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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.
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Active Member
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.
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"Blue Belle" 2021 RTL Chrome in Petrol Blue
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Lite Film
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'.
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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
2018 RT Ltd - Asphalt Metallic - East Valley of Phoenix
2018 RT Ltd Chrome - Champagne Metallic - Lake Stevens, Wa
(Champagne/Hooker) Magic Mirrors, 360 LED head lights, BajaRon sway bar, H&R springs and shock adjusters, dash cam, foam grips, third brake light 4 LED strobe for 7 seconds and then on steady, rear LED turn signals/8 ohm 50W resistors, sequential turn signals on front fenders, Vredestein and PPA Orb wheels on front and General out back, and driver backrest.
Things that move between machines: Ikea sheep skins, Zumo XT GPS, and extra tools. Hooker is going to be my summer trike up North; and Hookie my winter trike down South.
(Asphalt/Hookie) Elka shocks on front - BajaRon sway bar, OEM driver's backrest, LED headlights, dual USB with voltmeter, dash cam, foam grips - Magic Mirrors - front tires Vredestein Quatrac SL on PPA ORB Chrome wheels.
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Active Member
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.
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: 2017 RTL ORBITAL BLUE
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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.
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otherwise be a vulgar brawl.
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Cognac 2014 RT-S
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With grease it's: Easy on - Easy fly off. Do what JayBros said.
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I wouldn't do it. I lubed grommets on a previous bike with a silicone lube and I had to buy new grommets.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
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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. cueman
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Very Active Member
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. cueman
Me too. I was surprised when my grommets got trashed after applying a silicone lube. There must have been something it.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
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Very Active Member
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.
Artillery lends dignity to what would
otherwise be a vulgar brawl.
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Cognac 2014 RT-S
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Windex, spray wax or detailer all work much better than a lube that will stay there and attract dirt and dust. IMHO
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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.
If it ain't broke, don't break it.
IBA #47122
2020 RT Limited Asphalt Grey
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“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! cueman
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Very Active Member
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! cueman
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.
2018 RT Ltd - Asphalt Metallic - East Valley of Phoenix
2018 RT Ltd Chrome - Champagne Metallic - Lake Stevens, Wa
(Champagne/Hooker) Magic Mirrors, 360 LED head lights, BajaRon sway bar, H&R springs and shock adjusters, dash cam, foam grips, third brake light 4 LED strobe for 7 seconds and then on steady, rear LED turn signals/8 ohm 50W resistors, sequential turn signals on front fenders, Vredestein and PPA Orb wheels on front and General out back, and driver backrest.
Things that move between machines: Ikea sheep skins, Zumo XT GPS, and extra tools. Hooker is going to be my summer trike up North; and Hookie my winter trike down South.
(Asphalt/Hookie) Elka shocks on front - BajaRon sway bar, OEM driver's backrest, LED headlights, dual USB with voltmeter, dash cam, foam grips - Magic Mirrors - front tires Vredestein Quatrac SL on PPA ORB Chrome wheels.
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Very Active Member
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.
Artillery lends dignity to what would
otherwise be a vulgar brawl.
******************************
Cognac 2014 RT-S
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Very Active Member
A little bit of saliva applied with a finger tip. Done ...
2022 RT Sea To Sky
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Agree with hand sanitizer
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.
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.
“There comes a time in the affairs of men... when we must seize the bull by the tail and face the situation.” - W.C. Fields
2019 Spyder RT Limited - Asphalt Gray/Chrome
1991 H-D Sturgis FXDB -- #684 of 1600 Limited Edition
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2014 Spyder ST SE5
Steel Black Metallic
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Originally Posted by troop
A little bit of saliva applied with a finger tip. Done ...
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Active Member
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.
I'm another who lightly lubed and regretted. When I got home after a high speed run I saw the left panel missing! 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!
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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.
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Bruce Erickson
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
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2014 RTS-SE6 - Cognac
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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.
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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.
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