 |
||
        |
|
Frequently asked questions
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How do I replace my headlight? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How do I install new Snap-Vents? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
We just put up a little movie for you (Jan 30, 2009) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Why the vent holes next to the turn signals on the Windjammer SS- 4 and 5? They appear to be best for letting water and bugs into the interior of the fairing. May 12, 2010
Actually, they were for letting the sound out when the owner had the optional horns mounted in there. Without the horns, the holes were blanked off with a tape membrane. No air... no bugs. Pull the Lights out, out and tape off the holes with black tape and reinstall the lights. Check to be sure the lenses are secure. Some have been separating lately. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How do I get new keys for my Vetter equipment? (Nov 2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There are no keys. The numbers on the lock mean nothing.
"I'd like to get all new locks with the same key." Well, we have a problem here. Here is what you do: For locks that are locked: With a 3/16- 1/4" dia. drill bit, drill thru where your key goes. This messes it all up so you can use a screw driver to turn the lock. Take the old lock to any locksmith store and buy a replacement lock. The new lever that comes with your lock will work fine for the tonneu and the saddlebag doors. However... You will notice that the square cam at the bottom of the lock is larger than the original Vetter cam, so the Vetter lever will not work. Here are my suggestions to replace the saddlebag locks. The locks we used "seem" to be made today. They look exactly the same. But the little square cam that holds the lever is much bigger now. The only way you are like to solve your problem is to take one of your lock assemblies to a locksmith and have him order as many as you need for all your locks - all with the same key. The fairing cover parts will go on easily as mentioned above. The saddlebag door and Tail trunk door will work also using the supplied lever. The locks that hold the bag are the problem. They must have the square cam filed down to fit the original Vetter brass cam. The brass cam also will probably need to be drilled out a bit because they use a larger screw today. This works. I have done it. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes! You can use Hotcha to repair any ABS fairing! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I was asked about fixing a crotch-rocket fairing. If it is made of ABS - and as far as I know, all fairings are made of ABS - our Hotcha Repair Kit will allow you to fix it better, cheaper and stronger than "plastic welding", which I don't think is very strong.
If you show an interest in this, I will prepare a special "How to Fix it" PDF for you. Hotcha Repair Kit Scroll down the page. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What is the secret to getting the old edging off the fairing? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
I pry off the corner where it is close to the tank with a screw driver. Then grab the loose end with pliers and yank hard, 90 degrees from the fairing. It lets go. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where do I get hardware to fit my bike? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EBAY is the only source for hardware that was actually produced by Vetter. Type in Vetter. Remember, the last year real Vetter hardware was made was around 1983.
One of the biggest mistakes of my business career was that I did not provide any real way to identify my mounting hardware or the lowers. Now it haunts us. The only way to know for sure that what you found is going to fit is to have seen it on the bike you want to put it on. Here is a tip: At the Barber's Vintage Days in 2006, I spoke Rocky Roll who said that he had piles of NOS (New old stock) Vetter mounting hardware. His phone: 810-742-5420 Tell him I sent you. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What guidelines can you give me so I can make my own hardware? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If I were you, I'd begin with an existing piece of hardware. Specifically, start with the top plate. Here are some Mounting Guidelines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How do I drill the holes for Snap Vents in a windshield that does not have holes? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You can drill your own vent holes but you must be very careful. I have personally destroyed several prototype windshields by not being careful enough. Since the windshield is already formed and not flat, it is more tricky. I suggest that you take the windshield off and clamp it tightly onto the platten of your drill press. Sandwich it tightly between two pieces of plywood.
The best way to cut the holes is with a 3 1/4” metal cutting saw having 6 teeth per inch or finer. Buy a new one, if possible. Use a slow speed of 3-400 RPM. They stock them at Orchard. I f you can, cut half way thru one side and then cut the rest of the way through from the other side. Snap your vents in and go have fun. They always look cool. See the "How to install Snap Vents" movie |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where do I get replacement lights for my Vetter TailTrunk? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One Vetter owner reports the following: Optronics part #MCL-57RK. It is a 3-piece kit consisting of a light, pigtail assembly, and rubber grommet. Purchased at Advance Auto for $11.88 each. One hole in the trunk is left unmodified, so that you can see the silver line marked out to show where plastic needs to be trimmed away. Note that it is not quite the diameter of the two side slots. The hole needs to be enlarged to 3 inches in diameter, which is approximately the diameter between the outsides of the top and bottom rivet holes. A Dremel rotary tool with an appropriate bit, used carefully, does a decent job (move counter-clockwise around the hole to minimize kickback and tool wander). Connect the white wire ("hot") of the light pigtail to the green wire of the trunk harness, and the black wire ("ground") to the black wire of the trunk harness. These lights are especially great for bikes with a low-amp charging system, as the LED lights draw VERY little current. In fact, once you turn the power off they go out slowly as the charge bleeds off the electrolytic capacitors built into each light unit. They are also waterproof. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I see that my orange turn signal covers may be falling off soon. How do I fix this problem? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seems as if the adhesive that held the Leading Edge Lights was good for 20 years or so. If you loose it, you'll have to go onto EBAY, type in Vetter and buy another one. The lights are the same for all years - left or right, of course . Replace the adhesive. It is the stuff body repair guys use to glue emblems on cars after they paint them. This is easy to fix.
