[Stirling]

I think I have a new one in the broken plastic department. I replaced my air cleaner this morning and everything was going smooth taking all the plastic off. I took my time and got to the air cleaner in an hour and half. I had done it myself 24K ago, so knew to take it slow, but one of the catches on the middle cowl that grab the headlight cracked (not off, just flappy). Out came the JB Weld. I was putting the top shelter back on and this time the gas door cable release was not cooperating but after about 15 minutes I finally got it on with all the parts and spring in the right places. I was fitting the top and and pushing down on the rear to seat it, and SNAP! Arrrrg. It was the molded-in plastic tab with a cut out to hold the door cable. Luckily there was enough plastic left on the tab, so I fabricated a tab out of metal and JB welded it to the plastic. I put in a small screw for extra hold. I'll let it cure over night and put it all back together in the morning. I am confident it will hold.

New item by Stirling Hunter

photos.app.goo.gl

My other options were to get a new top shelter $$ or do away with the key opener for the gas door and figure some other way of keeping the door closed while at speed.

 

[Stirling]

Very frustrated with the fasteners on the plastic panels on my 2014 CTX1300. I had to remove the panel just below the mirror and found the previous owner must have taken it off before and it was held on with zip ties.

The push tabs are fine but all of the clips are so thin and break off very easily and im not going to but new panels with the same crappy quality. Has anyone else experienced the same issue?

Is there a manual that will give instructions how to properly remove panels? My bike didn't come with one. Most of it is common sense but I would like to know where the clips, snaps and screws are before removing them so I avoid breaking anything else.

@Miked5th
As I was putting the plastic back on my bike this morning, I remembered posts a few years back on the "broken tab story". A related condition was the battery cover (left side cover between compartment and speaker) would warp and separate from the middle cowl (shinny painted) even if the tab was not broken. A couple guys fixed that condition using zip ties to pull the cowl tighter into the top plastic. Broken tab or not.
The service manual does have the step by step removal of all plastic with pictures (that are not the best). Definitely need the manual. For the side cowl removal, even the manual neglects to say pop off the rear 3 attachments in rubber grommets and then SLIDE THE COWL FORWARD to release the clips that attach to the headlight plastic. That would be really good to know, cuz they break easily.