Splitting the Fairing

Splitting the Faring

If you ride the second generation Venture long enough, you are eventually going to need to get into the faring. This may be to install passing lamps, repair a loose wiring connection, various reasons. Here are some step by step instructions to make the job easier for you.

If you do not have passing lamps already installed, you can obviously skip the first step.

If you have passing lamps, you will have to remove them in order to remove the front of the faring.

The chrome cover in the center of the passing lamps simply snaps off.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring1.jpg

Once the chrome comver is removed, there are two bolts that secure your passing lamps. The factory supplies allen bolts for this but mine have been changed out to regular hex heads. If you have allen bolts, a "ball end" allen wrench works best as it allows you to go in at an angle without hitting the bottom of the faring. In the following picture, I have removed the bolts and let the bar rest on my front fender. No need to unwire anything. Note the towel...don't want to scratch that pretty paint do we? NOTE: There are two spacers behind the bracket that you will most likely drop when removing these bolts. Be aware of them. You can usually hold your hand under the bracket as you remove the bolts but I usually end up dropping them anyway.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring2.jpg

The next step is to remove the top two screws, one on each side, located on the inside of the faring. These two screws hold the top of the faring together and also secure the chrome strip at the bottom of your windshield.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring3.jpg

Once these two screws are removed, you can carefully lift the chrome strip off. BE CAREFUL HERE. There are tabs molded into the chrome strip that are fairly easily broken. Lift first from each end and gently work it back and forth to separate the tabs from the faring.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring4.jpg

Once the chrome strip is removed, simply remove the 6 screws that hold the windshield on.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring5.jpg

After removing those 6 screws, the windshield will just lift out.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring6.jpg

Now you are ready to remove the remaining 6 screws on the inside of the faring. There are 3 on each side.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring7.jpg

After removing these 6 screws, the only thing hold the front of the faring on is the screw in the bottom of the headlight ring. I always save this one for last because it enables me to be in front of the bike where I had hold the faring and safely set it aside instead of watching it bounce off the floor.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring8.jpg

Once you have this last screw removed, gently pull the faring off the headlight and set it aside. That's all there is to it. This is what you'll have now.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring9.jpg

Now...regardless of why you took your faring apart, take the opportunity to check the connections for your audio system and etc. The big connectors are known to cause problems sometimes. In addition to the ones here, there is another one usually tucked under the tape/radio assembly. Simply pull them apart and use some good di-electric grease to ensure that they stay dry and do not corrode.

http://www.venturerider.org/faring/faring10.jpg

That's all this is to it folks. Putting it back together is just a matter of reversing these instructions and..of course...turning the screws the OTHER direction.

A couple of notes though. As you are putting the screws back in the faring...don't snug them down tight until you have them all started..you might need to wiggle it around a bit to get them all started.

VERY IMPORTANT. Do NOT overtighten any of the screws. Especially the ones along the top edge that secure the windshield. Yamaha didn't make that top edge thick enough in my opinion and many people have cracked the plastic around these screws. Just snug them down pretty good but not TOO tight.