One Vetter owner writes: "I have found that 3m 08155 quick fix adhesive works really well for re-glueing turn signal lenses in place." |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Are Vetter saddlebags all the same? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All saddlebags were the same. The doors were all the same too, except they were painted to match the popular bikes. The hardware was made specifically for each year, make and model. Just like each hardware for Windjammers was unique.
The TailTrunks were all the same. Tail Trunks could be mounted on the Vetter racks or virtually anybodies rack. All TailTrunks were mounted on Bunkees, rubber isolators. Kits are available here. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where do I get the plugs for the wiring harness? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We have those now. They took a long time to find. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What kind of paint should I use? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The original factory paint was catalyzed urethane paint. It is very common today because of the plastic bumpers on cars. Check with your local auto paint people. Now, when you paint, you can replace the windshield foam tape. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What is the difference between the Windjammer and Vindicator? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Not much, actually. They came out of the same molds! The Windjammer had Leading Edge Lights, those pretty, built in lights. The Vindicator did not. The Vindicator needed to have the motorcycle's turnsignals mounted on the fairing bracket so, Vindicators came with tabs to remount the turn signals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How do I identify the hardware to fit my bike? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This will always be tricky. The best way is to be absolutely sure is to see it on the bike before you buy it. In the later years, say 1975 on, the name of the bike was stamped into the bracket. But sometimes only a series of numbers was stamped there. Often nothing was there. These reprints from Vetter catalogs might help. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How do I identify the correct "Lower" for my Vetter fairing? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lowers were formed in the same mold. They were cut differently and bonded together in different angles to fit the particular bike. It is all so confusing. There is a lable inside identifying them by "Type" Go to the "Lowers" Comments for more.
All Windjammers and Vindicators came pre-drilled for Lowers. The holes were covered with plastic plugs. To install Lowers, you need a "Lowers Mounting Kit" |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where do I get replacement tonneau covers for my Windjammer? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
I would very much appreciate if you would mention that I am making replacement tonneau covers. The web site is
http://northupholstery.tripod.com/ Steve North Report back to me and i will post your comments |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Will Windjammer mounting hardware work with Quicksilver fairings? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sorry, no. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where do I get info on the Terraplane sidecar? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There is a Terraplane owners website:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Vetter_SC/ I made about four prototypes between 1973-5 and abandoned the project. The new owner of Vetter ressurected the Terraplane and made about a thousand. Terraplane windshields are available from: Leif Gustafsson |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Why are there two different radio housings: Cycle Sound and Vetter Sound? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Here is the Cycle Sound story: Fred Hoese, a dear friend, who now makes "LeatherLyke" saddlebags, invented and manufactured the Cycle Sound back in 1975. Vetter Corp. sold his Cycle Sound kit as an accessory. When I sold the company, the new owner simply copied Fred's design and called it Vetter Sound. All very embarrassing to me. Fred's Cycle Sound is the only legit unit as far as I am concerned. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who is this "other Craig Vetter" who writes for Playboy? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Craig Vetter in the greenish shirt writes stories and books about stuff I don't know much about. We have stayed in touch with each other since 1970 when we discovered we existed.
The picture, right, was taken , in the summer of 2005 in Chicago where the "Other Craig Vetter". lives. He is Liberal. I am Conservative. We have a great time together. |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There is another Craig Vetter! That is me, in the black shirt, 5 years ago, the "Real Craig". The guy in the greenish shirt is the "Other Craig" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Now that I am writing too, the way you can tell us apart is I write about motorcycles and design. The "Other Craig" writes about camping and rock climbing and stuff like that. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What happened to the Vetter Fairing Company? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I started my fairing business in 1966. I sold the company to my banker in 1978. He put it into bankruptcy in 1983. Bell (Helmets) acquired the assets. Bell produced fairings thry 1987. As far as I know, Bell does not supply any parts for old Vetter products. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What were Rooster, Windstar and Sting fairings? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| These were fairings made after I sold the company, so I know nothing about them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vetter did not make Luftmeister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Butler and Smith copied the Windjammer without my permission and called it the Luftmeister. Vetter windshields do not fit exactly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This Page Updated June 16, 2010
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
