Removal of Front Fairing - Yup, the whole thing

[RLEGoldwing]

Please HELP. I find NO RELIABLE RESOURCE for detailed instructions and pics to remove the front fairing. I have OEM manual and it is beyond pitiful. I've removed everything and every bolt I can find and fairing still doesn't budge.

The OEM manual has lousy pics for location of items. Can't tell WHERE "six headlight connectors" are located and only have four headlights to my knowledge! Manual doesn't mention or picture two hidden fairing bolts tucked under headlights and behind banks of cable connectors on both sides. Manual doesn't picture location (or visual) of bank sensor and a couple other items to be disconnected/removed.

Haven't found a YouTube video (usual savior).

I've ordered a Clymer manual as reviews tend to be better though not glowing for Clymer or Haynes.

Links to detail instructions -- preferably with pics -- will be greatly appreciated. I'm not a total dunce with mechanics yet novice at my 2005 Goldwing GL1800.

Thanks in advance to those in guru-land.

[Big Blue UK]

It is quite easy, I have removed several, I took a load of photos a while back to compile a how to, but never got around to it. A bit busy right now, but will upload a few pics in a jiffy.

[MikeB]

I think you just need to chill and look at the diagram in the book and take a closer look at the bike.

There are "six headlight connectors", four connectors for the lamps and two connectors for the headlight adjusters.

[Big Blue UK]

Remove mirrors, remove nose cone, remove front cover

Remove instrument panel cover, and tank cover

Remove upper headstock covers, when screws and lower push rivets are out, the pull out from above

Remove Lowe cowl cover and the upper black cover
Remove fairing inner panels (push rivets and a hidden screw often overlooked

Remove screen mount, some of the bolts also secure the fairing also

Remaining fairing securing screws

Slide the fairing forward, then 8 things to unplug

[RLEGoldwing]

Thanks to both of you greatly. Now that you mention the headlight adjusters, it makes sense there are six. Would have helped if the manual mentioned any part of that although those are not the items holding the fairing on tight.

The pictures will be a great help, thank you. You show many steps that aren't even hinted at in the OEM manual. There are probably a couple of the Hidden bolts you show that are holding it tight. Everything else is taken apart. The OEM manual doesn't mention taking the gas tank cover off which exposes a few more items.

I'll be back in the garage in a day or so and will give it another go with this information. Again, thank you both.

[Big Blue UK]

Ooops, sorry mate, forgot a picture, bolt each side just in front of the mirror mount

[Tjgabes]

Have a 2013 GL1800 which was recently hit while parked on a side street need to remove from my front fairing. They graciously took out Left headlight and cracked upper cowlPretty much got her tore down to removal of fairing (had a 02 and this 13 slightly different getting to this point) I read somewhere there’s a couple hidden grommets inside any help would be appreciated. Also seeing there’s no damage to right side is it possible to just take left side off or just pull full fairing? I see where both sides bolt together in Front not sure if there’s anymore in the rear of fairing.
Thanks Tom

[MikeB]

Having been through this with my '03 when I had an accident, I can pretty well assure you that both fairing halves have damage.

I hit the right rear bumper of a car with my left fork tube and the bike went down on the left side at about 35 mph.
The impact with the ground broke the left fairing half, left headlight and various other parts on the left side. The right side headlight mountings broke as well as the right fairing sustaining hidden damage as well.

Both right and left headlights had to be replaced. The fairing supports (upper and lower cowl stays) were tweaked and had to be replaced. The right fairing half had broken off mounting points for the headlight assembly. Other lower plastic parts were broken as well. Of course the fork tubes had to be replaced because they were bent. The fenders and caliper covers were broken as well.

I was able to salvage the right fairing half and right inner cowl cover using some ABS mending compound. That saved me about $900 with that repair. But, it all had to come off to assess the damage and make repairs. The fairing halves can't be removed individually on my '03. Your '13 may be different.

Bottom line, it cost about $4200 for all the parts I had to replace. I bought the parts from Partzilla.com.

[Tjgabes]

Thanks Mike
I’ll just take whole fairing off that way I can see if cowl stay is tweaked. Had an 02 so 13 is a lil different but thank god for you tube gonna replace air filter while I’m there. Bike only has 9k on it but may as well rather than tearing her down again.

One other quick question was it easier to unplug high beams when able to tip fairing forward? Don’t know if there’s enough play in plug or not also for bank and air sensors.
Thanks Tom

[MikeB]

One the shelter is off the high beams are fairly easy to get to. Personally, I'd disconnect the headlights before removing the fairing. You will have enough to deal with with your hands full of fairing plastic. Besides, you will still have the bank angle sensor and the headlight control motor to disconnect after the fairing is pulled away from the bike. You could put a table in front of the bike to support the fairing when it is removed.

[RLEGoldwing]

After getting through the whole removal process, I have learned bunches!
Not knowing your level of experience, I apologize in advance if mentioning what others (and maybe you) already know.
1. Yes, there are two plastic trim "buttons" that caused me grief for quite a while... until I figured out they were there. With the top shelter off, there are trim clips (buttons) one on left and one on right sides attaching what I believe are plastic vent tubes (part of fairing assembly) to metal frame pieces. Respectively on left and right, they are high and to outside bottom of the speaker assemblies. They sort of disappear in the maze of black everything yet I assure you, the fairing won't come off until they are released and removed. I will find my photos tomorrow and post for you to see. While reinstalling everything, I took pics I will eventually will use to create a full array of pics of most all conceivable part assemblies on the front end.

Others have answered most of your other questions yet I'll add two cents worth about when to disconnect things up front.

I agree you should disconnect as much as possible prior to pulling fairing assembly forward. This can be accomplished from the underside. The tilt sensor connector cable (right side) has ZERO slack so suggest you disconnect prior to moving fairing assembly forward. The other connector and cable on right (forget off hand which one yet it was mentioned by other's post) has very little slack and you will be happy you also disconnected prior to moving fairing assembly.

I installed LED headlights (high and low) so now have lots of slack for connecting. Trade off is taking time to securely "hang" all the extra cabling without impeding motion of fork assembly.

I'll get on my PC tomorrow to find and post pics which may help you.

Best, Rick E

[RLEGoldwing]

The first pic is more clear (right side). Hope this helps a bit.

[Tjgabes]

Thanks for all the help fairings off and waiting on parts. FYI the 2013 doesn’t have push pin clips on air intakes holding fairing on. Honda’s engineers did some different changes from my 02 to 13 only to keep us on our toes

[RLEGoldwing]

Yea that you succeeded and 2-yea's to Honda for (hopefully) making our lives a bit easier!

[Nightwing93]

Well me and a friend dived in intending to removed the left side fairing panel, or cowl on my '01.
But yes we removed the whole fairing...
I'd like to thank Mother Honda for installing Phillips head screws in front where the two halfs come together.
If they had been regular headed bolts we could have just taken the left side off without pulling the whole fairing off.
But you have pull the whole fairing off to remove the headlight on that side to get to the screws.
Sooo... aggravating...
I didn't have the green plug for the angle sensor to deal with, but then I didn't remove the right headlight either.
Getting the push pins back in the inner fairing pieces as well as that black cover was a night mare, finally got it done though.
Found an extra grommet inside for the mount up by the mirrors.
Probably been in there since it was manufactured.
And I hate to say it but I ended up with two extra bolts...(sigh...)
Jim

[busman8]

I did all of this and replace head assy now my head light adj want work any you can tell me would that mite help me thanks