Re-fitting the front grill Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

[poorpeet]

I had to remove the grill (early type) in order to get at the headlight cowl bolts. Can I get it back on? Can I f............!
Please tell me there is an easy way to do it.
By the way; the cowl on mine is a thick heavy plastic moulding with brass threaded inserts moulded in. The one I was shown at the dealers when I asked how to remove it was a thin shell with the mounting bolts glued on. Why did they change from what seems to be a high quality unit to something that looks like it came from an Airfix Kit?

[sagalout]

Can't speak about the headlight cowls etc but the re is a knack to the grill. It gets easier every time you do it. Put the rubber in around the hole, shove the top leftand bottom left ends of the grill into the rubber and gentle ease the rubber over the grill with a (shhhhhh) screwdriver. When you get so far along, get the other end into the rubber and finish off with the afore mentioned fitting tool. GENTLY GENTLY CATCHEE MONKEE as they say!! It helps to PUSH the grill tightly into the corners of the rubber. Doing it the windscreen way with a bit of string never seems to work on the front grill.

[poorpeet]

That's what I have been trying to do! (Sob) If thats the only way to do it I'll just have to learn some new sware words & try, try again.

[.Mark]

Run some washing up liquid around the rubber.

Just be damn careful you don't slip with the....er....finishing tool.

[shnozz]

surprised you can still use a keyboard to post - last time I put my grill back on I just had stumps left for fingers. Took months to grow back they did.

[Trefor]

I use a couple of prototype bike tyre changing levers (aka teaspoons). They give more gentle leverage than a screwdriver.

You should be able to get it 3/4 in place quite easily - it's the last part that is a sod normally. If you can't get this far then take a pic and post it - maybe there is something odd about your particular grill.

[herbie hammer]

Its just a case of perservering and like schnozz says, watch those fingers - I had mine off a while back to disconnect the alarm siren when it had a fit and I agree with Trefor, spoons are ideal for easing it back in. I also used a bit of 3:1 oil to make it a bit smoother and easier.

Good luck

HH.

[poorpeet]

Done it! Mind you it looks a bit tatty & chewed where its been off & on over the last 86000 miles.
Any idea how much a new rubber is?

Ps
Yes, yes I realise how that sounds but you know what I mean

[trefor]

poorpeet said:

Done it! Mind you it looks a bit tatty & chewed where its been off & on over the last 86000 miles. Any idea how much a new rubber is? Ps Yes, yes I realise how that sounds but you know what I mean

Have a shufty on tvrgear.com or call them (TMS that is).