Need to remove the front cowl/headlight fairing on my 08 so i can send it away for plastic welding. I have a piece missing on the front (just above headlamp) that was caused by a road stone flicking up and cracking it. How easy is it to remove the front cowl? Seen clips on youtube and online that suggest its quite easy. Just unscrew mirrors, detach electrics, remove screen, unscrew from clocks (these were carried out by maintenance savvy guys though). Downloaded the official Honda maintenance manual and it seems like a much bigger job (remove inner fairings?). So how easy/straight forward is it? Any advice/tips would be gratefully received.
Its not the most straightforward instructions but for simplicity take the cowl and clock assembly off complete. drop the belly pan (4 bolts) take the inner trim off the LH and RH airduct. just push the centre of the three trim clips in and it'll pop free. be careful with the clips as they need the centres pulling out half way to reinstall. unplug the grey plug to the flapper valve. remove the centre trim under the nose cone. (centre push pin clip and sides are phillips screw head clips, undo these halfway and then pull entire clip out. Remove black trim inside front edge of LH fairing (near side of radiator) panel to reveal loom, undo allen screws that connect panels to screen above the air ducts. (black head just between outside of cowl and back of headlamp) Do both sides as it'll help cowl removal then remove the LH fairing panel, mind where the upper cowl clips in. two little locating tabs on upper cowl. Remove RH faring the same. Unplug main harness at top of rad. two big block connectors disconnect vacuum hoses under nose cone. unbolt where the clock bracket meets the frame (2 bolts near steering head) Lift the entire cowl and clock assembly off, then take it indoors and strip it on a table. way easier to work on. Less chance of dropping fiddly little screws in bank sensor etc.
