Engine protection plate

[murr57]

I'm new to the site having recently traded my VTX1300 for a 2005GL1800A. I've been trying to research as much as I can about maintaining my new ride. I'm wondering how many of you believe the engine plate that attaches under the engine is important? 10 years on my VTX and the most I ever noticed kicked up on my radiator was dirt and mud but nothing large enough to damage the rad. Is the GL engine that exposed to possible damage?

[Ghostman]

I thought about it long and hard when I first bought mine. What I wound up doing instead is I bought some aluminum and made a cover for the bottom of the overflow tank for the coolant. With all of the wings on the road and over all of the years you hear very few stories about issues from road debris. Thw way I look at it the oil filter is behind the cowl but the overflow tank is plastic and it wouldnt take much to hole it.

[murr57]

Thanks. You have to love how the manufacturer makes it sound like it's an absolute necessity, but then again that's how advertising works. Love to hear ideas from others.

[freedomrunner]

Congratulations on your new bike. Curious why you want to remove it? When I am faced with a question like this, I ask myself, “ how expensive can removing it cost me and how upset will I be that I caused the problem”. Basically, how does the benefits of removing the plate compare to the potential problems.

Larry

[murr57]

Thanks for your input, Larry. Maybe I misled you; I don't presently have the guard on my bike, but was wondering if riders here in general thought the guards were necessary.

[freedomrunner]

Ah, got you now. Sorry for the confusion.

[Big Bob]

I believe you are talking about a belly pan cover. They are cheap (under $55.00) and that's shipped to your home. Installation takes less than 20 minutes, you can't see it on the bike. You want a 2 piece for access to the oil filter. Good luck.

Bob

[murr57]

Yep, that's exactly the part I'm interested in hearing about. Do you have one on your bike and feel it's necessary or just an extra precaution? That's the opinion I'm looking for. Thanks.
Doug

[tamathumper]

I have it and I think it provides some much-needed debris protection.

[baumedagn]

I have one on my 2012 as well. It does offer protection for the bottom of the engine and overflow tank. I've also heard tell that it helps in a cross wind with stability. I put mine on shortly after I bought the bike to I can't attest to that however.

[Snowmoer]

I have one on my 2012. It is more for extra protection. I have run over a few things and there are some scuff marks and small dents on mine. There are a few people that have had rocks hit the bottom of the motor and crack the case. Not many compared to how many wings that are out there, but it has happened.

If you are just going to ride the bike around where you live, you will be fine without it. A lot of cross country trips, I would get one just for the extra protection.

[murr57]

Thanks to everyone for your input. Seems to be a good idea if just for peace of mind. I have read of some minor concerns such as the screws being able to come loose, or the opposite, rust into place. I was also interested when one reviewer wrote about some damage to the pan when he tried to raise his bike on his jack for maintenance. I'm hoping to find a nearby Canadian supplier; the cost of shipping on many sites is nearly 50% of the purchase price. Thanks again.

[GoldWingrGreg]

I'm new to the site having recently traded my VTX1300 for a 2005GL1800A. I've been trying to research as much as I can about maintaining my new ride. I'm wondering how many of you believe the engine plate that attaches under the engine is important? 10 years on my VTX and the most I ever noticed kicked up on my radiator was dirt and mud but nothing large enough to damage the rad. Is the GL engine that exposed to possible damage?

I believe you are referring to a belly pan. I do GL1800 repair and have thus far replace 5 engine cases due to punctures. Of those 5, 3 had belly pans.

[Wingsconsin]

Belly Pan --- I have one on my GL1800 2002 -- My son does not have one on his 2003

I painted mine Black before installing it - personal preference

After 30K + now I have noticed it is dinged and scratched from road debris -
No major dents or big hits that I know of..

I have herd stories about the coolant reservoir getting hit and a hole punched in
And heard stories about the oil filter getting cracked open too.

In order to try to avoid being a story -- I installed the belly pan.

Now I ride around with no worries about these things.

Some will say it causes over heating because of a lack of air flow to the underside of the engine --

The bike is liquid cooled and I have never seen this being a problem.

The ONLY problem I ever have experienced is the road grime that collects on and in the belly pan -
When I change oil there is a bit of extra cleaning to do -- and I don't remove the pan ever oil change --
So it collects a bit of dirt under there -- but I ride in the rain so I hope it washes out..

Need one ? Your choice -

[GoldWingrGreg]

I believe you are referring to a belly pan. I do GL1800 repair and have thus far replace 5 engine cases due to punctures. Of those 5, 3 had belly pans.

Here's a case that's sitting in my office. It was punctured by a 1/2" combo wrench made in China. It belly pan enveloped and trapped the wrench.

[MikeB]

I believe you are referring to a belly pan. I do GL1800 repair and have thus far replace 5 engine cases due to punctures. Of those 5, 3 had belly pans.

Here's a case that's sitting in my office. It was punctured by a 1/2" combo wrench made in China. It belly pan enveloped and trapped the wrench.

Greg, did the wrench get lodged there while on the road and the case get cracked while riding?
Or, did the wrench get there by unknown means and the case get cracked when the bike was lifted from the bottom of the engine?

