Drilling Fairings.

[calum17]

Hi. I have bought a kit for a heated jacket, and am nearly done with it - so now i need to fit the socket to the bike so i can just plug it in easily when im on the bike.

the socket (and plug) are both 'marine' grade - so should be ok mounted on the outside of the bike, no matter what the weather is and with no problems when i wash the bike. so; what is the best way to drill a hole through one of the fairings (not the side fairing, one of the ones to the left of the petrol tank probably) so i can mount the socket - does it need special tools? or just careful and slow drilling with small drill bits and move up through the sizes? if so, what type of drill bits do i need?

any help and advice is appreciated.

thanks.
calum.

[yandy_yay]

Carefull and slow, moving up by a few mm each time until the required size is achieved. dont put to much pressure on the drill bit, let the bit do the work, last thing you wanna do is slip and put a nice ( not ) scratch down the panel

Andy
____________________
past bikes: (20 years ago) cg-125 (wriiten off), C-50 (thrashed n' finnaly scrapped), CZ-125 (nicked - never recovered, insurance payout was more than i paid for it !!!)
Current bikes: GN 125(now sold), Divvy 600s.

[calum17]

thanks - should i do it from the bottom of the fairing up (crap side through to the paint work) or from the top down (paint work down to the bottom) ?

[stirlinggaz]

hi,
when i drill through fairings, i usually cover the spot with masking tape (2 strips in a cross shape).
then mark with a pencil & drill through with smallest drill bit i have.
from paint side through.
(i got a nice set of drill bits as a b/day present which has all sorts of drill bits from 1mm upwards, with titanium bits,hole cutters from 28mm upwards etc, very handy.)
then work up through the drill bits untill i get the hole big enough.
then peel off the masking tape.
never had any problems doing it this way.
cheers,
GAZ

[calum17]

that's great, thanks.

what's the best type of bit to use then?
obviously not masonry, but wood/metal etc?

[stirlinggaz]

hi,
i use the titanium bits, but im sure the hss bits would be fine.
cheers,
GAZ

[metal ken]

when i installed power sockets to BMW bikes, I done the same with the masking tape, and drilled a small hole then used a tapered drill bit to get the hole to the correct size.

Ken
____________________
My motorbike breakers metalken.co.uk

Current bikes, GSXR750 Fighter, GSXR7/12, RD350 race rep, KH400

[ajb]

you may find it easier with wood bits, as they have a small point which stops the bit 'walking' across the surface and stratchng it.

Once you have a pilot hole, any wood/HSS bit will do, prefereably the sharper the better, but as said, let the bit to the work, you won't need much pressure. A piece of wood under neath will help to rest onto lightly (will also minimise the back of the plastic fraying out)

You may also find a stanley knife / rat tail file useful for tidying it after if the hole isn't clean.



PS. Tip, always favour a smaller hole (lol) to start with, and when you get close, try offering up the bit you are fixing, because once you make the hole too big, there is no going back
____________________
CBR125R '05 > CB500 '00 > CBR600F '99

[Pete.]

Make a small pilot hole, of 1/3 the finished size, then drill it with your finished-size drill. For plastic I use a new bit and run my battery-drill at top speed with very light pressure.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[iooi]

[calum17]

Thanks for all of your help guys - now i know what to do, i'll go out and buy some new wood bits and a masking tape and hopefully soon get it done and test out the heated jacket !

[Ichy]

[calum17]

thanks - i'll get some of them instead then.
they'll be sharp because i'll buy a set new - even cheap rubish ones to throw away after the job should be sharp enough to do it - but as long as they arent silly money - i'll just get decent ones.

thanks. i'll give it a go soon.