Wind deflectors
David Jenkins - 16/6/11 at 01:49 PM
No, not tougher underpants...
Once again I'm thinking of adding a pair of these to my windscreen:
Wind deflector
(Apologies to whoever took this photo - I can't remember who you are!)
I do prefer having a full windscreen instead of fly-screens, and most of the time it offers all the protection I need. However, I do get buffeted when
going at 70-ish. I don't want doors, so maybe this is the only option remaining.
So, the first question is - do screens like this help to reduce the buffeting?
And the second question is - where would I get the hinges from?
I presume that I should use a tough plastic like Lexan for the clear bit.
All help appreciated!
(I know that I've asked this info in the past, but I can't find that thread any more...)
YQUSTA - 16/6/11 at 02:12 PM
Hinges can be bought from CBS.
EDIT
Or google Lift off hinge lots there including these which come in different sizes.
[Edited on 16/6/11 by YQUSTA]
BenB - 16/6/11 at 02:21 PM
They certainly do help buffeting. I used Caterham hinges on the basis that they're cheap from Caterham (or relatively) and they fit the Caterham
side supports. I used some polycarbonate that some kindly left outside my garage to make them.
the main problem with the ones I've got is that they have a tendency to ride up off the hinges due to the airflow at speed and the rake of the
windscreen. Ended up tieing them down with string 
BenB - 16/6/11 at 02:22 PM
Aha- I see the person in the photo has replaced the top hinge with a bolt- cunning thinking. Would stop them lifting off at speed nicely.
David Jenkins - 16/6/11 at 02:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by YQUSTA
Or google Lift off hinge lots there including these which come in different sizes.
I tried them a while ago - they wouldn't sell small quantities... 
Looked at the CBS ones - they'd do the job, but they wouldn't be 'stiff' - I guess I'd have to put a bolt down them instead
of the existing pin.
[Edited on 16/6/11 by David Jenkins]
David Jenkins - 16/6/11 at 02:33 PM
quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Aha- I see the person in the photo has replaced the top hinge with a bolt- cunning thinking. Would stop them lifting off at speed nicely.
Ben - I thought my picture was of your car! (but I wasn't sure...)
rusty nuts - 16/6/11 at 02:42 PM
Mine are made from 1mm Lexan bolted directly to the screen support with no hinges just button headed screws . Made a cardboard template, cut the Lexan
to size,clamped it in a sheet metal bender and used a hot air gun to warm it whilst applying light pressure on the bender. Been on around 3 years now
and only just starting to crack and whiten
David Jenkins - 16/6/11 at 02:44 PM
Mel,
That's a thought...
BTW: I found my old thread on the very same subject! I thought I was suffering from deja vu... 
Old thread
(Google search beat this site's search facility...)
After googling, I found these from Holden:
I shan't be buying these at £54 each 
but that hinge design looks very easy to adapt... I wonder if I've got some square section stainless
in my scrapbox?
Thanks for all the suggestions today (and from last year too!)
David
[Edited on 16/6/11 by David Jenkins]
johnq - 16/6/11 at 03:29 PM
Try stevel ,lancashire area organiser on the wssc site he makes a nice job (tell him i sent you, as for hinges, westy sidescreen ones are perfect
;also a good tip is to fit the top hinge slightly out of line,this will make the action stiffer and reduce the chance of them blowing off,
rusty nuts - 16/6/11 at 03:49 PM
David, I got an offcut 1mt x 300mm of Lexan from our local engineering plastics supplier for a fiver, well worth a bit of time and effort. Not sure
of the benefit of hinges other than being able to just lift them off but mine can be remove in seconds
Humbug - 16/6/11 at 04:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Mine are made from 1mm Lexan bolted directly to the screen support with no hinges just button headed screws . Made a cardboard template, cut
the Lexan to size,clamped it in a sheet metal bender and used a hot air gun to warm it whilst applying light pressure on the bender. Been on around 3
years now and only just starting to crack and whiten
1mm is awfully thin!
I have had Lexan wind deflectors two ways:
1. bolted to the screen support and bent as above
2. fixed with side screen hinges - the issue there is that they obviously don't stay in position, so I made a bend at the bottom and put some U
trim on the bit which touched the side of the car.
I would prefer to be able to bend them in and out but I haven't seen those Cobra hinges except on Cobra deflectors which are somewhat pricy. The
deflectors bolted direct and bent to shape works better overall and is cleaner looking, somehow.
rusty nuts - 16/6/11 at 04:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Humbug
1mm is awfully thin!
But it was cheap! only tried them to see if they were effective and has lasted for 3 years or so
David Jenkins - 16/6/11 at 05:54 PM
So what would be a decent thickness if I did the deflectors that way? 3mm, 5mm, or what?
(BTW: I'm starting to see the merits of the Rusty Nuts methodology... )
BenB - 16/6/11 at 07:41 PM
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Aha- I see the person in the photo has replaced the top hinge with a bolt- cunning thinking. Would stop them lifting off at speed nicely.
Ben - I thought my picture was of your car! (but I wasn't sure...)
Nah- that's much too clean 
David Jenkins - 18/6/11 at 03:11 PM
OK - I'm going for the 'directly bolted, no hinge' method of mounting. Today I've made a card template that I think will be fit
for purpose, so all I need to get is some polycarbonate sheet.
Just one possible issue - on the passenger side, if the deflector is going to be of any use then it will end up between me and the nearside mirror.
This means I'll be looking through the plastic if I want to use that mirror... probably not a big issue as I don't use that mirror as often
as the other two (and, before someone criticises, I do use it when changing lane to the left, or turning left in traffic, or when reversing).
Once again - thanks to all for all the hints, tips & clues. I'll post a picture as and when I finish the job.
David
David Jenkins - 20/6/11 at 10:19 AM
My word! Isn't Lexan expensive!
I went to a big local supplier (Ipswich Plastics) as I like to buy locally if possible. They wanted over £50 for a piece 2' x 1' in 3mm...
I politely declined (he was very apologetic!).
I've just placed an order on the bay for 2 pieces, 500mm x 215mm, £10.22 delivered.
(I bought 2 pieces as the P&P cost rises exponentially as the sheet sizes get bigger)
whitestu - 20/6/11 at 11:07 AM
Hi
C&A plastics is good value for Polycarbonate sheet.
Link
Stu
David Jenkins - 20/6/11 at 05:40 PM
Hmm - they didn't have the size I wanted anyway - but that site's now been bookmarked for future reference!
Cheers!
David Jenkins - 27/6/11 at 12:27 PM
Well - here's the final result.
Wind deflector
In the end I decided to do without hinges - I used strips of 3mm stainless steel, bent to 45 degrees, to support the 3mm Lexan polycarbonate. These
straps can be bent/remade to different angles if I feel the need. I think it looks tidy with the reasonably well-polished steel.
I was shocked at how easy it is to scratch polycarbonate, so when these have got too marked then I'll probably try another material.
They do seem to reduce the buffeting though, which was the main objective after all!
scudderfish - 27/6/11 at 12:41 PM
What speed have you had them up to? Do you get much vibration?
Regards,
Dave
David Jenkins - 27/6/11 at 03:01 PM
I've been up to 70 with them - now I just get moderate turbulence instead of 'beaten to death'!
They don't flutter much, although if I was to make another pair I'd probably use 5 or 6 mm lexan.
