XJ side cover tip

[lsippell]

I was reassembling my XJ's side covers this evening after having just painted the plastic inserts. Last fall, when I tore the bike apart, one of the things I ordered was new grommets but not the spring nut/retainers for the plastic insert. Since I use to own a body shop I thought I should have dozens around, not! Well, desperation is the mother of invention. I found out that taking an s/s 6mm lock washer and mashing it using pliers so the split end slightly overlaps works better than the original. I seated them using a deep socket that would just fit over the stud and tapping it with a small hammer.
Not only does it hold good, it will be much easier to take off the next time.

Louis

[OpFlash]

sweet tip

[lsippell]

Yeah, I always hated them little pesky spring nuts ever since I broke a stud removing one on the XJ I had in 1982 with it only three mo. old. After that I always have cut them (the spring nut) off and replaced them with new ones, untill now!

Louis

[chevy45412001]

ace is the place

i just went to the local ace hardwere and got the replacements only cost like a nickle.