I'm still fighting with this 77 FXE basketcase I'm trying to build and I am trying to determine why the fender struts do not hug the fender...there must be about a 1/2 gap between the strut mounts and the fender. Is this correct? do you need spacers to fit the stock fender? Seems like will look like ****....my ironheads fit snug to the fender....this just does not seem right to me...I've tried two sets of struts and two fenders....verified I have shovel fenders as well.

 

I'm far from an expert, but the struts on my 76 FXE do fit snug to the fender. So much so that a slight groove is worn into the fender paint.

 

Are they for a FX or FLH? Fx struts will be straight while FLH struts will bow out. Also a set of aftermarket struts I bought had a boss on one bolt hole that I had to grind down flush on the back.
WUZFUZ

 

Not sure if this helps... mine is a 76

 

I'm pretty sure I have the original struts for the 77 FX...they were rusted and sat on the bike in Texas for 15 years....what is odd to me is that they appear to mount on an angle...the shock mount is about 1/8" out of the smaller second strut mount on the frame...this suggests the struts are actually angled in then bowed out....I scream WHY....maybe I am missing a spacer there as well??? I got zero to go on...tons of ironheads...ZERO shovels and I'm a bit of a lone wolf....machinist in a dimly lit shop with no friends.....

 

picture up what you have issue with the guys do this all the time and know by site the parts and connecting pieces

 

so here you can see the gaps....the tail end strut mount is flush against the fender...the gap grows as we move towards the shock mount area....

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I don't see a spacer pictured in the parts book for those bolts.
There is a spacer shown where the strut fastens to the "ears" on the frame.
The pic shows the bolts installed from the inside of the fender with acorn nuts on them.
Have you tried to snug up the fasteners at that point to see if the fender distorts much?
It could be the struts are slightly bent and/or the fender is slightly misshaped.

 

I was WRONG on my earlier post stating FX struts should be straight, the should bend in from the frame mount. I can't see much in your pix to tell what's going on with yours.
WUZFUZ

 

Wuzfuz, so I tried a different fender and although it is closer at the mid-bolt point it still is about 1/4" out....there is no way the fender fits snug to the frame mount where the strut bolts on....the fender is much smaller than that width so there must be a spacer that goes there.....I cam take more pics?????