Oil cover tupperware blowing off

[Pat Clark]

I had the cover blow off the left side some months back, replaced the rubber grommets, put shrink tube on the pins, installed stainless steel lanyards on both sides. I'll be damned if the right side didn't blow off yesterday on I-95.
Has anyone come up with a fix for this? Screws or better yet a turnlock arrangment like they use on aircraft panels? This is getting way too expensive not to mention aggravating.
Thanks, Pat

 

[ThreeWheels]

I found velcro to be most effective.
Shrink wrap around the pins sounds like it will make the situation worse.
If you installed lanyards, how did you lose the panel ?

 

[Pat Clark]

I found velcro to be most effective.
Shrink wrap around the pins sounds like it will make the situation worse.
If you installed lanyards, how did you lose the panel ?

Beats me, I had shark leaders attached to it. Pulled the crimp fitting off is the only thing I can think of. Saw it as it hit my leg but at 75 mph I wasn't quick enough to try and grab it. Got the panel back. Going to use it to experiment with fastening methods.

 

[jtoro1]

Side panels

I use velcro works good

 

[Bob Denman]

If you don't use ANY lubricants on any of the mounting parts: it seems help... nojoke
Make sure that everything is dry, and fully seated. :thumbup:

 

[jwulf74]

Dumb question, but was the little plastic "hook" on the side top of the panel hooked on to the bike. Sort of hard to describe without a pic... I have seen at dealers where none of the hooks were engaged and they said they were all like that... but they are supposed to be hooked, they just didn't know it....

One thing I have done that may have a side benefit of keeping the panel in place is that I wire tied each on the grommets in. That helps keep the grommet from getting push through and lost and puts more pressure on the panel pins.

 

[Pat Clark]

Dumb question, but was the little plastic "hook" on the side top of the panel hooked on to the bike. Sort of hard to describe without a pic... I have seen at dealers where none of the hooks were engaged and they said they were all like that... but they are supposed to be hooked, they just didn't know it....

One thing I have done that may have a side benefit of keeping the panel in place is that I wire tied each on the grommets in. That helps keep the grommet from getting push through and lost and puts more pressure on the panel pins.

Yes the hook was engaged and I had a lanyard wire on after losing the left side. The right side hadn't been removed in months since Doc and I re-did some poor wiring the previous owner had had done. Several thousand miles have been put on the bike since then. I don't ride the Interstates often if I can help it but it seems this panel couldn't handle a 70 to 80 mph run down I-95

 

[jcthorne]

A tip I learned from Harvey, do not use lube on the grommets. use a spritz of windex. The panel goes on easy and the windex evaporates and leaves a dry and solid rubber to peg grip.

 

[ARtraveler]

Dumb question, but was the little plastic "hook" on the side top of the panel hooked on to the bike. Sort of hard to describe without a pic... I have seen at dealers where none of the hooks were engaged and they said they were all like that... but they are supposed to be hooked, they just didn't know it....

One thing I have done that may have a side benefit of keeping the panel in place is that I wire tied each on the grommets in. That helps keep the grommet from getting push through and lost and puts more pressure on the panel pins.

My dealer consistently does not put the "hooks" in. Every oil change, that is the first thing I do before I drive off. When mentioned to the service manager, his reply, this ain't my first rodeo. Glad to say, he don't work there any more. Will see what happens next oil change. :roflblack::roflblack:

 

[SpyderNeil]

A tip I learned from Harvey, do not use lube on the grommets. use a spritz of windex. The panel goes on easy and the windex evaporates and leaves a dry and solid rubber to peg grip.

'been using Windex for years on panels. It seems to almost "Glue" the pin in the grommet, and keeps it very secure.

Neil

 

[jcoe]

Tethered fishing line...

The person before me, put a tethered fishing line with hooks like you would use for fishing. Works great and easy to remove if necessary. but they are long enough I don't have to un hook them..

:yes::yes:

 

[pegasus1300]

'been using Windex for years on panels. It seems to almost "Glue" the pin in the grommet, and keeps it very secure.

Neil

In fact I have had to spray a little Windex on sometimes to get the pins to let go.

