Should I lubricate grommet?

I just installed a new sway bar on my new to me 2015 RT yesterday. I got a lot of guidance from a youtube video by Can-Am Spyder Accessories. In the video the installer suggested spraying "a little white grease" on the grommets that hold the snap on panels in place thus making it easier to remove these panels next time. When I changed engine oil a month ago I lubed the grommets with a little shot of Windex and everything glided back into place smoothly but I removing a couple of those same panels yesterday and it was a struggle.
The question is, should I follow the video tip and put a grease on the grommet and probably collect dirt or just leave it factory dry and threated to break off panel tabs with each removal.
You folks on this forum have lots of practical experience that I might as well tap into, even if my question is pretty trivial.

I find grease on the grommets make for much easier removal and reinstallation of the panels. Also keeps them from drying out and eventually tearing and breaking. Not a trivial question.

:coffee: I have used a very lite film of grease on the 'tabs'. Remember less is best. Some people have said that they have issues with the panels coming off 'ryding on the road'.

Good Luck on Your Mission. .....:thumbup:

I shoot a little 3M Aerospace 303 on mine. I have used it on tires for years and on our boats for anything plastic or rubber. Use it on the dash and interior of vehicles, and have never had a cracked dash. It is pretty universally recommended to NOT use petroleum products on rubber. If you use grease maybe it should be a synthetic grease. Aerospace 303 seems to do the job well. They go on easy and later come off OK(not fall off ok), and not hard to get off like RedRover's Windex experience.

Windex® Original Glass Cleaner
Water Water. Provides a liquid base for a product.
2-Hexoxyethanol Cleaning Agent. ...
Isopropanolamine Cleaning Agent. ...
Ammonium Hydroxide Cleaning Agent. ...
Lauryl Dimethyl Amine Oxide Wetting Agent. ...
Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate Wetting Agent. ...
Fragrance Fragrance. ...
Liquitint® Sky Blue Dye Dye.

Several of these items are not good for rubber.

Chris

Way too many people have had the panels fly off at high speed so I would recommend spitting on the grommet for lube,it will dry and then be less likely to come off.

Ann Meyer of Squared Away tipped me off to the Windex spritz a number of years ago and I'm a firm believer in it. It dries very quickly and the grommets then have a tight grip on the pins. I don't believe in grease of any kind on them.

With grease it's: Easy on - Easy fly off. Do what JayBros said.

I wouldn't do it. I lubed grommets on a previous bike with a silicone lube and I had to buy new grommets.

With all due respect, I have been using a silicone lube product for years with no problems on rubber and plastic items with nairly a problem. Maybe a different product than others have used. It works for me and protects the said items from weather cracking. :chat: cueman

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Originally Posted by cueman

With all due respect, I have been using a silicone lube product for years with no problems on rubber and plastic items with nairly a problem. Maybe a different product than others have used. It works for me and protects the said items from weather cracking. :chat: cueman

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Me too. I was surprised when my grommets got trashed after applying a silicone lube. There must have been something it.

I've a can of silicone spray but just never considered using it because the Windex is closer. My objection is to any kind of petroleum lubrication product. Changed oil and filter last week and got a good look at the grommets; all are in good shape after 6+ years and 70K+ miles.

Windex, spray wax or detailer all work much better than a lube that will stay there and attract dirt and dust. IMHO

No question is trivial.
There's no such thing as a stupid question. Only stupid answers.

Your original choice of using windex is, in my opinion, one of the best imaginable.
The panels go in easy but they're hard to come off.
That's the way it should be.

If you search the forum, you'll find NUMEROUS posts (including mine) of people who had to spend good money replacing panels that fell off after simply hitting a bump.
Some of us, including me, actually installed velcro to the panels to be sure they only came off when you needed them off.

So, in my opinion, it's good to put some kind of lubricant on the grommets when installing the panels, but you want a lubricant like windex or some other soap that will dry up and go away so that the grommets will hold the panels firmly after installation.
I always just used spit....................
If you use a grease, then it's easy on, but way too easy OFF.

Just my opinion. I could be wrong, and It's a moral certitude that someone on this forum will let me know if I am.

“The panels go in easy but they're hard to come off.” Hey ThreeWheels, you just got me to thinking. How about hand sanitizer? I just used it the other day on my hand grips! :cheers: cueman

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Originally Posted by cueman

“The panels go in easy but they're hard to come off.” Hey ThreeWheels, you just got me to thinking. How about hand sanitizer? I just used it the other day on my hand grips! :cheers: cueman

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You must of purchased it before covid-19 arrived. Try to find it now? That is why I used Aerospace 303 to install my foam hand grips. They do not move at all once I got them installed.

I agree with ThreeWheels but only used spit once; have better aim with Windex. IMO you absolutely want the panels to be hard to pull out of the grommets.

I used hand sanitizer about five years ago to install my grips and they haven't moved at all. It was recommended by the vendor, but again I think Windex would be easier.

A little bit of saliva applied with a finger tip. Done ...

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Originally Posted by JayBros

I agree with ThreeWheels but only used spit once; have better aim with Windex. IMO you absolutely want the panels to be hard to pull out of the grommets.

I used hand sanitizer about five years ago to install my grips and they haven't moved at all. It was recommended by the vendor, but again I think Windex would be easier.

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:agree:
I've had good luck with hand sanitizer too. Wet, parts just slip into place. Once it dries, the attachment is firmly in place with no slipping.

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Originally Posted by troop

A little bit of saliva applied with a finger tip. Done ...

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:agree:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RedRover

I just installed a new sway bar on my new to me 2015 RT yesterday. I got a lot of guidance from a youtube video by Can-Am Spyder Accessories. In the video the installer suggested spraying "a little white grease" on the grommets that hold the snap on panels in place thus making it easier to remove these panels next time. When I changed engine oil a month ago I lubed the grommets with a little shot of Windex and everything glided back into place smoothly but I removing a couple of those same panels yesterday and it was a struggle.
The question is, should I follow the video tip and put a grease on the grommet and probably collect dirt or just leave it factory dry and threated to break off panel tabs with each removal.
You folks on this forum have lots of practical experience that I might as well tap into, even if my question is pretty trivial.

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I'm another who lightly lubed and regretted. When I got home after a high speed run I saw the left panel missing! :gaah: Lucky for me I retraced my path and found the panel on the shoulder (almost) intact! Shockingly, there was no paint damage but the pin was broken off. I found the pin too and manged to tap a hole and re-attach it with a small screw. Yes, spit or a temporary lube that goes away! I check my panels all the time before a ride, esp. at highway speeds!

On my Goldwing I used to use a very small amount of vaseline on the grommet. It was easy on and not stuck for off, but not subject to wind release either.

Same with my past 2006 Goldwing traded in 2018. 40,000 miles and original well lubricated rubber grommets, never a problem and never had to be replaced.

I'm with the spit crowd. Spit goes both ways. I have to spit on my fingers just to turn a page on the newspaper.