Robobrainiac
Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
I am not sure if anyone else has done this. I wanted to be able to remove my tailgate quickly and easily. This is how I made that possible.
This was performed on a 2020 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 Deluxe. It should apply to all 1000-5 and 1000-6 models. I assume it should work on the 700-4 since it uses the same tailgate.
You can do this to either side. You only have to choose one. I did my driver side. If done slowly and patiently you should not have any marring or disfiguring of the external panels. The goal is to heat the plastic enough to make it pliable. You are reforming the plastic. Take your time and there should not be any holes when you are done. Heat the area evenly and hold it in position with pry tools and let cool. Then repeat. Until there is enough room to remove the tailgate pin. Make sure you do this in a well ventilated area. Hot plastic is not good for you.
The tools needed:
Heat Gun
5MM hex
10mm ratchet
Multiple Prying Tools
Remove the plastic end cap. It can melt.
Heat this area evenly with the heat gun. Take your time and be patient. The plastic is high heat resistant and seems to take a long time to make pliable.
Pry the area back. It will take time, different angles, and different size pry bars until the area is pushed back enough to give room to remove the tailgate pin.
Remove the 10mm bolt.
You should have enough room to slide the tailgate pin out.
Remove the two upper tailgate cable bolts.
Lift up slightly on the side with the removed pin. Angle it towards yourself and then slide it off of the opposite pin.
Your tailgate now installs and removes with 3 bolts.
I used some anti-sieze on both sides of the pins to help in future removals. It took me about one hour to complete this project.
This was performed on a 2020 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 Deluxe. It should apply to all 1000-5 and 1000-6 models. I assume it should work on the 700-4 since it uses the same tailgate.
You can do this to either side. You only have to choose one. I did my driver side. If done slowly and patiently you should not have any marring or disfiguring of the external panels. The goal is to heat the plastic enough to make it pliable. You are reforming the plastic. Take your time and there should not be any holes when you are done. Heat the area evenly and hold it in position with pry tools and let cool. Then repeat. Until there is enough room to remove the tailgate pin. Make sure you do this in a well ventilated area. Hot plastic is not good for you.
The tools needed:
Heat Gun
5MM hex
10mm ratchet
Multiple Prying Tools
Remove the plastic end cap. It can melt.
Heat this area evenly with the heat gun. Take your time and be patient. The plastic is high heat resistant and seems to take a long time to make pliable.
Pry the area back. It will take time, different angles, and different size pry bars until the area is pushed back enough to give room to remove the tailgate pin.
Remove the 10mm bolt.
You should have enough room to slide the tailgate pin out.
Remove the two upper tailgate cable bolts.
Lift up slightly on the side with the removed pin. Angle it towards yourself and then slide it off of the opposite pin.
Your tailgate now installs and removes with 3 bolts.
I used some anti-sieze on both sides of the pins to help in future removals. It took me about one hour to complete this project.
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