SW-Motech Skid Plate Install

freeflow

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markjenn said:
Can't compare to the Altrider, but the SW-Motech isn't very hard. Four bolt/nuts that are relatively easy to access on the front, then four bolts from the bottom. If it takes more than 2 minutes, I'm probably drunk.

- Mark
is it just me?, or are the SW Motech supplied bolts complete soft crap?...the hex head bolts are rounded out after only a few skid plate removals....

need to find replacement bolts....
 

fredz43

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freeflow said:
is it just me?, or are the SW Motech supplied bolts complete soft crap?...the hex head bolts are rounded out after only a few skid plate removals....

need to find replacement bolts....

Didn't have any problems in over 32,000 miles with that plate or bolts on my 2012. Got a new one on my 14 now. I just use my allen tee handle to hold the heads of the front bolts while I loosen the nuts with a 10 mm racheting box end wrench. There isn't much force on the small allen socket head bolts that way. I had the same hex head bolts for underneath that I started with on the 2012. Are you using a properly fitting 10 mm socket on those?
 

racer1735

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freeflow said:
is it just me?, or are the SW Motech supplied bolts complete soft crap?...the hex head bolts are rounded out after only a few skid plate removals....

need to find replacement bolts....
That's correct...the four little bolts in the front are very soft. I replaced mine with similar bolts from Fastenal. Only difference is these are black. Doesn't matter to me on color, but they are MUCH more solid.
 

AlsoRan

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freeflow said:
is it just me?, or are the SW Motech supplied bolts complete soft crap?...the hex head bolts are rounded out after only a few skid plate removals....

need to find replacement bolts....
Have one of the first SW-Motech's and never a problem. Sometimes it's the tools that create an issue and not the bolts. No need to over tighten them as well.
 

freeflow

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fredz43 said:
Didn't have any problems in over 32,000 miles with that plate or bolts on my 2012. Got a new one on my 14 now. I just use my allen tee handle to hold the heads of the front bolts while I loosen the nuts with a 10 mm racheting box end wrench. There isn't much force on the small allen socket head bolts that way. I had the same hex head bolts for underneath that I started with on the 2012. Are you using a properly fitting 10 mm socket on those?
not using a socket....using my Thandle to hold the bolt and a ratcheting box end on the nut....but grit and grime make them a bit tough to remove, thus the bolt heads are rounded out...need to grab them with a vice grips to back them off....grrr....

probablly over tighten them too, a skid plate drop down ejector seat surprise isn't on my list of favorites :D
 

racer1735

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Looking back,I posted this response on Oct. 2013 after installing my skidplate
racer1735 said:
I installed a SW Motech skid plate last night. Super-easy installation thanks to this thread (great pics to go with your commentary). I have a Bosch 3300 filter and like a previous poster said, it has about 3/8" of clearance in the front. Will have to remove the plate to do a filter change (which I do at every oil change), but no biggee as that only occurs a coupld times a year.

One word of caution when installing this plate. The hex-head cap screws used on the front are very soft and easy to strip the head. I didn't, but can see that happening. I may have to search for replacment screws or alternatives. Fortunately, they are located in an area where, should you strip a head, you can grab the lock nut on the back side to remove the screw.
I use a hex bit. The problem is a very shallow depth to insert the bit into. get it a bit crooked and you've rounded out the hex.
 

racer1735

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And, as a late follow-up, I find that the best way to remove the hex-head screws are to hold the head steady with a hex, and remove the backing nut with a wrench. This places less stress on the screw head.
 

terrysig

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...and just cinch them tight. My one slightly difficult one was when i'd tightened it to much the oil change before.
 

magic

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I installed one of these yesterday on my "new" 2013 ST. SW Motech has made a change. They no longer have the rubber bumper that threads into the rear of the oil pan included in their instructions. Maybe some broken oil sumps? Nice write up and pictures on the original thread there Twisties. Wow, this original post is like 4 years old.
 

silvergoose

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Great write up and photos, credit to the author.

Now for the questions. Many of the skid plates I have reviewed are at best lightweight poser units. Has anyone ever damaged a SW skid plate to point that the plate came in contact with the sump,sump damage? The brackets holding the plate in position leave an open area in front of the oil filter, the very item we are trying to protect. The rear bracket appears to be made out of thin stock and would deform if the weight of the bike came down on an hard object, be that rock or log.

What is the damage policy from the skid plate suppliers? I fully realize that conditions can not be controlled in every phase, but have the plate manufacturers been taken to task due to failure and resulting engine damage? Some of the suppliers list their plate thickness as if it is the ultimate, wrong 3mm is less than 1/8 inch and given the span between the brackets not very strong.

Don't get me wrong, I think everyone should have a choice of products for the bikes or anything else for that matter, I would just like to see some real world testing and comments.

I don't mind spending money, I don't like to waste it.
 

aage

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freeflow said:
is it just me?, or are the SW Motech supplied bolts complete soft crap?...the hex head bolts are rounded out after only a few skid plate removals....

need to find replacement bolts....
I removed my SW motech plate yesterday, exchanged it for Raventec 4mm plate. I found the SWM plate way to soft for anything serious off roading.
 

randywhatsone

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Thank you for all the great information. The instructions that came with the SW motech skid plate were very vague. I got it mounted wrong
but after reading your post I removed it and reinstalled installed it your way and man what a difference. Thanks again great pictures and step by step instructions.
 

theroamr

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Anybody know if the SW motech skid plate will fit with Puig engine guards installed?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
 

theroamr

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Here's a pic of the Puig engine guards cross brace which makes fitment a question

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
 

Twonutz

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Reviving an older thread.... I recently purchased this skid plate and the installation instructions here were extremely useful!

One question, in the original guide, it mentioned 3 x threaded rubber elements. Two go on the front bracket, with the third threading into the engine boss.
Does anyone know when/if that changed, as I did not receive a third rubber element or the referenced spacer?

I only received two (and the parts list only indicates two), which means I have an empty hole under the rear guard. (There was nothing in there when I removed the plastic factory piece.)
Not sure if the third was intentionally removed....and if so, does anyone know why? (Or if I should have something in that hole?)

Thx.
 

magic

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Reviving an older thread.... I recently purchased this skid plate and the installation instructions here were extremely useful!

One question, in the original guide, it mentioned 3 x threaded rubber elements. Two go on the front bracket, with the third threading into the engine boss.
Does anyone know when/if that changed, as I did not receive a third rubber element or the referenced spacer?

I only received two (and the parts list only indicates two), which means I have an empty hole under the rear guard. (There was nothing in there when I removed the plastic factory piece.)
Not sure if the third was intentionally removed....and if so, does anyone know why? (Or if I should have something in that hole?)

Thx.
Scroll up to post #71 on this thread. I bought one in 2015 and and there was no rear bumper then. The oil pan is very thin in that area and a good hit may drive that rear bumper through the pan.
 
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