I would suspect the latter rather than the former. Something had to press the wrench into the case either by compression or hard contact.

I'd surmise that the wrench belonged to a friendly mechanic that dropped it and couldn't find it. Then the bike was either jacked up or it contacted a "speed bump" on the road and that caused the case intrusion. Those cases are pretty thin.

[GoldWingrGreg]

I believe you are referring to a belly pan. I do GL1800 repair and have thus far replace 5 engine cases due to punctures. Of those 5, 3 had belly pans.

Here's a case that's sitting in my office. It was punctured by a 1/2" combo wrench made in China. It belly pan enveloped and trapped the wrench.

Greg, did the wrench get lodged there while on the road and the case get cracked while riding?
Or, did the wrench get there by unknown means and the case get cracked when the bike was lifted from the bottom of the engine?

I would suspect the latter rather than the former. Something had to press the wrench into the case either by compression or hard contact.

I'd surmise that the wrench belonged to a friendly mechanic that dropped it and couldn't find it. Then the bike was either jacked up or it contacted a "speed bump" on the road and that caused the case intrusion. Those cases are pretty thin.

The 5 repairs I'm referring to were all "road hazards" and were cover by the owners' insurance policies. I believe it is compressive that covers hitting something.

Below are my "Indiana Jones" crates that older case halves come in. Believe it or not, Honda ships engine cases for newer years in a cardboard box with delicate metal edges hanging out. I don't keep those. Eventually the India Jones crates will become end tables in a waiting area.

[Big Bob]

Wow, that is a huge hole in the bottom of that engine case. In all my years of riding, I have some debris, but nothing to cause a hole like that. I have a belly pan cover, and believe it may save my engine/overflow bottle some day. For $55 I'll give it a try, some protection is better than none!

Bob

[eagle1wing]

I can attest to the value of a belly pan. I had an aluminum pan on my 2012 Wing. While riding in Idaho I ran over a rock that I did not see. It hit the belly pan, punched through it and cracked the engine block. If there had been no belly pan the rock would have penetrated the engine block, oil would have covered the back tire and I would have been on the ground. Insurance paid the repair under my collision coverage. It was over $7000. The entire engine block, gears and seals have to be replace once cracked. I have since installed a stainless steel belly pan. My only incident in 22 years of touring and that is enough!

[hondapotamus]

Thanks to everyone for your input. Seems to be a good idea if just for peace of mind. I have read of some minor concerns such as the screws being able to come loose, or the opposite, rust into place. I was also interested when one reviewer wrote about some damage to the pan when he tried to raise his bike on his jack for maintenance. I'm hoping to find a nearby Canadian supplier; the cost of shipping on many sites is nearly 50% of the purchase price. Thanks again.

I hear you on the shipping costs. We (our store) save a lot of money by having a US post drop in Port Huron. Shipping to a US address is not too bad, but to Canada $$$$$.

Each package costs us $5 and that plus the gas to get there and back (we live in Cambridge) is still saving on having it shipped to us in Canada.

[rtdder]

The belly pan I have seen is a very light gauge. Would a thicker gauge or 'supplement/reinforcement' not help prevent some of these punctures?

[ptilford]

I experienced a near catastrophe after hitting a chunk of blacktop debris from a road construction area. This chunk was almost invisible, being the same coloration, and contact was hard and loud. My bike was unbalanced for a couple of seconds and after slowing I pulled over to assess any damage. The oil filter was damaged, having a deep impact area but was not leaking oil. I changed the filter soon but decided I could use some protection and so installed the two piece pan system. About 30,000 miles later the pan works as intended, many small impacts can be seen and the cooling has never been an issue. I was concerned about the cooling as I live in southern Arizona. No cooling problems and my temp gauge has never moved from it's prior position.
Good Luck to all.

[Owsley]

I installed an aluminum belly pan right before the IBR. Easy to install and access the bottom for an oil change.
Somewhere on the rode, "something" big hit the bottom. I never saw it before or after hitting it, don't know what it was. It put a large deep dent in the pan. Turned out to be a good investment.

[emwarrenfeltz]

I have one of the MacGyver belly pans on my 2013 Goldwing. I installed it several years ago just as an extra layer of protection for the bottom of the engine and coolant tank. There is an article on the Goldwingdocs forum about this belly pan: viewtopic.php?t=38889

The MacGyver belly pan is two piece with the front piece easily removable to access the oil filter and drain plug made of aluminum diamond plate. I modified my fasteners for safety wire so the bolts could not come loose, just in case.

I have noticed several scraps and marks on the bottom side but not sure from what. I think it is a good addition for that extra level of protection especially if you ride by yourself or take extended trips on the back roads where services are not always available.

[cymru]

Just my experience: I had imported my 2006 to Spain and gone through the long expensive process to get it on the road. On the road back home and 100 km into the journey I ran over a piece of metal that split the oil filter and dumped all the oil all over the underside and rear tire.

After that I have used a belly pan. I notice when I take it off for an oil change, I usually need to straighten it out a bit, so it’s doing something.