Stuck Fairing Bolts

[tipper258]

Hi All,

So maybe this is a Mr Honda special feature, I haven't taken too many bikes to bits.

It's a 98 VFR800 and the problem I have is that the majority of the fasteners are 5mm Allen keyed bolts into what appear to be rubber nuts with a brass threaded sleeve inside them.

I went to remove one of the side fairings and found two of the bolts which just turn, it sounds like, and feels like from little bits of finger I can get in there, that the whole rubber thing is just spinning, ie the bolt is fast to the threaded sleeve so the force being applied to turn the bolt, is in fact turning the whole assembly. Neat solution huh, especially given I can't figure a way to get anything with enough purchase inside the fairing to hold the rubber.

Anyone got any neat tips for getting these out? Have I missed the bleedin' obvious

Cheers

[Bezzer]

Well nuts,bit of a crap solution, though most screens are fitted with them, rare on the fairing panels. You really need to find some way to access the rubber bung to either hold them with pliers or similar or cut it away so the lot pulls through with the allen head, perhaps take off what other plastic you can to get a bit more room.
Don't bother to try and fast spin them off with an allen key in an electric screwdriver or whatever, it's been done and just melted the plastic surrounding the hole.
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I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite so sure.

[Akiraprise]

if worst comes to worst then may be an example of drilling it out - however, can u take the tank off and can this give you enough space to get to the little rubber things.

[Bezzer]

You won't drill them out, they just spin round which is his problem, if you can get enough of a grip to stop them spinning then they will unscrew
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I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite so sure.

[map]

I've had this problem on a Honda. However, it was for a screen so able to eventually get some long nose pliers in to grip then just made sure I pushed hard when unscrewing.

For the fairing though off top of my head I can only think of using one of those freeze sprays (plumbers use them on pipes, thieves use them on padlocks before hitting them with a hammer). This may cause things to contract enough for you to get some purchase. Just a thought though, no guarantees

Let us know how you get on
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