the rubber).

3. Lightly sand the back of each strip to roughen up the surface a bit.

4. With the windscreen upright, hold each rubber strip in place, noting or marking where they will be positioned. The should be aligned flush with the mechanism ears so that they put slight back rearward pressure on the screen.

4. Fold the windscreen back and clear the area where the strips will attach with an alchohol wipe.

5. Cover the folded back windscreen with a towel to protect it from the superglue accelerant.

6. Spray one side of the rollbar with superglue accelerant where the bumper strip will attach.

7. Fold the screen upright.

8. Place four or five small drops of superglue along the back of one bumper strip, each about 3/4" apart.

9. Carefully align the bumper strip in place and put strong even pressure all along the surface. The superglue will cure in about 15 - 30 seconds or less.

10. Do the other side of the screen mechanism the same way.

11. Clean up the roll hoops and bumerp strips with 303 protectorant or some other rubber/plastic protectorant.

This installation has been tested on my car for well over 3 months at speeds exceeding 130 mph and has worked like a charm. There is no vibration, no noise, and the screen is very stable at all speeds.

 

Actually Rick, I like and prefer the dome bumpers over these strips. I used a razor blade to cut the dome bumpers to make a notch so that some of the bumper was under the windscreen base. I also did the same to a second set and mounted them higher up where the plexi part can rest on. This provides a very stable "backstop" for the whole screen at speed. And because they are black, they don't look out of place on the side of the roll hoops.
But it's neat the way you keep thinking up ways to do stuff better.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
[B]Actually Rick, I like and prefer the dome bumpers over these strips.

 

Rick...Do you sleep......Or drink lots of coffee and stare at your car in the garage til you think of these things! Not complaining....love your products...just curious!

 

I take 1 or 2 by tomorrow before this time. Right now, it's dusk and my digicam doesn't take very good flash pics inside my garage.

 

My wife told me when we got back from vacation that the only time she see's me sit still for more then 10 minutes is when I'm on the beach with a book. I only go to the beach for 1 or 2 weeks out of the year.

 

Thanks Rick.
I have not yet installed the dome bumpers for my newly installed aero screen. I will therefore be able to move immediately to version 1.1

I am especially looking forward to my "testing phase". I feel a need to make sure the speed claims are accurate

Jim Haynes

 

Rick,
I have just received my 7/8 height screen from you and was surprised to find that it doesn't have the bracket with it. Now I realize why it was so inexpensive. I would like to keep the screen and use it, but what do you suggest about mounting it? Will I have to eat the cost of another screen from HandA?

Thanks...

 

 

Clever, xviper!