DIY Tool

[JerryB]

Hi folks,

Now that I have a Madstad windshield on my '08 GS, it is difficult to get a small screwdriver in-place to remove the instrument panel.

So I made a tool. I went to Home Depot & bought a small, flat tip screwdriver. I bent it 90* in a vice & it broke off nojoke; probably due to the original heat treating.

So I got out my torch, heated it up to anneal it, bent it 90* & then did some blacksmithing to form the tip like a screwdriver. I used my torch, a hammer, a file & a grinder to do the blacksmithing work. I finished it off with the wire wheel on my grinder to remove all of the burrs & the heating discoloration.



The 'leg' is about 5/8" ( 15 mm ) long & I am going to shorten this to about 3/8" ( 10 mm ). The very tip is about 3/16" wide ( 5 mm ).

I stick in into the small slot in the top of the instrument panel, push down & pull out.

Works great.

Jerry Baumchen

PS) Even in the annealled state it is plenty strong enough for removing the instrument panel.

If anyone has any questions about making something like this, drop me a PM.

 

[Motorcycledave]

Hi Jerry
I did the same thing when I put mine on about 2 years ago...
How's the seat?
Dave

Hi folks,

Now that I have a Madstad windshield on my '08 GS, it is difficult to get a small screwdriver in-place to remove the instrument panel.

So I made a tool. I went to Home Depot & bought a small, flat tip screwdriver. I bent it 90* in a vice & it broke off nojoke; probably due to the original heat treating.

So I got out my torch, heated it up to anneal it, bent it 90* & then did some blacksmithing to form the tip like a screwdriver. I used my torch, a hammer, a file & a grinder to do the blacksmithing work. I finished it off with the wire wheel on my grinder to remove all of the burrs & the heating discoloration.

View attachment 153328

The 'leg' is about 5/8" ( 15 mm ) long & I am going to shorten this to about 3/8" ( 10 mm ). The very tip is about 3/16" wide ( 5 mm ).

I stick in into the small slot in the top of the instrument panel, push down & pull out.

Works great.

Jerry Baumchen

PS) Even in the annealled state it is plenty strong enough for removing the instrument panel.

If anyone has any questions about making something like this, drop me a PM.

 

[JerryB]

Hi Dave,

Re: How's the seat?

Love it; a great investment.

Jerry Baumchen

 

[fatenhappy]

Hi folks,

Now that I have a Madstad windshield on my '08 GS, it is difficult to get a small screwdriver in-place to remove the instrument panel.

So I made a tool. I went to Home Depot & bought a small, flat tip screwdriver. I bent it 90* in a vice & it broke off nojoke; probably due to the original heat treating.

So I got out my torch, heated it up to anneal it, bent it 90* & then did some blacksmithing to form the tip like a screwdriver. I used my torch, a hammer, a file & a grinder to do the blacksmithing work. I finished it off with the wire wheel on my grinder to remove all of the burrs & the heating discoloration.

View attachment 153328

The 'leg' is about 5/8" ( 15 mm ) long & I am going to shorten this to about 3/8" ( 10 mm ). The very tip is about 3/16" wide ( 5 mm ).

I stick in into the small slot in the top of the instrument panel, push down & pull out.

Works great.

Jerry Baumchen

PS) Even in the annealled state it is plenty strong enough for removing the instrument panel.

If anyone has any questions about making something like this, drop me a PM.

Nice ... love resourcefulness and a bit of ingenuity ..