loose electrical panel : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

lowrider92 · 09-22-2008, 08:07 PM

i have a 92 lowrider and the panel on the primary side of the bike, directly underneath the seat is loose, it seems that the rubber gromit has come undone from the frame. the front bolt is kind of epoxied in there. (a short term fix turned semi permanent) Does anyone know how to fix this?

cat5752 · 09-22-2008, 09:51 PM

You are talking about the plastic side cover in the frame "triangle" under the driver's seat yes? If you want to keep that side cover, get the bolt out without trashing the side cover. That bolt goes in to what is called a "wellnut". As the bolt is tightened, it forces the well nut (which has a threaded nut in the rubber) to expand. At least that is how it is on my '85. You should be able to break the epoxy loose (heat gun but not too much -- or a Dremel and a steady hand). If you can't get the bolt out, new side covers will run you anywhere from 50 to 100 bucks for the pair. Look at Elvis' Place. He usually has side covers at about 45-60 bucks a pair. You can get primered side covers that cover the whole "triangle" from Rifle or Arlen ness for about 100 and some. Might even be available from the dealer? I know I just put new sidecovers and wellnuts on mine- the wellnuts are about 4 bucks a piece and it is a good investment to replace all 4. My right side cover came off on the ride home from buying the bike and it ended up in a trashed side cover. Hope this helps,
Andy

cat5752 · 09-22-2008, 09:56 PM

Went back and read it again... are you talking cover or where the circuit breaker/ electrical panel hooks on to the frame? Sorry... You say grommet- I don't have my Parts Catalog here but I will bet money it's a wellnut.

lowrider92 · 09-23-2008, 12:08 AM

its the electrical panel cover

cat5752 · 09-23-2008, 08:20 AM

My 85 doesn't have a cover over the electrical panel, just the side cover. Here's my old cracked ones and the set I bought to replace them.

Here's the new well nuts on the left, and you can see how the wellnuts on the right have fallen apart from dry rot. The threaded inserts had came out of all but one. Did this help? Am I on the right track?

lowrider92 · 09-24-2008, 03:55 PM

yep, that looks like my problem, so all i have to do is get new well nuts?

romannumal · 09-24-2008, 05:04 PM

I have a 89 fxlr and been looking or the well nuts were can i get them?

cat5752 · 09-24-2008, 08:12 PM

Question one, if your bolt is epoxied to the side cover, you gotta un-"fix" that fix first. Then buy new well nuts.
Question two, at your dealer. Mine cost me $4.00 a piece. Part number 8099 for 84-86 FXR/FXRS. Have them look up your year and model, because my bike has about 5-6 different part numbers for well nuts, so I imagine they come in different nut sizes and overall diameters. If your bike is like mine several well nuts are used for the oil tank mounting bolts, and mine are different part numbers then the ones the side covers use. FLTs use a lot of well nuts also, so they are still around. Hope this helps,
Andy

fastroadking106 · 09-24-2008, 08:32 PM

it is a standard 1/4 20 tread well nut you can get them at lowes for less than a buck a peice another example of our local stealers stealing from you