Loose side covers

[Whopper Stopper]

I have never had any problems with loose side covers on my 1500. Recently I bought new grommets and replaced the originals. Twice since then, while riding in windy weather, the right cover pulled out and luckily I was able to pull over before it flew off.

Is there anything I can do with the fastening pegs on the back side of the covers to build them up making them fit the grommets better? So far new isn’t better.

Thanks for any tips or comments. By the way the replacements were Honda brand.

[Catfish]

I've never had a problem with them on my 09. Possibly a little electrical tape on the male protrusions would help.

[Ed Hobgood]

When I had my 1500 I had a side cover come off on me when I was on a six lane highway and doing about 80 mph. Well I did get it back with just one little scrach and I ordered some gromets from Wingstuff and they worked great for me.

[CrystalPistol]

Over in the 1200 section I posted a reply about how I secure the side covers on it with a cord the runs from the rear frame tube next to shock through a 3/16 or slightly larger hole in rear lip of cover across back side of cover and out front edge to be tied off on motor mount.

Well, on our '97 trike .... we purchased it in 2004 and besides a new battery, part of the deal was they replace a right side cover that had blown off and got runned over before being retrieved. Over $400 it cost them.

So naturally, I promptly looked at a similar arrangement for the 1500 trike. The top of the side covers fit under the seat, the bottom of them has to be pulled out first to remove them. Along the lower edge of the 1500's covers is a recessed lip that is like a recess. I drilled two holes in each, one near front in that lip and one in rear just ahead of where the trike's rear fender and the bracket with those two rubbers are. I used simular cord, tied a loop and zip tied it to the trike's frame at the front of the cover, pull it through the front hole, push it back through rear hole and pulled a foot or 16" slack in it. I tied a loop in it.

In use I install the cover, pull slack to outside, reach under and pull cord behind the cover at rear to remove slack, and then found a way to lace the cord underneath and simply hook a small bungie cord 's hook in it to maintain snugness.

No one ever sees the cord as it's in a recess along the lower edge of the side cover next to pass floor boards .... and unless I reach under and unhook that bungie and pull slack back through, it ain't coming off. The 12-16" slack allows me to lay the cover up on the seat, etc as desired when servicing the trike.

I have installed new grommets, even have spares .... my covers fit as well as any. A little Vaseline makes life easier on the pegs. But at higher speeds and especially in high winds, there is a pressure that can build under the trike and it can blow the side covers off .... that's what my cord stops ...... and they may discourage theft.

To aid in spotting it, see the yellow in the lower picture.

[knob]

Just an idea, you might dip the male ends in some Plastidip a few times.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

My thought would be to buy some more grommets ... seems the ones you got are too large holed. I got some from Honda, and the side covers are nice and tight now.

[Catfish]

Grommets aren't very expensive, I'd probably buy new again. Haven't had my side covers off for a while, but I seem to remember they aren't all the same. Maybe I'm wrong, but thought one was a rectangle.

[Whopper Stopper]

Thanks for the tips and comments. The pictures were also Excellent!

Maybe I should just put a couple more in and see if that helps. Then I will try some method of building up the pins and if worse comes to worse I will try CrystalPistol's fix.

Just disappointed after putting the new Honda grommets in and taking a step back.

Thanks Again!

WS

[Whopper Stopper]

I got to looking and I may have screwed up. I noticed in the frame there were oval holes and I just associated them with the oval grommets. I took the ones out that I put in and repaced them with the round ones in the kit. Yep, that did it.

Thanks to all who tried to help. Good forum and good people!

WS

[TW]

A few months ago one of my side covers on my Valkyrie almost blew off. I just put a couple of laps of electrical tape on the male end of the fitting and it worked , at least so far. Tomorrow may be a different story. They are probably expensive.
Good luck.