Side panel removal - Allen bolt spinning

[Lampiejohn]

Hi All,

I'm trying to remove the front side panels from my '14 CT, but the lower Allen bolts are just spinning. Feels like whatever nut or fitting it's screwed into is just turning as well.

Has anyone got any hints/tips?

Thanks
John

[Hartley]

Here you go mate:
Good luck
https://www.crosstourer.com/index.php/topic,3644.0.html

[Oregonian]

It is incredibly frustrating how Honda designed that nut well.  It takes very little torque on that bolt to deform the plastic.

I resolved my overtightened bolt by drilling it out, finally removing the panel and replacing the deformed piece with another one from Honda for about $50.

I now put a piece of blue painters tape warning to the mechanic to barely tighten the bolt.

[battle_bulge]

Japanese people are very humble.

When Honda engineers realised they had come up with THE perfect bike, they came up with this little idea so other manufacturers would not lose face 😉

[Lampiejohn]

:)

What size bolt is it? Before I start drilling I want to order up some replacements :)

Contemplating redesigning it a bit once I manage to get the damn thing out.

Thanks
John

[DE65Y]

I've not ventured down to the mudguard yet but Honda have used the same fixing there on other models, so I would expect the Tourer to be the same.

Whilst removing the mudguard on my BIRD one of these fixings was solid, then it went and turned.
Unfortunately, it turned because it had ripped a hole through the top of the mudguard, ouch!

[Beer Belly]

I've used a glue gun to fill the small gap between the plastic surround and the receiving nut attached to it, hopefully it will help to prevent the nut turning if the threads ever get a bit tight or corroded.

[Hartley]

John,  have you looked at the link to the thread I posted?
There’s the method I used added to end of the first post and McGrath added his method on page 7.

There are ways to get it out without drilling it out.