Replacement fairing fasteners
 

Lately, whilst not busy wrecking my own panels :o (see a different thread) I've been looking into this well-nut business.

I'm thinking of selling a replacement kit, to comprise of stainless steel button head allen screw, stainless steel nyloc nut, stainless steel plain washer, nylon washer, and O-ring.
The nylon washer fits under the head as usual. On the back the o-ring goes on first, then the plain stainless washer, then the nyloc nut. The o-ring is there to protect the panel and stop you overtightening,. The nyloc nut just needs to be nipped up until the o-ring is just starting to be compressed, not too tight.

I've done this on my own bike, and am very satisfied with the results.

The big advantage is that twelve months or so down the line, you *will* be able to take them out in five minutes, whereas the stock well-nuts are impossible except when new.
I know, I spent literally hours the other night taking the well-nut fixings off my nose-cone. All you'll need to get mine off is a 2.5mm allen key and a 7mm ring-spanner.

There's a couple of people who offer kits on ebay, but they all use well-nuts *(albeit the common-or-garden "industrial" type, not the Ducati type), and some require you to start enlarging the holes in your fairing, ffs!


So, would there be any interest here in kits of these? I'm thinking about 25 quid for both sides of the fairing (14 fixings), and maybe a nose-cone kit too, proportionately less. Obviously with a discount for DSC members. :D

So would there be any interest? I've sure you don't need telling that the stock fixings are over £4 each! :(









*Also, the "industrial" well-nuts are coarse thread. The Ducati screws are fine thread, so you can't mix and match.

[Edited on 5-3-2005 by moto748]

Hmmm...

28 views, no replies...


I'll take that as a "no", then. :sniff:
May press on and bung a few on ebay, anyway.

Although your kit is significantly cheaper than the OE alternative, I think your price is a bit too high.

Boxes of 50 button head stainless screws, nuts, and plastic washers from RS would cost a bit less than that, and RS aint the cheapest place to buy fasteners...

Sorry, but that is why I viewed and didn't respond before.

Cheers,
John.

Fair enough, John. That;s the sort of feedback I was looking for.

Of course, whatever you charge, it'd always be more than someone could source them themselves for. The profit margin represents the buyer's time gain in not having to faff around sourcing the parts himself.

You may well be right that the price I suggested is a little too high, but there's a guy on ebay selling kits with plated (not stainless) allen screws, and well-nuts (an inferior method in my opinion). He charges £29.99 + £3 P&P!

Another guy does offer stainless screws at only £12.99, but again it's well-nuts, and you have to enlarge your fairing holes (something I expect many prospective customers would be unwilling to do).

[Edited on 7-3-2005 by moto748]

I wonder just how many kits the guys on ebay actually sell though...

I have no problem with using well-nuts but as you say am not prepared to enlarge holes.
I also don't mind people making a modest profit. As you say you will have invested time & money.

Maybe 13 quid is more the right mark, assuming there is still a margin in it for you.