F3-S Lateral Service Cover alignment

[kaamacat]

Question. In the owners manual, they make it looks as-if the lateral covers (L & R) would almost be a flush mount
when secured. I see no way for that to happen considering where the twist-lock and mounting tabs are. Both somewhat
fixed postion. (Am I seeing this wrong?) The covers are above the other material when locked in.

[Chupaca]

If the panels are buttoned down securely you should be fine. Sounds like outside of moving the mounts not much can be done. The F3 guys will know more about it than I do...

[Tom in NM]

. . . . what page are you looking at?

Tom

[kaamacat]

. . . . what page are you looking at?

Tom

Pages 28 & 29. If you look at their pic, the panel would lay flat with a small
"space" between the panel and body. Or, basically lay flat and flush. (And I can see
no way that is even possible considering where the twist latch would go.

(Just picked her up yesterday, and, love it BTW. Red-Orangish F-3S SE6 with the BlueRidge
windscreen, mid-back passenger rest, and passenger floorboard).

[Tom in NM]

Pages 28 & 29. If you look at their pic, the panel would lay flat with a small "space" between the panel and body. Or, basically lay flat and flush. (And I can see
no way that is even possible considering where the twist latch would go.

(Just picked her up yesterday, and, love it BTW. Red-Orangish F-3S SE6 with the BlueRidge
windscreen, mid-back passenger rest, and passenger floorboard).

Your original assessment was right, the panel is not flush-fitting. The illustration does not highlight the bevel on that end of the panel ( where the latch is ) very well.

Tom

[kaamacat]

Your original assessment was right, the panel is not flush-fitting. The illustration does not highlight the bevel on that end of the panel ( where the latch is ) very well.

Tom

So looks like the book is not accurate. (Or better put, yours is like mine?)

[Tom in NM]

So looks like the book is not accurate. (Or better put, yours is like mine?)

. . . putting it better, mine is like yours - the manual is not inaccurate, it is difficult to show where the tabs go uner the body panels, where the cover goes over the panel and where it meshes with the cowling.

Easy once you you have done it, difficult to describe & illustrate.

Tom

[kaamacat]

. . . putting it better, mine is like yours - the manual is not inaccurate, it is difficult to show where the tabs go uner the body panels, where the cover goes over the panel and where it meshes with the cowling.

Easy once you you have done it, difficult to describe & illustrate.

Tom

Operator error on my part..... OK..... when I fit the panel on more from the rear 1st then align
forward sliding the tabs in LAST, that panel will fit flush with the cowl wrap-around section, and
it is just a tad offset. But it now is riding on the 1/8" ridge from the cowl panel. (if that makes sense).

So net-net is, I was placing the tabs up and in 1st, then lowering the panel, which then made it
sit on top of the unit. (Live and learn).....Sorry for any confusion entered here on my part.

[Tom in NM]

Operator error on my part..... OK So net-net is, I was placing the tabs up and in 1st, then lowering the panel, which then made it
sit on top of the unit. (Live and learn).....Sorry for any confusion entered here on my part.

. . . . I am used to being confused. You should have seen me changing the wiper blades on my Chevy SSR yesterday ( for the first time ). ONLY after an hour of struggling, I suddenly figured it out and what I was doing wrong and was done with both of them 1 minute later.

I had the same problem with the panel when I took one out for a demo ride - so did the sales-guys. And we all "know" Spyders. As you say, live and learn.

Tom

[Genet]

So....are you saying you got the covers to sit flat and not sitting up on the other part of the plastic ?

[kaamacat]

So....are you saying you got the covers to sit flat and not sitting up on the other part of the plastic ?

Correct. When I got mine (probably from removal...etc) it was sitting on-top, which had me
thinking why would they allow the panel to (at some point) damage the lower piece from vibration.
But yes, the panel will lay flat so you'd see a "channel" between the 10pm position on the panel and
the upper cowling part that comes down and around.

Check out those pages in the book I mentioned in a previous post and they show the checkmark=good
and X=bad pics.

Every time (well in my 24hrs of ownership) if I place the panel with tabs in first, then lower the panel,
it rides on-top of the other bodywork. If I go "low" and then the tabs last....sort of....it works.

[Genet]

Wow thanks,I'll try it tomorrow.i could never figure out why that would not lay flat,it just didn't make sense it would sit on top and vibrate and scratch.
thanks again,
Gene T

[Genet]

Well you were right ,it fits like it should once you get down and look at it and slid the cover in,thank you so much for your input.
Gene

[MidTNDawg]

I did mine BEFORE I read this thread (LOL).