Quote:
Originally Posted by shemp
thanks for the feedback Kory. How easy/difficult is it to pull the fairings? any tricks?
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The newer bikes are probably way different than my 99 st, but, here's how I take mine off.
Start with the black pieces behind the front tire that help funnel air through the oil cooler and radiator; they're kinda a pain to finagle out, but, take them off first.
Next comes the large upper-side panels; take both sides off, and take every dang screw you can find, OUT. What I discovered is, if you're having pull to take a fairing off, you haven't gotten all the screws out, and you'll break something if you keep man-handling them. When all the screws are out for one piece, mine easily come off with very little help; if I didn't have the frame sliders on mine, I feel sure mine would just fall right off after the last screw comes out.
The top fairings overlap the bottom pieces, so, you have to take the top side pieces off first.
Now the bottom pieces off; again, make sure you get all the screws.
*NOTE* There is a "hidden" screw on the front bottom of the cone the two lowers form; make sure you take it out, otherwise you'll break the tab off like some idgit did on mine before I bought it.
*OPTIONAL*
Next comes the cockpit cover. To jack up the bike, or do any work on the lower or back of the bike, I don't think you'll need to remove it, but, I sometimes do just to prevent scratches. You'll need to remove the mirrors; pull the rubber boots off the fairing, and you'll see two bolts per mirror; remove those, and the mirrors fall off. I think you also need to remove the windshield; if memory serves me right, there are 2 screws that go into the bracket that holds the cockpit fairing onto the bike. I might be completely wrong on that part, but, I always take them off just so I don't scratch my windshield as I'm removing the cockpit fairings. Don't forget the two trim pieces on the inside of the cockpit just below the windshield on either side.
*HINTS*
Remember, fairings are either connected to the bike, or to another fairing, so, be sure to scope out the seams and take out screws on either side of the seams of the fairings, cause one of em might be holding on to the one you're trying to get off.
One thing I tried out last week that seemed to help tremendously, is the purchase of 2 farely cheap tools.
A handheld straight body cordless screwdriver from walmart that plugs right onto the wall socket for charging. It's still powerful enough to twist things up too much, but, if you're careful with it, it saves you from having to dig out a wratchet, extension, and bit for removing, and, it seems a lot faster for removing all the screws. Be careful with it putting the plastics back on; like I said, even the el-cheapo cordless screwdrivers have enough torque to tear stuff up. But, I found it equally handy when putting them back on, because I seemed to be able to hold the fairing in place easier while tightening the screws.
Another useful tool was one I picked up at sears. It looks like about 6 quarters stacked on each other, and it has openings on either side to accept bits. Basicly it's just a nice short finger turning tool to use to take out the screws from the few places where a wratchet or cordless screwdriver can't fit.
I picked up both tools for under $20, and the first time I used them, they were WELL worth the money.
This is probably more info than you wanted for removing the fairings, but, I've probably had mine off and on about 5-6 times in the last 2 months. I just don't like leaving them off on the floor to get stepped on if I'm not coming back to the bike for a day or two.
In my opinion, as expensive as the plastics are, it's well worth the extra time to take them off carefully and gently. And, if you're going to be doing any wrenching on the bike, that doesn't require taking the plastics off, it's well advised to cover them with something to avoid a belt buckle or slippery tool from accidentally scratching them. Murphy has a habit of helping me wrench on my bike, and the more prevention I can add to my work, the less he can bugger up.
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