Bump Skid installation disaster

[Pat Clark]

Nothing wrong with Spyderpops bump skid......
Went to install the skid this morning on my new F3T. Went to drill the first hole on the right side and must have had two things go wrong. 1. I think my 1/4" bit was dull and 2. Even using a right hand drill I had the bit cocked just enough to punch through the plastic and nick the bottom of a fin on the right side radiator. $326 and wait til Tuesday to get a new radiator.
Simple simple project and I've been a mechanic all my life so I have no excuses. Just a word to the wise.
Pat

[JulieMarie]

Oh that sucks! I hope to put on a bumpskid on my F3 this weekend. I'll be extra careful. Thanks.

[Pat Clark]

Just use a good sharp bit and stay vertical Julie.

[Chupaca]

Happens to the best of us...did learn to put a depth stop on bits when doing this kind of work but not without doing what you did first to learn....

[Purple Guy]

Thanks for the reminder!
Installing one next week for a buddy...

[Bob Denman]

Here's a tip that you probably know...
But I'll point it out; just to showcase the few things that I know about mechanical stuff!
Since you know exactly how deep you need to go: just wrap the drill bit with some duct-tape at the proper place, and it'll prevent it from easily overshooting your desired depth...

[Motorcycledave]

Boy I would not have admitted to that in a thousand years.....

Nothing wrong with Spyderpops bump skid......
Went to install the skid this morning on my new F3T. Went to drill the first hole on the right side and must have had two things go wrong. 1. I think my 1/4" bit was dull and 2. Even using a right hand drill I had the bit cocked just enough to punch through the plastic and nick the bottom of a fin on the right side radiator. $326 and wait til Tuesday to get a new radiator.
Simple simple project and I've been a mechanic all my life so I have no excuses. Just a word to the wise.
Pat

[spacetiger]

Boy I would not have admitted to that in a thousand years.....

So, you HAVE done similar boner things...

[ThreeWheels]

Nothing wrong with Spyderpops bump skid......
Went to install the skid this morning on my new F3T. Went to drill the first hole on the right side and must have had two things go wrong. 1. I think my 1/4" bit was dull and 2. Even using a right hand drill I had the bit cocked just enough to punch through the plastic and nick the bottom of a fin on the right side radiator. $326 and wait til Tuesday to get a new radiator.
Simple simple project and I've been a mechanic all my life so I have no excuses. Just a word to the wise.
Pat

I'm not understanding. If you put a small nick in the fin, it shouldn't affect the performance of the radiator significantly.
Did you mean you nicked a tube and caused a leak ?

[Pat Clark]

Just nicked the bottom of one tube. Radiator shop will have it fixed Monday for $36. Doesn't matter how long you've been doing this sort of thing Murphy is always waiting in the weeds.

[ARtraveler]

Well...it could have been worse.

[Bob Denman]

Boy I would not have admitted to that in a thousand years.....

Why not?
Some of the best stories often start with:
"You're not gonna believe what just happened..."

[deer30084]

Honestly, I fail to see the need for a bump skid. After over 4,000 miles on my F3, I haven't bumped anything or skid on anything.

[Highwayman2013]

Honestly, I fail to see the need for a bump skid. After over 4,000 miles on my F3, I haven't bumped anything or skid on anything.

Really? I hit the nose on the driveway of the gas station the second time we had ours out.

[deer30084]

Really? I hit the nose on the driveway of the gas station the second time we had ours out.

I guess I'm lucky. Unless, it's plug and play, I don't want it. I'd rather not take the chance of drilling into my radiator, hoses or any other stuff. But that's just me.

[Bob Denman]

Honestly, I fail to see the need for a bump skid. After over 4,000 miles on my F3, I haven't bumped anything or skid on anything.

I hope you realize that you've completely jinxed yourself with that statement!
When you do touch down (and you will!); the reasons for them will become all-too apparent!

[deer30084]

I hope you realize that you've completely jinxed yourself with that statement!
When you do touch down (and you will!); the reasons for them will become all-to apparent!

Nah, I knocked on wood. Have a good day.

[Bob Denman]

Don't run over the wood that you just knocked on!

[cptjam]

Glad you got it repaired. Radiator shops have been fixing leaks forever.
Everyone needs a bumpskid. Debris, curbs, potholes, whatever. It happens. Ann is a skilled rider. The car in front of her straddled a car starter, in the road. Median to her left, a car to her right, she swerved as much as she could. The starter's sharp mounting edges put a gouge in the bumpskid that would have split her crankcase, had she not had it. As it was, it spun, and shredded her rear tire sidewall! I'm convinced Spyderpops bumpskid saved her motor. We see plenty of evidence of the bumpskid doing it's job. The piece just works. Why risk it?

[Devious56]

Glad you got it repaired. Radiator shops have been fixing leaks forever.
Everyone needs a bumpskid. Debris, curbs, potholes, whatever. It happens. Ann is a skilled rider. The car in front of her straddled a car starter, in the road. Median to her left, a car to her right, she swerved as much as she could. The starter's sharp mounting edges put a gouge in the bumpskid that would have split her crankcase, had she not had it. As it was, it spun, and shredded her rear tire sidewall! I'm convinced Spyderpops bumpskid saved her motor. We see plenty of evidence of the bumpskid doing it's job. The piece just works. Why risk it?

Let me include Armadillo's !

[Ron2andia]

Sorry to hear hope you get it sorted out soon.

[SpyderAnn01]

Oh that sucks! I hope to put on a bumpskid on my F3 this weekend. I'll be extra careful. Thanks.

Whatever you do don't skip the drilling of these holes. Because a bumpskid installed without the holes in the frame will cause you more trouble than not having a bumpskid at all.

[Cruzr Joe]

Honestly, I fail to see the need for a bump skid. After over 4,000 miles on my F3, I haven't bumped anything or skid on anything.

Famous last words, you just put the HEX on your ryde.

Cruzr Joe

[Gcclubs]

Whatever you do don't skip the drilling of these holes. Because a bumpskid installed without the holes in the frame will cause you more trouble than not having a bumpskid at all.

Just starting install. I have mounted the skid plate with the alignment bolts. Looking at the holes that are supposed to be drilled into the frame it seems they are outside the centre frame rail? It is hard to tell with the pan on if the frame sort of "T's" out? Also is the pan difficult to remove? I noticed there is a bolt or other fastner inside the pan rattling in there :-(

[jcthorne]

Just starting install. I have mounted the skid plate with the alignment bolts. Looking at the holes that are supposed to be drilled into the frame it seems they are outside the centre frame rail? It is hard to tell with the pan on if the frame sort of "T's" out? Also is the pan difficult to remove? I noticed there is a bolt or other fastner inside the pan rattling in there :-(

You need to remove the bottom covers so you can see what you are drilling. A screw and a few push pins on each one.