Beating the Dzus Fastener Blues

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I don't worry about that Dzus fastener either - I replaced it with a bolt and nyloc nut on both of my Commandos! 8)

One of the guys in our club lost the sidepanel recently when the Dzus fastener failed. Wasn't quite as bad as Tim's, he managed to retrieve it before it got run over. It did get a big dent though.

Nothing to add about the rodent testicles, etc. other than to say I learn something new almost every day here! :lol:

Debby
 
But are some of these things worth learning?

Dave
69S
 
That is classic !!!
Sorry for chuckling at your misfortune.

I think I'd be grateful that the encounter with a truck was only a sidecover, and the rest of the bike didn't look like that.................


Beating the Dzus Fastener Blues
 
+1 with debby. Though it is more of a pain getting the drive side side cover on and off; when using the bolt and nyloc locknut method.(which is what I use) BUT ... at least I have NOT had the left side cover fall off since !!! Believe me, I was just sick when my beautiful, newly painted, candy apple red side cover fell off, and was then run over by the car behind me. Why you may ask ??? Well, the Dzus fastner became, er ... "unfastened" ... maybe something to do with the way these bikes vibrate ??? For the skeptics out there who have not had a left sidecover fall off (yet) stick with the dzus if ya want to ... but you have been warned.
 
Dzuz Fastener Blues....#1 with a bullet if you could put it to music. I want props if you/somebody does.
 
Slup,

I'd much rather that happened to my sidecover than my testicle.....
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Most of us have two testicles, those with only one usually have a good story ?, which is it ?.
 
Josh Cox said:
Slup,

I'd much rather that happened to my sidecover than my testicle.....
Click to expand...

Most of us have two testicles, those with only one usually have a good story ?, which is it ?.
Click to expand...


Now you know why you have TWO sidecovers............. !!
 
I like that blue. You should buy the set that's for sale In the classafides, you keep the panel & I'll take the tank and oil tank cover for safe keeping...
 
Rohan said:
Josh Cox said:
Slup,

I'd much rather that happened to my sidecover than my testicle.....
Click to expand...

Most of us have two testicles, those with only one usually have a good story ?, which is it ?.
Click to expand...


Now you know why you have TWO sidecovers............. !!
Click to expand...

Always good to have a spare, kidneys, eyes, etc........
 
Even the Dzus fastener can go out tune. The wire is adjustable with a needle nose pliers. This black art can be easily mastered and when oneness is attained with the elusive Dzus, all will be well with the cover, for crying out loud.
 
pvisseriii said:
Even the Dzus fastener can go out tune. The wire is adjustable with a needle nose pliers. This black art can be easily mastered and when oneness is attained with the elusive Dzus, all will be well with the cover, for crying out loud.
Click to expand...

I've found the circlip to be the bugaboo.......needle nose notwithstanding....
 
Really an idea whose time has come. I've been there too holding it with my left hand and my leg hoping I can downshift, hold in the clutch and stop without dropping the sidepanel. Paint is expensive.
 
JimR said:
Really an idea whose time has come. I've been there too holding it with my left hand and my leg hoping I can downshift, hold in the clutch and stop without dropping the sidepanel. Paint is expensive.
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+1! I didn't know others have experienced this unforgettable moment too!!!

Just had new paint, riding across the Pulaski Skyway (300' high bridge, no curbs or runoff, angry NYC drivers trying their damndest to get to the Jersey Turnpike in record time) and my beautiful sidepanel came loose. I probably could've held it in place with my leg until I found a place to pull off, but like a bonehead I reached down and grabbed it. Now what? Sidepanel in my left hand, bike in top gear, and no where to pull off. Ack! I couldn't bear to drop it to save my life, nor could I rest it on my beautiful tank. So, I just rode with one hand while a couple of friends surrounded me and kept the cars at bay. Over the bridge, into a breakdown lane and used my rear brake to slow and bog the bike until it came to a lumpy stop. Not pretty, but somehow I'm here laughing about it now.

I'm sticking to the racetrack. Street riding is craaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeeee!
 
rvich said:
So this is what I decided to do. I put a tether on my side panel made from 150-pound mono fishing line. It is long enough to lay the panel on the seat but short enough that it wont hit the ground if dropped.

The tether easily lays in the tray when the panel is fitted to the bike.
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If that sidecover ever comes off while you're on the road, you may end up wishing you didn't have it tethered to the bike. If it comes loose at freeway speeds, I can easily imagine it flying around on the tether like some sort of ancient Shaolin weapon, and possibly (likely) finding it's way into the rear wheel spokes. With enough bad luck involved, it looks like it could be ingested by the bike between the wheel and fender.


I think you're tempting Murphy's law with that modification.


Something like a heavy metal paper clip -- the black kind with two handles for leverage -- clipped to the inside of the tool tray, with a short tether, might be more safe.
 
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