Shattered Windshield Question

rockinbbar · Nov 11, 2015

Hello all, new member here. :newhere:

Day before yesterday I was trailering on smaller tractor to a location and when I arrived, I found that I had a shattered front windshield. Glass all in the cab of the tractor.

My question is this...

I suppose the reason is probably a small rock or gravel picked up by oncoming traffic must have hit and shattered the windshield. But was wondering if towing on my deckover trailer at highway speeds, if perhaps vibration or wind buffeting may have caused the windshield to shatter? Trailered the tractor before without any issues, but not usually more than 25-30 miles.

Anyone have any experience with this before?

I'd just as soon not have to replace the glass when I need to trailer the tractor. Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

Rustyiron · Nov 11, 2015

Welcome to TBN first of all! That really sucks but I've heard it a few times from others here. It's hard to say what might have caused this. I was all ready to say that I thought it was from a pebble from traffic, then a "stone chip" came to mind like I get on my vehicles, (not shattering the glass). Then you could argue that most windshields are laid back for wind resistance and not nearly as vertical like tractor glass, giving a little deflection action?? Not sure, but I still think it was a small stone.
Thanks for helping me feel not so sorry for my self for not having a cab.:laughing:
But winter is just around the corner

bigtiller · Nov 11, 2015

Did it shatter into very small pieces like tempered glass or was it mostly in one piece and pushed in like a piece of cardboard?

dodge man · Nov 11, 2015

Cars have a laminated wind shield, its really pretty strong and will resist breaking a lot more than the side and rear windows. If it broke into little cubes, its more like the side glass in a car and not near as strong as a windshield would be.

DavesTractor · Nov 11, 2015

I think tractor front glass is the same as side glass as mentioned by dodge man. Not laminated, not leaned back like most cars. An idea if trailered a lot would be some sort of padded cover for the front glass that is easy to put on and take off. It wouldn't take much to soften the blow of a pebble enough to protect the glass. Yet this does not seem to happen all that often. You might go years and years before it happens again.

Or if the back glass would be easier to protect (or cheaper), a guy could back the tractor on the trailer so long as his weight balance was ok.

charles todd · Nov 11, 2015

I've towed my LS P7010C without issue. I'd bet a rock, bird, ect. If its insured, it should cover glass.

CT

rockinbbar · Nov 11, 2015

Yeah, it is safety glass. Shattered into little pieces. Lots of them.

I'm glad you guys concur with the "rock" theory. Think I'll cut a piece of carpet and attach with bungee cords next time.

Capricious · Nov 11, 2015

I believe that tempered glass has to be cut before being tempered, as it will "shatter" if it is cut afterwards

If it is cut or nicked after tempering, the whole thing goes to pieces.

Probably a rock.

An OEM replacement with probably be tempered as well, and also expensive.

If it is flat, can you stick a piece of polycarbonate [Lexan] in there?

charles todd · Nov 11, 2015

Capricious said:
I believe that tempered glass has to be cut before being tempered, as it will "shatter" if it is cut afterwards

If it is cut or nicked after tempering, the whole thing goes to pieces.

Probably a rock.

An OEM replacement with probably be tempered as well, and also expensive.

If it is flat, can you stick a piece of polycarbonate [Lexan] in there?

I would recommend against this method... Especially on a climate controlled cab with windshield wiper.

CT

Capricious · Nov 12, 2015

charles todd said:
I would recommend against this method... Especially on a climate controlled cab with windshield wiper.

CT

One can buy a pretty big sheet of abrasion-resistant poly for what I think that OEM tempered piece will cost. So, a second replacement if the first replacement scratches would not be much additional cost.

Or, one could check with a glass company about cutting a piece of laminated to fit.

My concern: that windshield should have been laminated, so that a chip or crack would not lead to the whole thing going to pieces. That is the nature of tempered, and it should not have been there in my opinion.