Ironhead Aftermarket Taillight Lens Woes

[ferretface]

My taillight lens disappeared at the end of riding in 2020. For 2021 I bought a new replacement from JP Cycle. Due to unforeseen medical issues, the 1983 XLH sat in my den all year...I couldn't ride.

I was just sitting here the other night and the JP replacement disintegrated...Right in front of me...

Pieces of red plastic on the floor, from the two screw holes in the plastic. I know I didn't overtighten them, because I thought maybe that was what happened when on my last ride in 2020. And I haven't touched the lens or screws since when I fit it.

Has anybody else had this happen??? I'll ask the H-D dealer for a 'real' H-D part, but I'm not confidant. I'll try a replacement as long as it's from someone else...

Mostly I want to know who else to avoid...

--Rich B.

[Chuckthebeatertruck]

Do you store your bike anywhere near: 1) furnace; 2) hot water tank; 3) large electrical motors or heating elements?

If yes -- check your tires for checking inbetween the tread sips. If you see it . . .and the tires are less than 3 years old -- you may have an interesting ozone problem in your storage area.

[ferretface]

Originally Posted by Chuckthebeatertruck

Do you store your bike anywhere near: 1) furnace; 2) hot water tank; 3) large electrical motors or heating elements?

If yes -- check your tires for checking inbetween the tread sips. If you see it . . .and the tires are less than 3 years old -- you may have an interesting ozone problem in your storage area.

Ah, no...It's the front room ["den"] of my house; temp & humid same as whole house. None of the areas you mentioned. And it's both sides of the lens, both screw holes. Gasket was new, screws were new (also from JP).

I don't think the screws can be overtightened as they're shoulder screws and stop before cracking plastic. It's like the plastic continued curing and turned brittle...

It was a surprise, as it happened right in front of me. Putting on my shoes and socks one Jan morning, I hear a 'pop' and a piece of red plastic slides in front of me...

Maybe I should check for holes in the wall?

[XL Ed]

Poltergeist

[ferretface]

Originally Posted by XL Ed

Poltergeist

Chinese poltergeist

[Steve9]

Crap "regrind" plastic.

[Ferrous Head]

Ah, the "warranty expired" circuitry is working correctly then.

All plastics will degrade over time. Ultraviolet light waves play a big part.

But we have found a way to speed up that process so the plastics we create don't hang around for thousands of years.

We now have those plastics and have "fine tuned" them to self destruct just outside of the warranty period.

Do NOT be driving a Tesla that's over 5 years old at any speed above a walking pace.

[rokytnji]

And I thought dry rot out here in the desert was bad. Thanks for the heads up on JP cycles.

I have tail light lenses in bins for years. Indoors. Shop gets above 150F in the summer months.