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Custom Vehicle Discussions => Screamin’ Eagle® Ultra Classic® Electra Glide® => Topic started by: DESERTBEAR54 on March 30, 2010, 10:25:10 AM

Title: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: DESERTBEAR54 on March 30, 2010, 10:25:10 AM
If someone could explain in detail how to remove the front fairing in easy step by step instructions that would be very helpful. I have an 08 SEUC and if there are any hidden secrets I would like to know of them. I am getting a rattle and it sounds like its coming from under the front fairing and so I would like to pull it and make sure everything underneath is secure. I have the service manual but the manual doesn't tell you all the little secrets of specific tasks. DB
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Unbalanced on March 30, 2010, 10:32:19 AM
I am sure many of us do it differently, here is the way that I do it.

First suggestion before you start is get an old pair of tube socks and put them over your passing lights.  This will help you not scratch the fairing as you take it off.

Next remove the lowest 2 bolts under the inner fairing.  next i remove the top 3 bolts that hold the windshield on and safely place it elsewhere then I remove the 2 bolts under the hand grips.  Pull the fairing forward just a bit and remove the connector(s) to your headlight and then you have to kind of take the fairing at a small angle and left or right and get it past one of the passing lights.

IMO putting it back on is more of a pain in the arse.  As you have to align up the bottom 2 bolts and trust me when I say they can be dropped and lost.  This is where you want to be the most careful, they can drop down in the tray just below putting them on.   

When I put the fairing back on I line up the center bold on the fairing with no windshield, but dont tighten it. then install the 2 bolts under the handgrips, again LOOSE then line up the 2 bottom bolts.  Helps if you have an extra set of hands to hold it in place, but not necessary just useful.

Once you have done it once it will be no big deal.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: hd-dude on March 30, 2010, 10:35:44 AM
Many threads on this already, A quick search found theses:

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=2620.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=21533.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=25338.0
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: 110Mofo on March 30, 2010, 10:44:35 AM
I agree with Unbalanced

 But the only thing I would do differant is : The top center screw is the last to come off and as harry said the first to go on  :2vrolijk_21:

 This will hold the fairing on till you are ready to remove it and hold it on till you are ready to align it and replace all screws  :drink:

 Good luck
 Marty
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Opossum on March 30, 2010, 11:24:44 AM
Go to Auto parts store and get a screw holder, it slides on to the shaft of the torx or screw driver and holds the screw on the head of the driver.  For me the lower left one is the PITA.  I don't know where the bugger goes when it drops, there must be a black holes in the fork tube.  I have four extras on the work bench as spares.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: DESERTBEAR54 on March 30, 2010, 11:35:37 AM
Are the screws Magnetised? I'm sure if they are it would still be good to get something stronger to hold onto them.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Opossum on March 30, 2010, 11:38:58 AM
Are the screws Magnetised? I'm sure if they are it would still be good to get something stronger to hold onto them.
No, it's a little spring grabber that slides on the shaft of the driver and hold the screw to the head of the driver.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Cvostu on March 30, 2010, 11:47:22 PM
I use a magnetic screw driver(torx bit driver). Is that cheeting?? :P
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Twolanerider on March 30, 2010, 11:52:15 PM
A magnetic something somewhere is mandatory for those bottom screws.  Damn things just disappear in to a stealth abyss when they fall.  I don't mess with them though.

I toss the screws the first time I take an e-glide fairing off that I'll ever have to have off again.  Replace them with an appropriate length piece of all thread.  The threaded rod makes aligning them in to the holes during reassembly much easier.  No screws to start blindly and screw up the threaded inserts with.  And the nuts you now start using never get dropped like the screws always did as the nuts are inside the head of the nut driver.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: timo482 on March 31, 2010, 12:20:38 AM
now THAT is a really GOOD idea

thanks

to
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Twolanerider on March 31, 2010, 12:23:46 AM
now THAT is a really GOOD idea

thanks

to


It saves me time and frustration every time I have the fairing off.  And the fairing has been off the red bike at least 56,000,000 times.  Only thing to pay extra attention to is during reassembly.  Just want to make sure you haven't captured a harness with one of the studs and are then pinching it between inner and outer.  It's easy to see if you have and simple to reach down and reposition.  Just something to keep an eye out for.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Boatman on March 31, 2010, 06:40:32 AM
The only thing I will ad is to start every screw by finger as they are easy to cross thread.  They should turn in every turn easily and you shouldn't have to use a bit "to make them go".
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Opossum on March 31, 2010, 09:01:58 AM
A magnetic something somewhere is mandatory for those bottom screws.  Damn things just disappear in to a stealth abyss when they fall.  I don't mess with them though.

