Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[North Star]

I've heard a lot about it, but never knew what they were. Last night, I removed my KW windshield for the first time, and even made sure I read the service manual first, as I wanted to avoid the infamous dropping the wellnuts into the fairing.

So I took the shield off, and the wellnuts just stay in the holes in the fairing....so, I don't get it- when is it that they are at risk of falling in the fairing- is it when you install new ones, because they didn't move when I removed the shield?

[Rimjam]

When you start to reinstall the w/s and push against the wellnuts to start the screws sometimes the wellnut flange goes through the hole in the fairing and "clunk" its down inside.  The problem seems to worsen as the wellnuts age.  Some owners say to keep the wellnut on the w/s by not completely removing the screw but as the wellnuts age they're harder and harder to pull out through the mounting holes.  Being very careful is the only solution I have.

[110tHunDer]

 
Yep.  Change the shield a few more times.  Eventually, you'll understand.

[Screamin]

Do yourself a favor and pick up several at the hardware store or dealer to keep on hand. Odds are good you'll need one someday. 

[martys]

Do yourself a favor and pick up several at the hardware store or dealer to keep on hand. Odds are good you'll need one someday. 

X2    I always keep 5 spares on hand

[Twolanerider]

Reinstallation is when you'll commonly lose them.  You'll push them through.  Though older ones will sometimes just fall through almost on their own.  If their centers are not swollen too badly after removal you can start them on the screws on the windshield first.  Then stick everthing on the bike as an assembly.  Can't lose them at all that way.  Though that does work best with new wellnuts.

[Harley1958]

Ha!  I'm relieved to hear I'm not the only one with a few weelnuts lost inside the fairing!   

[North Star]

Ah, I get it now- thanks guys.

Figure I'll just buy new ones then and replace them once I get my new shield- a couple look a little deformed anyways.

I called Cee Baileys to inquire about their upgraded hardware kit (better wellnuts and hardware), but they told me it only works on their shields, which I don't really understand, unless the holes on theirs are different than other shields, and are matched with the wellnuts??? Not sure if it was BS or not to try to encourage people buying only their windshields to use with the kit.

[HDDOCFL]

The problem with the wellnuts is the soft rubber washer used behind it on install, go to Ace and replace the soft rubber washers with nylon ones the same size and you will never lose a wellnut in the fairing.   Doc

[greglyon]

The problem with the wellnuts is the soft rubber washer used behind it on install, go to Ace and replace the soft rubber washers with nylon ones the same size and you will never lose a wellnut in the fairing.   Doc

agree.. take one with you as they come in different sizes

[Highjagger]

I fixed my shield with the wellnuts from inside the fairing beause the holes in the fairing did not keep the wellnuts anymore and so the wellnits popped out because some shields have more tension and there was a gap between the shield and the fairing .
 Now my shield is really fixed without gap .
 Remove and reinstall the fairing is a 30 minutes job ( when you did it for about ten times because of headlight bulbs changing , speaker upgrade , amp install , and and and ) .
 I don`t trust this wellnuts-fix-system .
My solution is more complicated when changing the shield but it fixes the shield better - i don`t want to get a loosen shield at 130mph or on a tour without having the right tools in my hand to repair this an the street .

[Denial]

Lost my first well nut today.
If I buy the HD replacement well nuts do I have to split the fairing again to install it?

[martys]

No you can just pop it into the hole and then replace the shield,  just be careful to be sure that the threads catch so that you don't push it through again.

[Dan_Lockwood]

I guess I didn't know any better on how to do the windshield change.  This just seemed like the way to do it.

I take out the screws and remove the windshield.  Then pull out the rubber well nuts.  I place the screws into the other windshield and thread the well nuts onto the screws a couple threads.  Then just start with the center well nut and work my way outward until they are all into the fairing holes.  I tighten them up from the center one out to each side and that's it.

I've changed my windshield at least a dozen times, including when I remove the fairing.  It just seems easier for me reinstalling the fairing to get the top gasket and guides in with the windshield off.

I'm still using the original well nuts and never lost one in the fairing; kind of hard to with them installed while on the screws.  Maybe I'm just too cheap to replace them, but they always tighten down great and out of all my windshields, I've never had one pop out on me.  These are just standard well nuts that can be sourced from Grainger, McMaster Carr and the automotive parts stores at a lot less money than HD parts departments.

I plan to keep reusing mine until they start to crack.