Playing home mechanic and dinged my tank. I'm so upset!

[Crazy Canadian]

I don't know what they used to put the stupid mirrors on my S2R, but I am having a hell of time removing the right mirror.  The left came off pretty good but was VERY tight.  I was fighting with the right and was worried about breaking or bending something.  I always seem to break bolts off or pop a bolt through by over-tightening.  I was trying everything to get an angle that works and the wrench slipped and there you have it.  A nice big chunk of paint from the top of my tank!  I can't freaking believe it.  This is the one thing I own with a motor on it I haven't crashed, banged up, and I've really tried to take care of. 

Now I'm stuck with two problems:

1)  How in the @#$% do I get that friggin mirror off without bending the bar or mount off?  .

2)  How do I repair the ding in my tank without it looking like shite!  It's not HUGE, but it is the size of a pea with a little scuff in front.  It's right down to the white fiber. 

[Duc Fever]

You do realize that the right mirrors threads are backwards right

[S2daRk]

You do realize that the right mirrors threads are backwards right

+1..mirror is reverse threaded.

[Crazy Canadian]

Ummm..... Huh??  #$%^  I'm doing it counter-clockwise.  No??   

[Crazy Canadian]

OMG.  You mean because of the wind??

[Duc Fever]

 

[XJBaylor]

OMG.  You mean because of the wind??

More likely that it break loose if you made contact with something, as opposed to steering the bike for you. Sorry you found out the really hard way.

[Crazy Canadian]

Okay.  Got it off.  Thanks.  Reversing the bracket worked for the left side, but not for the right as the wiring is too tight to the bar.  Plus I need to close up the hole so the threads don't rust out.  Ideas?

How about problem number two??

I can just see it now....  From that one chip the clear coat and then paint is going to start flaking away rapidly until my whole tank looks like crap.  Definitely no more pressure washing this puppy - even gently.  How do I minimize the damage without it looking worse?  I suck!!!!!!! 

An already overly expensive mod for mirrors just got even moreso......sigh....

[Duc Fever]

I have read that you can just get some plastic caps at Home Depot to do the trick or even a shallow bolt to screw in. They are just scew holes you could get creative   Use it as a mount point for a radar detector or GPS you could fab up a camera mount, possibilities are endless!!

[squidwood]

cheap and easy fix for the mirror mounts...........undo the bolts that hold the halves on, turn them upside down and then put the bolts in and tighten them up.
As for the tank fix ....maybe a decal ?

[Crazy Canadian]

cheap and easy fix for the mirror mounts...........undo the bolts that hold the halves on, turn them upside down and then put the bolts in and tighten them up.
As for the tank fix ....maybe a decal ?

Thanks.  Yeah I did the left, but the right won't work.  Wiring comes out too tight to the bar and the female spigot for the mirror won't go.  Will to find a plug.  No decals for this guy.  It's on the top of the tank just ahead and to the right of the Gas cap.

[Speeddog]

Go see your friendly neighborhood painter, see if they can touch it up, or spot it.

[55Spy]

Touchup paint?

[DrDesmo]

Go see your friendly neighborhood painter, see if they can touch it up, or spot it.

Are there painters who specialize in Ducs?  Perhaps a Duc ... Painter? 

Adam

[c_rex]

always, always, always throw a towel, old t-shirt or something over the tank when working on yer bike.  make it part of the ritual of assembling parts, tools, beers, etc.  it's a lesson learned one way or another.  I learned mine on a dirt bike years ago but fortunately didn't care too much as the thing got beat to hell anyway.