I toss the screws the first time I take an e-glide fairing off that I'll ever have to have off again.  Replace them with an appropriate length piece of all thread.  The threaded rod makes aligning them in to the holes during reassembly much easier.  No screws to start blindly and screw up the threaded inserts with.  And the nuts you now start using never get dropped like the screws always did as the nuts are inside the head of the nut driver.
HOW in the world did ya get to be so danged smart???  THAT is a killer idea.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Fired00d on March 31, 2010, 09:23:39 AM
HOW in the world did ya get to be so danged smart???  THAT is a killer idea.
Probably because he's been inside that fairing 56,000 times.... just sayin'. :huepfenlol2: :huepfenlol2:

 :pumpkin:
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 :fireman:
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Boatman on March 31, 2010, 09:26:28 AM
HOW in the world did ya get to be so danged smart???  THAT is a killer idea.

From 2Lane and Hd-dude of course.  Did this on my old bike but not on the 10..  

If you don't want to do the allthread, go to the hardware store and get four 1/4" allen screws.  It will take 2 short ones and 2 long ones to get the right length you need.  Just screw the 1st one in with loctite and screw the second one in over it with loctite.  That way you don't have to cut any all thread.

Then get two 1/4" plastic nuts and your done.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Twolanerider on March 31, 2010, 09:28:25 AM
HOW in the world did ya get to be so danged smart???  THAT is a killer idea.

Have been doing that so long don't specifically remember what happened when the first time.  It might have been some grand epiphany but more likely necessity was the mother of invention.  Probably had one with a mangled brass insert and ran a tap through it to clean it out once.  After that the threaded rod mounted once would've been the soberest idea I had.

Oh, I do always put the all-thread piece in with red loctite.  Just to make sure it won't back out with a nut sometime.  And I like to use nuts that have captured star washers on them so won't have to worry about vibrating off.  Don't have to pull them unnecessarily tight and they'll still stay in place forever.  It's all just standard 1/4" hardware.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Opossum on March 31, 2010, 04:58:56 PM
Probably because he's been inside that fairing 56,000 times.... just sayin'. :huepfenlol2: :huepfenlol2:

 :pumpkin:
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 :fireman:
Hell's Bell's, I've been under the hood of my last 3 Electra Glides only 46,000 times and I wern't never that smart!  Are just doin the bottom two or all four?
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: tazmun on March 31, 2010, 06:30:31 PM
Pictures of the assembly of the threaded rod, pictures????
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Twolanerider on March 31, 2010, 09:46:17 PM
Hell's Bell's, I've been under the hood of my last 3 Electra Glides only 46,000 times and I wern't never that smart!  Are just doin the bottom two or all four?

Just the bottom pair make all the difference you need.  All the upper ones are easy to get to, you can visualize the holes to get the screws started and if you do drop the screw the bike doesn't eat them.  Nice thing about the studs is the automatic alignment.  Shove it down until the studs stick through the holes.  Nothing to find the dark and it can't not be in the wrong place.
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Twolanerider on March 31, 2010, 09:51:38 PM
Pictures of the assembly of the threaded rod, pictures????

Don't have any, sorry.  It's just 1/4" x 20 threaded rod.  Or you can cut the head off a 1/4" bolt.  I use stainless bolts because I'm paranoid. 
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: sadunbar on March 31, 2010, 10:27:17 PM
A magnetic something somewhere is mandatory for those bottom screws.  Damn things just disappear in to a stealth abyss when they fall.  I don't mess with them though.

I toss the screws the first time I take an e-glide fairing off that I'll ever have to have off again.  Replace them with an appropriate length piece of all thread.  The threaded rod makes aligning them in to the holes during reassembly much easier.  No screws to start blindly and screw up the threaded inserts with.  And the nuts you now start using never get dropped like the screws always did as the nuts are inside the head of the nut driver.

Dang Twolane...I do this too!  When did you get so wise?   :nixweiss:
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Twolanerider on March 31, 2010, 10:30:33 PM
Dang Twolane...I do this too!  When did you get so wise?   :nixweiss:



Raised by mutant gypsies :drink: .
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Tom149 on March 31, 2010, 11:00:46 PM
A magnetic something somewhere is mandatory for those bottom screws.  Damn things just disappear in to a stealth abyss when they fall.  I don't mess with them though.

I toss the screws the first time I take an e-glide fairing off that I'll ever have to have off again.  Replace them with an appropriate length piece of all thread.  The threaded rod makes aligning them in to the holes during reassembly much easier.  No screws to start blindly and screw up the threaded inserts with.  And the nuts you now start using never get dropped like the screws always did as the nuts are inside the head of the nut driver.
Twolanerider,

Now that is a hell-of-a good idea! I always struggle with those two inside bottom screws.

Tom
Title: Re: Front Fairing Removal
Post by: Opossum on April 01, 2010, 12:38:31 AM
Just the bottom pair make all the difference you need.  All the upper ones are easy to get to, you can visualize the holes to get the screws started and if you do drop the screw the bike doesn't eat them.  Nice thing about the studs is the automatic alignment.  Shove it down until the studs stick through the holes.  Nothing to find the dark and it can't not be in the wrong place.
So it's kinda like puttin hair around 'em...OH NO, NOT MY INSIDE VOICE... AGAIN!!!  OUTSTANDIN TIP!  Thanks!