A little fairing advice please

 Removed the fairing yesterday to lube the speedometer cable on my 1997 FLHTCI.
The last few times it has been difficult to get the fairing bolts (4) to really
tighten the unit down. Seems there is about a 1/4 inch play.

Is it time for new inserts in the fairing? Those things look like they are
molded in.

Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated.


Greasy

 On 6/15/2011 7:52 AM, Greasy Rider wrote:

really tighten the unit down. Seems there is about a 1/4 inch play.

molded in.

2005 Electra Glide

I turned one of mine too tight and spun the insert. Pulled it out and
cleaned it off. Ran a drill bit (by hand, not with a drill) through the
hole in the faring to clean it out. Mixed a dab of 2-part epoxy and
smeared the hole and the insert. I put the machine screw in the insert
to keep glue from getting in the threads, and shoved it in the hole.
Next day I put it back together and the damned insert spun again.

Shit.

Pulled it apart and cleaned the insert, and this time I ran a drill bit
(using a drill this time) that was a little bigger and enlarged the hole
maybe 1/32 or 1/16 of an inch and continued to drill the hole so it came
out of the back of the space for the insert. >>> Important! I was
dealing with the *center* screw on the top of the faring that holds the
windshield. It had space behind it that allowed me to drill the hole all
the way through the back without going through the dashboard! I don't
recall if any of the other mounts would allow you to drill a hole out
the back. <<< Mixed up a batch of Bondo body filler and shoved a bunch
of it down the hole. Put the bolt in the insert and jammed it in. The
excess Bondo flowed out the hole through the back. (Without the hole in
the back you wouldn't be able to shove the bolt/insert combination into
the hole. Don't ask me how I discovered that.) Next day I put it
together and so far it has worked fine.

YMMV. I bear no responsibility for any damage to your motorcycle. If you
drill a hole through your dash it wasn't my fault. Performing this
repair without following proper safety measures could result in death or
serious injury. Does not contain mercury. Must be 18 years of age unless
accompanied by a parent or guardian. Not valid outside of the US. No
animals must be harmed during the repair.

Probably more detail than you wanted, but that's just me.

Andy aka Big Stinkie

 Andy,

Thanks...I printed your procedure and will save it for the next removal. I'll go
ahead and purchase new inserts for later. Right now I'm using one sided self
stick insulation foam to quieten things down.

Oddly enough my center windshield insert is starting to work it's way out and I
never over tighten. The bolts that I'm having problems with are ALL of the
fairing mounted ones. It's a '97 so things are starting to creep in the wear
department.

Thanks for your input.

Greasy

 
nothing about fairings here, maybe just a loose nut though.

Greasy, ping me back
kickstart257@hotmail.com
I have a question/request for ya

kickstart

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