Chrome center and side covers fitment

[luftkoph]

Bought another Valk a few weeks ago and it has chrome side cover on it with a black center cover, and with a couple boxes of spares that came with the bike there is a chrome center cover. So I figure might as well put the chrome one on, right off you can tell the chrome one doesn't have the flexibility of the black one, and the side covers wont fit, the rear grommet is about 1/4" short of lining up, same situation  on the left and right side.

Now I can force it to fit but that's not going to cut it over time as I'm sure it will fatigue and eventually break.

Anyone else run into this problem?

[Chrisj CMA]

Did you get the lower tab on the new center cover into the grommet down belo. If not it may be too far forward.

[luftkoph]

Yes the bottom tab lines up, I did some measurements roughly on the side covers, and from the center of the rear grommet to the tab that fits into the center cover, and the chrome side covers are about 1/8"- 3/16" less in distance than a pair of black ones I have. This is how I'm measuring

Wouldn't be the first time Honda screwed up.

[Chrisj CMA]

Yes the bottom tab lines up

What does that mean?  If it's not stuck in the grommet  the rest will be off.

[luftkoph]

It's in the proper location at the center cover, the bottom tab goes in but I have to pull towards the rear to get the rear to fit in the grommet, might be the ole stacking of tolerance, that and the chrome center panel is stiff as a wedding day p#^&#r

[Jess from VA]

My first Valk came with chrome side covers. And they are much nicer than the stock black ones.

After reading all about the center cover, I abandoned all desire to find a chrome one to match.

I realize this is no help.  Sorry.

[Avanti]

I cut the rear studs and welded them back together offset towards the front. That allows the cover to fit so you don't have to pull the cover. Pulling the side cover back stresses the center cover tabs and will brake them.

[Skinhead]

I had the same problem when I went to install the chrome center cover that came with (not on) the bike.  I ended up removing the grommet and oblonging the hole the grommet fits in, and then reinstall the grommet. 

[luftkoph]

Thanks all, strange that it seems like this is something common with them, I was thinking about hogging out the grommet so it will fit.

[Chrisj CMA]

My bike had the chrome ones (all three)on it when I bought it 19 years ago. It's a tight fit but I had nothing to compare to. Tabs are still good, nothing broken in all these years.

[luftkoph]

Went with the black center, it all just fits better that way, it had broken tit that I fixed with  Plastex been cleaning on this thing for a week now, gonna call it good till next winter layup.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and pointers

[Jess from VA]

The center cover is one of those things only you know is there. 

Both my bikes are black and chrome too.