FITTING A SPARESAFE - HELP PLEASE!

[andyinluton]

I removed my spare safe after 30,000 miles without the protective plastic cap - needed a bit of wiggling with a small screwdriver to get all grit & mud out of the 3 locking bolt pin holes.
When putting it back I've made a ball of scrunched up polythene bag & stuffed that in the tube after doing the bolt up. If it falls out its no loss, if it stays in it should be simple to extract if necessary with a quick poke of a screwdriver or key etc.

 

[JULIANLISMORE]

Thanks andyinluton, very useful info.

 

[WelshGas]

Cap on, needle nose pliers get it off. Part of my tool kit.

 

[briwy]

No cap and painted ours black. I think they look awful red and the paint soon comes off leaving it a rusty mess.

 

[Pineweasel]

I put copper grease inside the cap. It's come off easily using the plastic thing on both occasions that I've tried.

 

[mylifeinpixels]

Perfectly timed thread, I've just been battling the same question. Copper grease is now on its way... thx!

 

[Private_Kelly]

At the moment my spare is at risk and unsecured. I am considering purchasing a Sparesafe. However is it not possible for someone to easily remove my spare if they have also purchased a Sparesafe. In other words is the locking bolt the same on all Sparesafes or do they differ slightly. My worry is that the unscrupulous scum that steal your spare will be tooled up.

 

[T6 CFO]

At the moment my spare is at risk and unsecured. I am considering purchasing a Sparesafe. However is it not possible for someone to easily remove my spare if they have also purchased a Sparesafe. In other words is the locking bolt the same on all Sparesafes or do they differ slightly. My worry is that the unscrupulous scum that steal your spare will be tooled up.

Nothing is going to prevent a determined thief. Bottom line is that to my knowledge loads of people on here have had the spare stolen and to date no one with a sparesafe fitted has. That was good enough for me. Yes it could still be stolen but less likely.

Mike

 

[calikev]

All the locking bolts supplied with the sparesafe have different keys

 

[Private_Kelly]

Thanks for that Calikev. I'll get one ordered.

 

[Theopenroad]

Try this pic from an earlier post. Make sure you have the VW bolt that is for the alloy wheel even if your spare is a steel one.

http://s235.photobucket.com/user/bodhi4 ... v.jpg.html

Not sure what you mean by bolt for the alloy wheel can you explain please. Thanks.

 

[Theopenroad]

I purchased a Sparesafe from the forum shop a few months ago and am only now getting round to fitting it.
My concern is with the protective hexagonal metal cap, for fitting over the Sparesafe bolt head, and its removal when necessary. My nightmare is that I protect my spare wheel from theft but then, when I need to change a wheel by the roadside I can't get the protective cap off.

The Sparesafe comes with a little plastic tool, which I know is intended for removal of the metal protective cap.
The plastic hexagonal socket in this gadget is, however, an incredibly tight fit on the hexagonal metal protective cap. I haven't yet managed to force one over the other, even in the house, so the prospects of getting the plastic device onto the metal cap at the roadside when its lashing down with rain, is not at all encouraging.

It seems to me that I have two options: -
1. I manage to press the metal protective cap into the socket of the plastic tool and then, having fitted the Sparesafe, push the protective cap onto the bolt head and leave the plastic tool in situ.
or
2. I don't use the protective metal cap at all, when I risk the sockets in the security bolt head getting clogged up with muck, so that it is difficult or impossible, when the need arises, to fit the three pronged lock key.

Can someone who has used a Sparesafe over a good length of time, and has occasionally removed the spare wheel, advise please?

This confused me too and I had a play about and think about it and I think I might have worked it out. Please anyone correct me if I got it wrong. I reckon if you put the black plastic peg inside the black plastic cap then push the cap and peg onto the metal cover you can then apply and remove the protective cover from the bolt. Is that correct?

View attachment IMG_6922.jpeg

View attachment IMG_6921.jpeg

 

[Theopenroad]

I left the plastic "tool" in place thinking it was, in combination with the thin metal protective cap an integral part of keeping the sockets in the bolts clear from crud. Nothing more. But maybe I have missed something (which is always possible!).

That’s what I think too.

View attachment IMG_6925.jpeg

 

[briwy]

Just leave the cap off. Ours hasn't had the cap on for years and works fine.

 

[Theopenroad]

No trouble Julian, I have not had the need to remove the SpareSafe thankfully but in light of your comments I just went out to the Cali and the plastic tool was still in place and when pulled the protective metal cap came out too. Is it not surposed to work like this?

I agree getting the protective metal cap out of the plastic tool is, well, impossible without damaging it!

I presume the plastic cap stays on the metal cap.

View attachment IMG_6921.jpeg

 

[Van Diesel VW]

When I got my Cali bought a spare safe, bit of a faff to fit / remove. No longer use as following a recent puncture came to conclusion not needed as need to jack rear of the van to get the spare out, due to rear of the van being low.

 

[briwy]

When I got my Cali bought a spare safe, bit of a faff to fit / remove. No longer use as following a recent puncture came to conclusion not needed as need to jack rear of the van to get the spare out, due to rear of the van being low.

Thieves do have jacks you know.