 

[Peter Aawen]

I found out thru experience that those little placcy hooks being engaged is critical to the panel staying on - even if you do the windex thing!! And I also learnt that if the placcy hook isn't engaged, the 'lanyard' has to be pretty damn thick & strong to stop the panel disappearing if it comes off when you're doing anything much over about 40mph!! Fishing line is nowhere near strong enough, neither is wire leader! Then our local 'not so great dealer' (who is now closed down) broke the placcy hooks off - BOTH the left & the right panels!! I chased them to replace the panels (again!) but while I was waiting & checking out an RS, it dawned on me how to fix that 'loose panel issue', permanently!! No, not by offing the dealer (but I gotta admit the thought was there for a short while!) but by replacing the placcy hook with a stainless DZUS fastener similar to those used on the side of the RS!! :shocked:

So when I got the replacement panels, the placcy hooks were removed & DZUS fasteners installed in those positions. I haven't had any issues since, & the Staff at the new Dealer (great bunch of people) have not only been very assiduous in making sure they are on & engaged properly, but they've also been recommending fitting them instead of relying on the hooks to everyone who takes their RT's in for service. The DZUS fasteners provide a positive lock to hold that corner of the panel in, as well as a positive locking action to let whoever's replacing the panel & the rider know that the panel isn't going to be going anywhere once it's on & engaged!!

Sooo, simple fix, just replace the placcy hooks up the top/back of the panel with Stainless DZUS fasteners, your choice of colour & even head style, but I went for the shiny 'D' ring types like the RS's have on their side panel (matched everything else on my RT Ltd) - got a pack of 4 x 3/4" long off eBay, backing plates included, for about $5 delivered vs the 1 x $30 or whatever it was that BRP wanted. It was only about a two minute job with a sharp knife & a drill to fit them, then Bob's yer'uncle! :thumbup:

 

[pegasus1300]

Well Uncle Bob how about a picture? I really like that idea. As my dealer is not too careful about making sure they are hooked I would like a more positive engagement.

 

[YIRYDE]

Can you post a picture of the Dzus fasteners on your Spyder?

Thanks

 

[Peter Aawen]

Hadta take a pic or two!

The second picture angle isn't great, but it does show the clip well; the first is from a bit further away & the clip is not quite so visible.

 

[Larry rt]

Wow, that is how my Yamaha sled panels are elderly on with. Will have to take a closer look.

 

[YIRYDE]

Thanks for the Pics, looks good.

 

[Pat Clark]

I found out thru experience that those little placcy hooks being engaged is critical to the panel staying on - even if you do the windex thing!! And I also learnt that if the placcy hook isn't engaged, the 'lanyard' has to be pretty damn thick & strong to stop the panel disappearing if it comes off when you're doing anything much over about 40mph!! Fishing line is nowhere near strong enough, neither is wire leader! Then our local 'not so great dealer' (who is now closed down) broke the placcy hooks off - BOTH the left & the right panels!! I chased them to replace the panels (again!) but while I was waiting & checking out an RS, it dawned on me how to fix that 'loose panel issue', permanently!! No, not by offing the dealer (but I gotta admit the thought was there for a short while!) but by replacing the placcy hook with a stainless DZUS fastener similar to those used on the side of the RS!! :shocked:

So when I got the replacement panels, the placcy hooks were removed & DZUS fasteners installed in those positions. I haven't had any issues since, & the Staff at the new Dealer (great bunch of people) have not only been very assiduous in making sure they are on & engaged properly, but they've also been recommending fitting them instead of relying on the hooks to everyone who takes their RT's in for service. The DZUS fasteners provide a positive lock to hold that corner of the panel in, as well as a positive locking action to let whoever's replacing the panel & the rider know that the panel isn't going to be going anywhere once it's on & engaged!!

Sooo, simple fix, just replace the placcy hooks up the top/back of the panel with Stainless DZUS fasteners, your choice of colour & even head style, but I went for the shiny 'D' ring types like the RS's have on their side panel (matched everything else on my RT Ltd) - got a pack of 4 x 3/4" long off eBay, backing plates included, for about $5 delivered vs the 1 x $30 or whatever it was that BRP wanted. It was only about a two minute job with a sharp knife & a drill to fit them, then Bob's yer'uncle! :thumbup:

Thanks Peter, that's exactly what I had in mind.
Pat

 

[pegasus1300]

Hadta take a pic or two!

The second picture angle isn't great, but it does show the clip well; the first is from a bit further away & the clip is not quite so visible.

Thanks Peter that is just what I needed to see.