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Top Side Panel Removal - Stopped in my tracks

SilverSurfer

SilverSurfer

RT-S PE#0391
Hi folks ...

Today I dove into panel removal along the radiator-side of my Spyder RT to ultimately get to a coolant leak as many have reported, either coming froom the hose that goes to the water pump or from the coolant reservoir to the radiator, etc. The Owners Manual indicates one can do the entire task with the provided tool kit. Horse Pucky!

TOP SIDE PANEL: The external retaining screws (the silver ones on the outer body) are secured with a star torque screw. The torque driver provided in the tool kit is NOT compatible. The reason is that these screws incorporate a tiny little post in the center of the 'star'. The torque driver cannot penetrate the screw because it has a solid center and can't get around the post in the center of the screw. Un-friggen believable! Who has encountered this and how have you overcome?

I'm headed back outside to piece the bike back together, to either start from scratch on a future day or have the shop do it.

I still can't get that %@!#$ coolant reservior cap off either. Voilah! A beautiful machine that an owner can't maintain unless he has every wierd tool imaginable.
 
Th etorx you are looking at is a security torx. They are used so not just anyone can take them off. I carry a set on my RT. Harbor Freight sells them. Buy the security set, they have different ones available, and you'll have all of them. They include screw drivers, torx, allen and star tips. They use them on lights in public places and wall panels in rest rooms. They also work on regular heads. Item #'s 93388 or 91310 in Harbor Freight catalog. When I was working industrial electric you could'nt buy them now less than $10 a set.
 
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Security Torx

Thanks Roger; you're the best. Good news: I just managed to get the reservior cap off and topped off with 50/50 antifreeze. At least I know I'm not running on empty.
 
Side Panel

Those Screws are NOT ment to be taken off as they hold a pin into 2 gromits, just pull outward. By the way, they are hard to put back in as they seem to be to far apart for the rubber gromits underneath. I just pull the top panel out far enough to take 1 screw and 1 plug out of the lower panel to remove the lower panel only without taking the mirror and other struff off. My Dealer Tech guy told me that it can be done and other then cursing at those 2 plugs putting them back in it works.
 
Top side panel screws

So Tonga ... what you're saying is that those silver screws just sit there and after removing the other screws one just pulls up and out on the entire assembly?
 
Do not remove or loosen the security screws! They hold the posts in place that fit into the rubber grommets there. Your manual explains this. Once you get the regular screws all loose, pull out gently on the panel to remove the pins from the grommets. It is similar to the panel where you check your oil.
 
As said above, don't try to take those silver torx screws out of the body panel. All of the torx screws that hold on body parts are the dark coloured kind that do not need a special driver. On that upper middle body panel there are four torx screws (I think). One at the back, two under the rear view mirror, and one (I think) down by the frunk opening. All else is the nipple that goes into a rubber grommet. Best of luck with the water leak.
 
A few weeks ago I saw a post that was started asking to do a 3 part video training session on RT panel removals. I don't think anyone accepted the challenge. Being a new RT owner I also would love some education on this process. By the time spring comes I hope to have compiled almost every add on accessory there is but I'd love to see this baby get stripped down once before I do it. :helpsmilie:
 
Message received -- Me no take-a-out de screws

Okay ... got it. Next time I'll just pop the panel off after removing the other screws. Dang. I'd gotten just up to that point today. The good news is the temp went above 50F today. It appears that whatever my coolant leak is doesn't happen when it's that warm. Still needs fixin' though, so either I or the dealer will do it in the next couple of weeks.

I finally got that dang coolant reservoir cap off. ... and even more difficult, I got it back on. Topped off the coolant. Test drove. No drippys. I also filled my tires up to about 35psi front ... 40 rear ... to keep 'em round while sitting there through the rest of the winter, unless theres another warm snap and I ride ... then of course I'll bring 'em down. In case anyone wonders, I have my RT-S parked in front of my townhome under its dee-lux cover. It's sort of like a sleeping bag for the RT.

To SpydermanCT ... Yes, that idea for a panel removal vid was my post. I pulled it down because all I got was three responses from jokers. Maybe the next time I try, I'll do the vid on my GoPro. I've got a lot of ryding vids on my vid page. Maybe I'll mix it up with some mechy vids.

Let's face it, gang. Some of us are very mechanically inclined, have garages and hours of time. I've got a pretty good mechanical sense, but no garage ... So when I do something outside in the winter, I need the info and I need to do it quick before I get rained on or frozen. I've reviewed the owners manual on Panel removal. The owners manual is its own problem. The illustrations don't really line up with the instructions between pages ... ya gotta flip back n' forth a bit. Tonga, et al are right. It doesn't say to remove the security screws. BUT ... It doesn't warn you not to either or why. So to the unaware, they look like two screws that beg removal. Now I'm aware, thanks to this forum.

~ Surfer
 
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Having a heated garage, but less than zero mechanical ability... I ain't touching those silver screws... EVER! Scotty got the message through to me before I had to trudge back into the house with a long face... :opps:
I did manage to strip all of the Tupperware off the entire rght side while installing floorboards. It was more terrifying than it was frustrating, and I think I could do it again... but not just for fun! :shocked:
 
NancysToy said:
Do not remove or loosen the security screws! They hold the posts in place that fit into the rubber grommets there. Your manual explains this. Once you get the regular screws all loose, pull out gently on the panel to remove the pins from the grommets. It is similar to the panel where you check your oil.
Click to expand...

:agree:

Simply put, if the "tool" isn't a part of the Owner's Tool Kit, then it must require a technicians level of maintenance........I did say "SIMPLY PUT".

If an owner has a more advance understanding of their machine, then let your own level of mechanical competence be your guide!
 
Gee.. I really wish that I was you then... I spend more time plodding aimlessly around in the garage trying to figure out what went wrong and how I'm gonna have to tell the Missus... She has gotten used to some of it though... Now she mostly chuckles, shakes her head, and says something supportive like, "Well I'm not paying to have anyone fix it, so get back out there!":shocked:
 
Bob Denman said:
Gee.. I really wish that I was you then... I spend more time plodding aimlessly around in the garage trying to figure out what went wrong and how I'm gonna have to tell the Missus... She has gotten used to some of it though... Now she mostly chuckles, shakes her head, and says something supportive like, "Well I'm not paying to have anyone fix it, so get back out there!":shocked:
Click to expand...


If your wife still lets you tinker with things knowing what she knows, you are truly a blessed man! :bowdown:
 
Thanks! I'd like to hope that Im blessed, but I think that we're both stubborn, and she likes to see how much rope it takes to hang me in a given situation. :shocked:
 
In this vein TWO questions.....

Do any of our vendors have the desire to put together and sell a 'care package' of misc. screws, plastic pop thingies, and other pieces that some of us non-pros might need as we misplace, break, etc.? I know I can likely get them from the dealer, but here's an opportunity for a vendor.:2thumbs:

I have this fear, now that I have my bike in pieces for 3 weeks, that I'll have bolts, screws, pop thingies, etc. that I'll either have left over or that will be missing. I know!!! I wake up in a sweat, not remembering what bolt came from where. I DO have them in 3 bins corresponding to the front, middle and back of the bike. But my memory is not what it used to be. Any hints guys???
 
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