Any Help or Tricks for getting the trunk off rear cover on/off? Is it normally this hard??

[Dawn]

OK, feeling a little stupid here. I've removed the back trunk and I've gotten the cover for the back. But are there any tricks to getting it on and off? I wouldn't have thought it was that complicated. Line up the hooks and snap it down. However, I really have to put some serious muscle behind getting it latched down. I put the hooks in their spots and the only way I can get it to snap in is to line up the back, then it has a serious bow and I push really really hard on the front and it finally snaps down. To get it off I have to lift the back up a little and then almost put my foot on the license plate to get enough leverage to pull it back off. Last time I swear I heard a crack, which makes me wonder if something cracked somewhere.

Tried YouTube and Google searching, but I'm not using the proper terms or something because I can't get anything to pop up.

Does this really take that much muscle, or is there something I'm doing wrong. Can Am "instructions" say line it up and snap down, then slightly lift and pull off.

I have a new 2024 RT Limited I picked up over the winter. Here in Minnesota it's frozen, but bike is in nice garage so I'm fussing and trying to get things all set up for when spring finally springs.

Any help or tricks for that trunk cover would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dawn

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

Did this document come with it, and did you do the Preparation step about the P2 clips, just below the parts list? Looks easy to miss.

https://brp.my.salesforce-sites.com/ISPublicArticleInfo/apex/BWLightningViewerWithTranslate?#id=kA03x000000PUcXCAW&googtrans(en%7Cen_US)

 

[spyderdave]

It's been a couple of years since I've had mine off, but here here are the "tricks" I used. I removed the rear seat by raising the front (seat), and pushing the retaining tabs on each side of the rear seat while pulling (up) gently on the rear seat "prongs". Lower the front seat and lift the rear seat slightly and push the rear cushion towards the rear of the bike, to release it; you can pick it up a few inches and set it on the front cushion without unplugging the sensor. This lets me see the forks that hold the top case and "rear fairing" on, so I can see if both are seated correctly before snapping the cover on. The other trick is to put a thin film of Vaseline or mild dish soap inside the rear fairing retaining forks and the rubber anchor blocks to make them slippery. The link in the post above has good illustrations. I hope my tips help.

 

[Dawn]

Did this document come with it, and did you do the Preparation step about the P2 clips, just below the parts list? Looks easy to miss.

https://brp.my.salesforce-sites.com/ISPublicArticleInfo/apex/BWLightningViewerWithTranslate?#id=kA03x000000PUcXCAW&googtrans(en%7Cen_US)

Yup, that's the document I have, but it didn't have any of the P2 clips or badging. Only the cover itself. Not too worried about the badge, I was going to remove it anyway for something more personalized, but I'll have to ask the dealership about the clips - if they are important.

I got the trunk off easily, lined up the forks on the cover with the posts and it wasn't snapping in for nothing, so I pushed the back of the cover down in place, and then it had a huge curved bow in it, so I then pushed really really hard at the front above the posts and it did finally snap down. But I couldn't get if off very easily.

I watched a video of a light install and they removed the back seat before just lifting the cover up and a little tug and it popped right off. Even though no where in the instructions does it say to remove the back seat first maybe that matters???. But I do know how to do that and it's simple. And I'll try using a little spray of soapy water on the posts too.

I was hoping this was just a pop off and on at will. I like the trunk off and that takes 30 seconds to remove, but doing that may not be worth it if I have to stand on my head and basically use a crowbar to get the stupid cover off every time I want to put the trunk back on.

 

[Peteoz]

Dawn, the solution is to spray a little silicon lubricant inside the prongs at the end of the cover’s arms. This lets them slide on and seat fairly easily. I know, because I always think - “bugger, I forgot the spray and I can’t be bothered getting it”, and seating is very difficult as I experience the cover bowing as you mention. Every time I spray it slips on easily.

Pete

 

[safecracker]

What I did to make putting back cover on and off easier was I took my Dremel and took some material off of the plastic hooks. It is a lot easier to put on and take off now. Bruce

 

[Dawn]

What I did to make putting back cover on and off easier was I took my Dremel and took some material off of the plastic hooks. It is a lot easier to put on and take off now. Bruce

Thanks, that option did cross my mind too. When it's not -17 and I venture back outside I'll give these suggestions a try, but it does sound like it's not my technique, but really is a tight fit.

 

[Peteoz]

Thanks, that option did cross my mind too. When it's not -17 and I venture back outside I'll give these suggestions a try, but it does sound like it's not my technique, but really is a tight fit.

100% correct, Dawn. It’s a tight fit. They don’t want it blowing off. I would suggest trying a silicon lubricant on the prongs before cutting into your cover though - that is a bit radical. A silicon lubricant has worked in 4 cases that I know of.

Pete

 

[BamaJohn]

100% correct, Dawn. It’s a tight fit. They don’t want it blowing off. I would suggest trying silicon on the prongs before cutting into your cover though. That is a bit radical. Silicon has worked in 4 cases that I know of.

Pete

+1

 

[Dawn]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! The silicone spray was the "trick". Gave it a little squirt on the hook, and the cover just slid on. Tried to take it back off, and just a tiny tug and popped right off. No removing the back seat or any weird contortions for leverage. You guys are the best.

 

[Peteoz]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! The silicone spray was the "trick". Gave it a little squirt on the hook, and the cover just slid on. Tried to take it back off, and just a tiny tug and popped right off. No removing the back seat or any weird contortions for leverage. You guys are the best.

Great to hear, Dawn. I was skeptical when this was first suggested to me (can’t remember by who), but it worked for me.

Pete