Side panel help

[Maine-Rider]

Why dont my side panels close flush? Is there anything I can do to fix it? I can hold it flush but it wont stay there. Kind of bugs me, haha. I cant see it being from a bent chassis because it was never perfect when I bought it new. But seems to have gotten slightly worse.

 

[HenkeEdge]

Sorry to have to say it but I think we have to live with that. My is the same (have been since brand new).

On the Cluth-side, the spare belt can cause some distance on top against the hood. I had to bend in the metal thingie a bit that holds the spare to get the fit more snug.

 

[toofpaste]

I have three sets that fit really good, but I also have one set that does what yours does. And that set is a blue LE set that was boxed and not shipped mounted on my sled. And like the above poster said, my spare belt does slightly push out at the top of the panel. But back to the ill fitting set I have, its so bad that the inside "catch" by my knee often doesn't hook into the body plastic. Reminds me of my old ZX chassis hood. Everytime I close it, I have to bang it in a few areas to get it where it needs to be before latching.

 

[Maine-Rider]

Well that stinks, lol. Is there anything people are doing to fix it (adding strap or quarter turn fastener)?

 

[Reg2view]

FWIW, I zip tie my spare belt in two places near the ends of the belt to retain a slight curve in the belt when it's in the holder - it stopped the deformation of the side panel. Figured it out with the hood off when my 11 was new.

 

[HammsRMK]

I have three sets that fit really good, but I also have one set that does what yours does. And that set is a blue LE set that was boxed and not shipped mounted on my sled. And like the above poster said, my spare belt does slightly push out at the top of the panel. But back to the ill fitting set I have, its so bad that the inside "catch" by my knee often doesn't hook into the body plastic. Reminds me of my old ZX chassis hood. Everytime I close it, I have to bang it in a few areas to get it where it needs to be before latching.

My voodoo blue doesn't fight right either, but my white are pretty good.

 

[snowman80]

There should be two tabs sticking down on the hood where the spare belt goes (one on each side of the metal clip). They appear to be there for absolutely no reason but they are there to hold the belt away from the panel. If you tuck the belt behind them they will hold the belt away from the side panel and let your panel fit better. It took me awhile to figure this out. It made my panel fit a lot better. Maybe you guys figured this out already but I figured it was worth a shot.

 

[Maine-Rider]

There should be two tabs sticking down on the hood where the spare belt goes (one on each side of the metal clip). They appear to be there for absolutely no reason but they are there to hold the belt away from the panel. If you tuck the belt behind them they will hold the belt away from the side panel and let your panel fit better. It took me awhile to figure this out. It made my panel fit a lot better. Maybe you guys figured this out already but I figured it was worth a shot.

Ill take a look . So there on both sides of the belt clip?

 

[snowman80]

Ill take a look . So there on both sides of the belt clip?

Yep, one on each side of the metal clip.

 

[11RMK]

side panel

With both side panels off install one side, I chose to start with the Left side. There is a plastic clip on the panel itself that needs to expand and slide over a tab on the hood as you slip it on. From the side that has no panel on it reach through under the hood, over the pipe with your hand and pull that clip over the tab, push tight with other hand so it snaps on and then turn your metal clips tight.
I found that once you do this and ride it a few times the clip will expand to where it needs to be and from then on it will slide right on. Once you have one side done, if the other side doesnt fit do it to that side too.
This has worked for both my 12' and 13'. The clip develops a memory once it is locked on the right way several times. Also while your hand is in there pull the spare belt back so it isn't putting pressure on the panel.
This has worked for me, good luck.

 

[Maine-Rider]

Perfect, thanks for all the help. Ill start by putting belt behind the clips and go from there. Hope it helps.