How much of the fairing parts do you have to remove, if any, on the newer F models for access to check and adjust the valves? I watched the excellant valve adj sequence online, but it was on the older non-faired models. The actual valve adj looks pretty straight forward, compared to many oveerhead cam bikes out there, and I'm into easy maintenance. I don't own a GS right now, but when my nephew was looking for his first street bike, I found him a very nice, nakid GS that he loves. I am thining of getting myself a GS500, and once rode a nice 1980 GS450ST for some years.

    jon in puyallup

Quote from: Birdmove on September 17, 2006, 12:56:27 PM

    How much of the fairing parts do you have to remove, if any, on the newer F models for access to check and adjust the valves? I watched the excellant valve adj sequence online, but it was on the older non-faired models. The actual valve adj looks pretty straight forward, compared to many oveerhead cam bikes out there, and I'm into easy maintenance. I don't own a GS right now, but when my nephew was looking for his first street bike, I found him a very nice, nakid GS that he loves. I am thining of getting myself a GS500, and once rode a nice 1980 GS450ST for some years.

    jon in puyallup

Take the seat off and remove the tank bolts there. It is the same from then on out. No fairing removal required.

And even if you did have to take them off, it's a breeze. I do it whenever I change the oil, just to make the job easier.

Dave 

Quote from: My Name Is Dave on September 17, 2006, 01:41:36 PM
And even if you did have to take them off, it's a breeze. I do it whenever I change the oil, just to make the job easier.

Dave 

I removed the fairings when I decided to change the valve gasket, just to get easier access to some of the bolts.

Quote from: My Name Is Dave on September 17, 2006, 01:41:36 PM
And even if you did have to take them off, it's a breeze. I do it whenever I change the oil, just to make the job easier.

Dave 

WHAT?  Man I'm lazy but now I feel incompedent. 

Quote from: My Name Is Dave on September 17, 2006, 01:41:36 PM
And even if you did have to take them off, it's a breeze. I do it whenever I change the oil, just to make the job easier.

Dave 

Yep, takes less than 5 minutes to remove the fairings.  Mine come off all the time.  Once removed, you have tons more room to work...

I guess you don't *have* to take the fairings off, but personally I thought it was a PITA to get to the front valve cover and head bolts with the fairings on there.  Taking off the lower fairings is pretty simple once you figure out the plastic clips, and really makes the whole job a lot easier.

QuoteTaking off the lower fairings is pretty simple once you figure out the plastic clips, and really makes the whole job a lot easier.

What is the best way to take the plastic clip off without breaking it?  Any special tool involve?  Thanks,

picture? I don't remember anything on the GS fairings besides the bolts.

Quote from: Markca on August 20, 2009, 06:55:22 AM

QuoteTaking off the lower fairings is pretty simple once you figure out the plastic clips, and really makes the whole job a lot easier.

What is the best way to take the plastic clip off without breaking it?  Any special tool involve?  Thanks,

the plastic clip has a small pin in the middle.
just push that pin using a narrow screwdriver, and then you will be able to take that plastic clip off using your fingers only.
If it doesn't want to come off easily you can use Flathead screwdriver to make the job easier.
But ALWAYS push the pin first.

good luck!

annguyen1981 - It's the 2 clips that hold the L&R lower fairing together.
kml.krk - You mean pushing the middle pin out completely, before taking the clip out? Because I thought by pushing the middle pin out, the inside part of the clip will expand, and make it harder to come out.  I've heard of a tool (or a flat screw driver with a V cut on the tip) that allow you to scoop up the clip, and the pin together, so the lower part of the clip does not expand.  I will try and see if I can completely take out the pin first, if so then the clip will come out no problem.  Thank you for the advice.

^^^
you are partially right. when the pin is even with plastic clip head (pushed into first position) then the clip is expanded and secured to the fairings.
But there is 'second position of the pin and it is when you push that pin even deeper into the clip.
It basically has the same effect as pulling the pin out.
But as you can imagine pulling the pin out is almost impossible that's why you push it in and then after you remove the clip from the fairing you push the pin out from the other direction.

try it - you will be amazed how easy it is to remove those clips using that method.

kml.krk - I think you are talking about the plastic clip on the inside of the fairing (just below, where the turn light signal is), these clips can be removed as you said (ie. push the middle pin in, then remove the whole plastic pin).  The Plastic Clips that I have problem with are the 2 clips at the bottom of the fairing that hold the L & R fairing together.  Right now I am getting-by by taking both L & R fairing (sliding them out from under neath).

the bigger clips at the bottom pull the center of the clip out then pull the outside of the clip out of the plastic then dont lose the peices.

I use a flat head screwdriver.  There are notches on two sides so that you can slide the head in and pry the pins off.  Really easy once you start doing it this way.  I don't think those other little black pins (for the upper fairing) really do anything except give people headaches.  I broke one a long time ago and have seen no reason to replace it, and when the other one breaks I won't be replacing it either.