Shattered Windshield Question

[rockinbbar]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

CT

 

[rockinbbar]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[PILOON]

As I recall, flat laminated safety glass is relatively easy to cut* so it should not be all that costly.
Biggest problem might in locating a shop that carries it stock but guess a windshield specialty shop would carry it.

* they trace from a pattern with cutter on one side, flip the glass and trace the other side. Then tap the glass both sides to propagate crack lines. Next they squirted lighter fluid on the traced lines, ignite and let the heat melt that plastic and peel away the scraps with help of a razor blade.

If the glass has exposed edges (glued on windshield vs gasket style) they can sander finish the edges.

I just hope for you that your w/s is not a curved one as that would be OEM only.**

** Well not exactly true as I once formed a W/S for a small aircraft with plexiglass using a pizza oven as the heat source.

 

[the old grind]

... Think I'll cut a piece of carpet and attach with bungee cords next time.

Moving blanket?
72" x 80" Mover's Blanket

 

[DavesTractor]

I don't know who makes the rules, but even tractor manufacturers have to hold to certain guidelines, just like car manufacturers. We all understand that there are guidelines for ROPS, but there are other safety requirements as well. Like a tractor cannot start with the PTO engaged. On glass, apparently there are rules as well. I have heard that laminated glass is not required unless the tractor will travel over a certain speed. It must be more costly to install laminated instead of tempered. I like the idea of laminated all the way around.

 

[wolfpack2]

I have thought about window film to help protect the glass. Something like this stuff.

http://armorglass.com/

or this:

3M? Safety & Security Window Films - Safety and security window film for commercial, industrial - 3M US


Something with IR reduction to reduce the heat load in the summer it would be great. Finding a place that sells it or installs it is a whole different issue.