Hmm, plastic screws and their faults

[Adam_P]

The screen on the Fazer is held in place with five plastic/nylon screws (four across the top, two either side near the mirror stalks) and one under the front beneath the lights.

So, I was giving the bike a bit of a clean the other day and took the screen off to clean behind it and clean around the back of the clocks.

Started to refit the screen and went to tighten one of the left hand screws up and...

the head sheard off, leaving the threaded section deep within the confines of the bike! And no, before you ask, I wasn't screwing it too tight, I was going round them all making sure they were just tight enough. I reckon it was because it was bloody freezing in the garage and they were probably all a bit brittle. Still a pain in the arse though!

I know its not a big deal and hardly merits a spot on the workshop section, but I was just wondering whether any of you had had the same problem before and had any advice on the best way of attempting to getting it out?

Thanks
Adam
____________________
Colin McRae MBE 1968 - 2007 RIP
Orwell Rolls in his Grave
God is imaginary

[EuropeanNC30R...]

The plastic screws were a god-send after the metal rivets that originally held my bikes screen in place. Had to drill about 8 of those out.

[Kickstart]

Hi

I would just drill it out. Should be very easy to drill the soft plastic. Then replace then with decent stainless bolts.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Adam_P]

[Kickstart]

Hi

I suspect that if you are careful drilling the you will probably get away with a tiny hole down the middle of the remains of the plastic, and with the remains of the thread undoing as you drill.

Only thing to be very careful about (not so much here, but with metal fairing bolts) is that the fastener can easily get hot enough to melt the fairings when you drill them out.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[finpos]

Rather than have a go with a drill, I'd be tempted to stab it with a screwdriver you've heated up with a blowtorch or on a hob. Obviously, don't use gramps' bestest screwdriver for the job

Push the screwdiver in a could couple of mm whilst hot and then hold it while it cools. It should then be pretty firmly attached to the stump which will unscrew easily.

If you choose metal to replace the errant bolt with, make sure you use a thickish plastic washer between the head of the bolt and the screen, otherwise the screen might crack - they use plastic there for a reason .

finpos.

[ZRX61]

[numark1]

You can buy replacement screen screws from most bike shops for about £5.

[Jrod]

Purple oens at that!

[ZRX61]