I bought a new front fender for my 2005 FXST. (This one)
I was told I needed the 4.5 width. It fits around the tire well, but there about an inch gap on each side between the fender and the forks to mount it.

Did I buy the wrong size? Do I need hardware/spacers to mount it?? Please help as uninstallable new parts are soooooooo effing frustrating. Thanks.

 

you can either space it out or bring it to a machine shop and have them cut and tack a couple of spacers to each side.

 

This is just one example of what you need.

some of us that have custom fenders went to a local shop and had them made or you can buy what you need from many vendors.

Mounting a fender takes a bit of science but if you read some of the various threads in here people have been pretty thorough in explaining the process or you can go to a shop and let them do it for you.

Here is what I came up with:

 

Ace harware has spacers for cheap. I bought some duece fender spacers w/ a spade cut into them looks very nice. Sorry no pics.

 

have always used local hardware stores to buy the things the dealers would charge you triple for....this is the easiest way to go...done it many times

 

Great. I failed science.

Thanks for all the good advice. I'll check out the local Ace tomorrow.

 

+1 for ACE hardware. Just did the same thing on my bike...ACE had everything I needed, including the longer bolts.

 

Ace was money. Didn't quite have a long enough spacer in chrome, but I think I can stack 2 together to get it mounted for now and order some longer ones online somewhere. Thanks for the help.