I just recently picked up a 2003 CBR F4i and I'm trying to get the lower cowl (v-fairing directly behind wheel) off the lower side fairings. It looks like whoever put the screws in last time used locktite, and I can't get the screws free from the nuts.

Anyone have any advice on how to free them up? I've managed to get the lower side fairings off so I can access inside the lower cowl and the inside mounting points.

I've tried WD-40, PB Blaster, even a warm soldering iron on the screws ends to try and heat up the locktite, but nothing so far.

At this point I'm thinking of just cutting the rubber off the lower cowl nuts, exposing the brass and jimmying it off. Worse yet, I'll have to break the lower cowl completely to get it off the lower side fairings and then replace it.

Anyone know any tricks for freeing up locktite??

Many thanks to any advice.

 

it its blue it should break loose....

You need to heat it up with a torch. That should do it. But often an impact wrench will also do it because of the hammering action of the impact tool.

if its red ur prolly sol u may have to drill and tap

 

try holding the wellnuts with needlenose in case they are spinning, if the arent just heat the locktite with a heat gun, it will melt and then they come out easy. ive dont it with the red even before-thats usually the only way to get it off, just be gentle with the plastics

 

Excellent, thanks. I'll give this a shot. With any luck I'll be able to break through the loctite.

Thanks again

 

All else fails take out all the fairing bolts and the 2 side peices will fall.. then you can get them out from under the bike then work on it with out breaking anything

 

Just thought I'd post an update to this problem.

Everything is good now. Thanks to yog182 for the advice on dropping the sides away from the bike. I was able to remove the two sides and lower cowl as one piece after dropping it from the bike by cautiously working one fairing underneath the bike.

I had to sacrifice two of the four lower cowl nuts to get the pieces apart, but once the rubber was removed from the brass nut a pair of needle-nose pliers got them free. The lower cowl nuts are cheap to replace compared to the fairings.

Happy riding!