Holes in a Winglet???

[Reavsie]

Good morning to all, can anyone help me here...

after reading many of the threads on the winglets and how the do help deflect wind etc I bought some from Rainbow for my GS (not adv) and will be fixing them myself, they havent arrived yet but before they do i was going to make some little brackets with a nutserts all ready for when they arrive.

where i work we have a metal shop and i like to get messy and make stuff..

Q: Does anyone know what size holes are in the winglets i.e. 5mm / 6mm / etc so that i can make my plates to suit the screws i wish to use.??? cheers!

 

[BobJ]

Dunno what size the winglet holes are but the bolts for the OE BMW winglets are M5 x 20. The hole in the winglet will be slightly larger as there is a bush that fits between the winglet and the bodywork.
When you've made it, could you post some pics and drawing/measurements here. I was going to try and cobble together something similar but in the end I resorted to big washers as it was quicker and my missus seems to think I spend too much time in the garage as it is
Cheers

 

[Reavsie]

Gladly! but initially it wasnt going to be nothing too spectacular, just a big washer probably a rectangle to suit the plastic panels. maybe ally which has a nutsert in it.

I may even make it one piece of material for both nutsert as then if one screw comes out, the other will stay in and then you dont have a 30 x 20 rect washer about to bounce under the bike.?? not sure though....

I also have some 1.2mm thick rubber which i was going to place between the winglet and the side panel just for damping as i have heard of people screwing them straight through and then getting cracked side panels, so this is why i fancied making a bigger washer so to spread the force.......and a little rubber goes a long way....

If i get it working and all seems fine i could just post you the washers with the nutserts in! as i tend to make more than one when making stuff incase of errors etc....no cost.....no problem...

 

[Reavsie]

typical......

just been to our stores, and we only do M2.5 / M3 / M4 / M6 / M8 / M10 ......but no M5 !!

If the hole is larger and could fit an M6 bolt, i have some lovely M6 button head hex bolts and we use clinch nuts here which are ally and really nice......

But i still need to know how big the hole is??

So BobJ, we may need to wait until my order actually turns up from Rainbow, but i'll keep you posted.

But i have managed to grab myself some polycarb/makrolon which i am attempting to make a head light protector from......so thats one good thing I suppose..

 

[BobJ]

Nice one Reavsie Keep us posted.
Whilst the washer solution to winglet fixing hasn't been an issue since I put 'em on in October, I am very conscious that it's a bit of a bodge bearing in mind that on the GSA they are bolted through the bodywork onto a modified subframe. I'm sure if BMW thought they could get away with a couple of penny washers they'd have done it

 

[Humbug]

Reavsie,

I've fitted the Nippy Norman winglets which use M6 bolts. First the bolt, then a plastic washer, then the winglet, rubber washer, sidepanel, metal washer and nyloc nut. They advise drilling a 7mm hole but I found 6.5mm was adequate.

No problems with cracking and the whole seems quite rigid.

Hope this is of some use.

Andy

 

[Reavsie]

BogJ

I dont suppose it matters exactly where you drill the holes i.e up or down on the panel (if that makes sense) do you know what i mean, if we was to say from where the two different panels join?!

I was thinking of where they are on the GSA?

but obviously the same on both sides.......

 

[BobJ]

Reavsie,
You need to line the back end of the winglet up with the panel join on the bodywork - if you fix it too far forward, not only will it have the potential to foul the adventure screen (if you've got one or are planning to get one) but also the front power socket mounting point (if you look up at the n/s panel from underneath you'll see a circle moulded in the plastic where this should go).
The NN winglets come with a template for drilling but not the BM ones. I guess they never envisaged anyone would bother fitting them?
If I get chance when I get home tonight I'll take a few snaps and post them.

 

[BobJ]

Reavsie - try this link - it's got a couple of reasonable shots of the winglets fitted which should help.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151722&highlight=winglets