Modern Buddy

If there is already a thread on this, my apologies. I searched the forum and couldn't find anything - except lots of pictures of front racks that are already installed!

I got a chrome front rack in the mail today from scooterwest.com, but with no instructions. I've already figured out that I should probably "pop" the two little cutouts in front... but how and with what? And what are the little rubber gasket thingies that look much smaller than the cutout holes? And do I remove the screw under the headlight and replace it with the one that came with the rack... and what's that OTHER little grommet for?

And as I study, I wonder... am I supposed to remove the whole front plate thing and THEN attach it, or reach my fingers inside somehow...

If anyone here can help, I'd really appreciate it. I don't want to screw this up or make it harder than it really is - I saw a few posts here where someone said "Once I figured it out, it was easy to install". Well - I can't seem to figure it out.

I used a dremel for the holes... Some people say they used a utility knife to pop out the circles and then dremeled the edges, but that didn't work for me...

You don't need to take the front panel off to install, but if you do then you'll see how/where the screws go... You will have to take the center screw out anyway to attach the top of the rack.

Pop the 2 holes out on the front with a knife or dremel rotary tool. Tae the 3 screws and place it through the front of the rack, on the back side of the rack, put the 3 plastic spacers, the screw and the spacers should sandwich the rack itself. Adjust the screws around so they fit in the holes, screw/bolt each one in gradually until all 3 are tight.

Is this the same with a 2012 Buddy 170i? Can't seem to find the popout holes .

TybeeJeffro wrote:Is this the same with a 2012 Buddy 170i? Can't seem to find the popout holes .

The holes are still there but on the newer panels they are marked from the inside only. Just take the panel off to find them.

Dremel the holes from the inside of the front panel to help protect the paint. You might also find that it is easiest for alignment if you start the rack screws/spacers while the panel is still loose then, once the rack is 90% tightened in place, position and tighten the panel, then snug everything up. Having the panel loose for maneuverability helps.