Side cover for battery

[mikefromohio]

I recently purchase a Corbin seat which I know many members of this forum have on their bikes. After installing the seat I had to remove the side panel  covering the battery side and struggled to get it off. I ended up breaking the male ends attached to the cover and rendered it useless. The Honda dealer wants $176 for a replacement of the panel which is stunning.


I'm planning on getting a new panel, but would appreciate any tips on how to best remove and reinstall the cover in the future. I think the Corbin seat wasn't made correctly to accommodate the panels which is creating the problem. Things like this are maddening.

[hubcapsc]

Take off the seat first is all I know... I had a Corbin on there
for a while, and changed to a Russell, on the OEM seat pan.
The Russell won't allow the side covers off either...

-Mike

[Jack B]

Can't you but a pair of chrome side covers for $200.

[Robert]

I have the Corbin seat and really dont have a problem with the side  covers coming off with the seat on.  There is a way to do it,

First, the supports that hold the rubber grommets that are used to hold on the side covers are not made well. The covers tend to stick in the grommets and some of the holders of the grommets are very flimsy. So when you go to pull off the cover the grommets stick on the covers and the holder of the grommet moves with the cover instead of staying in place and makes the problem all the worse. If they release quickly then there is enough clearance by playing a bit to get the cover off. You still have to maneuver a bit but its not bad. I have found this with all the covers by the way so this tip will make service of the bike easier.

If you take some grease or preferably silicon grease and put it on the cover pegs and the grommets the covers will be much easier to take off and put on. As for the side covers under the seat once popped out of the grommets will give you room to position by moving the bottom out first or up or down as to be able to take it out. One cover comes off pretty easily and the other is a bit harder. Once off, to put it back on you slide the cover under the seat to the proper position then snap it in place. If you align the bottom attaching points first once its in approximate position its much easier to get it in.

The first few times dont be afraid to pull up and out on the seat edge, not to hard to give just a bit more room. I now never touch the seat and have no problem in or out. Its a maneuver that is learned and really not the extra clearance of the seat. Its a bit of a trial and error thing in the beginning but once the technique is learned its a piece of cake. Sometimes things go really easily and others it takes a bit but overall its not bad.

I dont remember the exact moves to get the cover off but sometimes the bottom of the cover once unhooked from the grommets pulls out just a bit and then slide down and back.

You should be able to repair the cover with some epoxy or hot glue and a little work or find one used. The side tabs on the 1500 break and there are some article of some who have repaired them and how. It could be used on our side covers also.

The most important piece to this is get the grommets to release the side cover so its loose, first then you will be able to maneuver the cover out.

[Robert]

I am trying for a video but these are just a couple of shots to see how. Lube the grommets

[mikefromohio]

Thanks for everyone's help, it is much appreciated.

Mike

[tngarren]

Some things never  change. When I was around 10 years old, my dad traded my Briggs and Stratton mini bike for a Honda SL70. It was like going from a Pinto to a Porsche. Wonderful, indestructible little bike. The only thing I can remember disliking were the side covers and rubber grommets.  50 years and 20 bikes later, here I am again. .

[Robert]

Some things never  change. When I was around 10 years old, my dad traded my Briggs and Stratton mini bike for a Honda SL70. It was like going from a Pinto to a Porsche. Wonderful, indestructible little bike. The only thing I can remember disliking were the side covers and rubber grommets.  50 years and 20 bikes later, here I am again. .

 

It also helps to put silicon lube on the grommets to be able to push the cover on and take it off.