Possibly new Aux & 12v outlet mod

[screamstone]

Hey guys- This may have been done. Did a search and didn't see it... so here goes:

 

I wanted an extra 12v outlet on the right of the fairing, because sometimes I want to charge my phone as well as have the GPS (who has a grumpy battery) running.(new GPS has a special cord, so I can't use my USB double charger anymore.) I also removed the casette deck, and made a little storage area. I had a wire coming out of there, and then out from under the fairing... but when I didn't have something plugged in, I didn't like the cable hanging out. So I tried adding a new, easy to change aux plug in case this one fails over time.

 

Started with a black rubber coupling from radioshack, but it didn't work. Use the gold one you see in the pics. it's worth the extra 3 bucks. This was just an experiment, but seems to have worked perfectly and gave me just what I wanted.

 

First, drilled a hole in my beautiful fairing. I drilled too small, and slowly filed the hole more until it had a nice snug fit. However, the final solution would probably work with a hole slightly larger because I came up with a good solution for holding the plug in and waterproofing the opening.

 

I drilled right behind the speaker, so that the plug is facing down when installed. This should eliminate almost all chances of water getting in there:

 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg249/screamstone/CA2008/bike%20mods/th_IMG_7390.jpg

 

Then, I put an e-clip around the coupler with a neoprene washer, and put it in the hole from the bottom. If you look close in this pic, you can see both parts.

 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg249/screamstone/CA2008/bike%20mods/th_IMG_7403.jpg

 

Next, in the inside, I used another washer, and then a bushing to help me get the e-clip on nice and tight. I was using the grooves in the knurled texture of the coupling as a groove for the clips. I think these were 1/2 inch e-clips... but I brought the coupler in and just figured it out in the hardware store. They have to fit tight. The bushing helped make it easier to put the inside e-clip on with pliers because I had space between the fairing wall and the clip's groove.

 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg249/screamstone/CA2008/bike%20mods/th_IMG_7399.jpg

 

Next, I just used a small patch cord to plug in to the aux input of the bike to the coupler. DONE!!!!

 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg249/screamstone/CA2008/bike%20mods/th_IMG_7404.jpg

 

 

Here's how it looks from the bottom of the bike. I really like it because you can't see it unless you kind of squat down and look up. Very inconspicuous.

 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg249/screamstone/CA2008/bike%20mods/th_IMG_7400.jpg

 

Since I was there, I looked at this 12v outlet I got from a marine supply warehouse in town. (So I'm assuming it's "weather friendly"). I wanted to add it to the lower right fairing and just tap in to the other 12v outlet. I used a 1" Flat wood bit (the flat kind with a point, if you know what I mean) to drill a hole- but that's slightly too large since I didn't have any washers. Not a problem- it still fits, but I want to add washers to "clean up" the look and keep water from seeping in around the edges. Didn't take many pics at this point, because I just kind of did it on a whim.

 

Here's the outlet installed on the inside:

 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg249/screamstone/CA2008/bike%20mods/th_IMG_7406.jpg

 

And here's the front side, with the plug for aux audio supplying all the necessary "Music to mod your bike to" tunes:

 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg249/screamstone/CA2008/bike%20mods/th_IMG_7409.jpg

 

I'm really happy with how it turned out. I didn't have a perfect size bit for the lighter outlet, but it's close enough, I can't see light around the lighter with the front of the fairing off. But I plan on installing a washer on both sides (those neoprene big washers) to seal it up and reduce jiggle. It looks great as it is, though!!!

 

Here's a more distant shot so you can see better where the mounts fall in the fairing.

 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg249/screamstone/CA2008/bike%20mods/th_IMG_7410.jpg

 

Oh- and here she is with an f4 windshield with vent installed:

 

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg249/screamstone/CA2008/bike%20mods/th_IMG_7418.jpg

 

 

This was my first pictoral little tutorial... hope I did it right!! I don't know how to lightbox the images... sorry about the new windows opening!

Edited June 20, 2010 by screamstone
I'm new at this inserting picture stuff...

[Kregerdoodle]

Looks Good!!! Thanks for the pics

[Monty]

Nice job!

 

Here's mine. Nice and easy to reach, and it functions as a power outlet or cigarette lighter. Water hasn't bothered it either.

 

 

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i274/13thAFMonterey/th_IMG_3831.jpg

[Dave77459]

Nice!

 

I did something similar with a Powerlet, since they are meant to carry current, unlike cigarette lighters.

 

But what I wanted to mention is that I used a "step bit" on my drill. It's shaped like a ziggurat, with a series of slight larger diameter steps as you drill deeper. It worked perfectly with the plastic, letting you get bigger and bigger holes until you find the size you want.

 

Dave

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_2386.jpg

[screamstone]

Nice!

 

But what I wanted to mention is that I used a "step bit" on my drill. It's shaped like a ziggurat, with a series of slight larger diameter steps as you drill deeper. It worked perfectly with the plastic, letting you get bigger and bigger holes until you find the size you want.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_2386.jpg

 

Added to list for my next stop at harbor freight!!!

 

rs

[Aussie Annie]

Thanks for the postings and info

[Condor]

Very well done.....