Topic: How to Safely Remove Speed Nuts?

[ZTatZAU]

Looking for some advice, or a how to, on safely removing the speed nuts (push nuts) that hold the badges on side covers... without breaking the plastic pins.

Is there a tool for this?  Something that can release all four tabs at once?

I've tried picks, tweezers, etc., trying to release the tabs, one or two at a time, but what a PITA!  And I found out the hard way that you can break the plastic pins if you put any amount of side load while trying to gently pry off the nut.

Any help/advice, appreciated!
ZT

[HondaMan]

I'm afriad you have it right, ZT: it is a pick-and-bend-the-fingers operation to get them off, and tricky with 50+ year-old styrene!
I've not found a 'good' way, but I did buy some tiny, high-quality needle-nose pliers to help me with them. It helps. I bend out/upward 2 or 3 of the fingers, take off the 'nut', then flatten it again for reinstallation.

[ZTatZAU]

Thanks for your reply, HM.  But I wish hoping for better news.

I was thinking... all you'd need would be four small hooks... attached to a 3mm disk... the hooks are inserted into the spaces between the fingers... then rotated slightly to grab the undersides of the fingers... and then, pull up on the disk.
$9.95 on Amazon.  Whatta' ya think?
ZT

[BenelliSEI]

Thanks for your reply, HM.  But I wish hoping for better news.

I was thinking... all you'd need would be four small hooks... attached to a 3mm disk... the hooks are inserted into the spaces between the fingers... then rotated slightly to grab the undersides of the fingers... and then, pull up on the disk.
$9.95 on Amazon.  Whatta' ya think?
ZT

I think you’ll break the centre pin if you try working on all four “tabs” at once. As HM suggests, you need to carefully bend the tabs away to get the clearance to lift the retaining ring off with out straining the ancient centre pin… I use a pretty large fish hook (found it somewhere) with 3/4 of the hook cut off. It’s just right for getting under each tab individually. MOST IMPORTANT: when lifting up one tab, it’s a good idea to use a small, flat blade screwdriver to hold down the opposite side. Any lifting or bending will lead to disappointment.

[MauiK3]

have new speed nuts on hand and just break the old ones?