[skypup]

Has anyone lost a panel while riding? I removed a couple of panels from my new RT-S looking for a path to route my GPS wiring. Upon replacing the panels the last panel to be replaced is the small one where your check you oil level. It inserts into 3 grommets. After replacing the panels I tugged on the small panel to make sure it was secure and test rode the bike down the road and back. I rode the bike to a coffee shop and when I returned all was well. Yesterday, my wife and I went for a 100 mile ride. Our bike has 550 miles and is ready for its first oil change. Upon returning from the ride my wife noticed the "oil check panel" missing. It really ticks me off due to the precautions and checks I made. Has anyone else had this issue? Carlos, if you're listening please help me out here.

[TharkunRT]

skypup, on 19 April 2010 - 10:16 AM, said:

Has anyone lost a panel while riding? I removed a couple of panels from my new RT-S looking for a path to route my GPS wiring. Upon replacing the panels the last panel to be replaced is the small one where your check you oil level. It inserts into 3 grommets. After replacing the panels I tugged on the small panel to make sure it was secure and test rode the bike down the road and back. I rode the bike to a coffee shop and when I returned all was well. Yesterday, my wife and I went for a 100 mile ride. Our bike has 550 miles and is ready for its first oil change. Upon returning from the ride my wife noticed the "oil check panel" missing. It really ticks me off due to the precautions and checks I made. Has anyone else had this issue? Carlos, if you're listening please help me out here.

Sorry to hear about the missing mid panel. There are 3 rubber grommets that keep it attached. When attaching the panel, one needs to make sure the grommets are not "pushed" out of place.

Even if one is missing, the other two should keep it attached, or at least you should notice it starting to come loose. Not sure what happened in your situation, strange to have the securing system
totally fail.

Are the grommets still intact ?

[Tonga]

TharkunRT, on 19 April 2010 - 10:45 AM, said:

Sorry to hear about the missing mid panel. There are 3 rubber grommets that keep it attached. When attaching the panel, one needs to make sure the grommets are not "pushed" out of place.

Even if one is missing, the other two should keep it attached, or at least you should notice it starting to come loose. Not sure what happened in your situation, strange to have the securing system
totally fail.

Are the grommets still intact ?

Along with the gromits the panel has a clip that connects to the adjoining panel at the top towards the rear. I didn't notice it at first but after washing my RT I did notice extra spacing at the rear and a closer look showed the clip over top of instead of behind the adjoining panel.

[RTS-PE-551]

I picked up the RTS in Denver and rode it to our home in Arkansas, went down to Little rock and did the 600 mile check. the panel was loose coming out of the shop. the manager just wacked it back in place. within 300 miles I noticed it didn't look the same on both sides. so I took it off and noticed a tab on the left center side. I made sure the tab lock on the other panel. 4,000 miles later it was still there. that is not a unique panel for that problem

[TharkunRT]

Tonga, on 19 April 2010 - 05:59 PM, said:

Along with the gromits the panel has a clip that connects to the adjoining panel at the top towards the rear. I didn't notice it at first but after washing my RT I did notice extra spacing at the rear and a closer look showed the clip over top of instead of behind the adjoining panel.

There is also a "tab" on the front edage, in the center, that also secures the panel.

[Ricardo]

Hi all,

There is a Service Bulletin (link to PDF file below) that shows how to fix the 3 rubber grommets in the middle side panel of the Spyder RT-S.

Service Bulletin 2010-007

I have found an easier and faster solution for this issue. Instead of use some drops of Loctite in the grommets, I have used plastic straps to fix them in the side panel. Please see the two attached pictures which illustrates better what I'm writing. Following this procedure, the rubber grommets will never loose , even if they went out of the hole where they are inserted. If this occurs, the only thing you have to do is to properly attached the rubber in hole again.

I hope this can help Spyder owners with have the same problem.

This post has been edited by Ricardo: 25 October 2011 - 06:56 AM

[Nancy'sToy]

TharkunRT, on 23 April 2010 - 12:00 PM, said:

There is also a "tab" on the front edage, in the center, that also secures the panel.

Not on all Spyder RTs, only on some of the earlier 2010s.

[GCeee]

skypup, on 19 April 2010 - 10:16 AM, said:

Has anyone lost a panel while riding?

I was determined not to lose one so I used a tether to retain the oil-check panel, as this is the one most often removed, in case it ever did come loose.

[rhinozxq]

I added Baker built air wings to our RT Limited and now you have to remove one bolt to get this panel off. This successfully fixes the problem off this panel falling off and we also have the advantage of the air wings on the Spyder.