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Wanted to put a sissy bar on my wife's Seventy Two. Have done this with other bikes- remove fender bolts and replace with docking hardware-no big deal- WRONG!! I found that the lock washers that were supposed to hold the front fender bolt in place didn't really do any locking and just turned with the bolt when unfastening them. So, I had to wiggle my hand and needle nose pliers into the small area between the inside fender and the tire to hold the lock washers in place while I used the torx socket to get the bolts out- not easy to fit in there. Eventually the job got done, but again, another example of the MoCo making what should be a very easy task as difficult as possible.
Wanted to put a sissy bar on my wife's Seventy Two. Have done this with other bikes- remove fender bolts and replace with docking hardware-no big deal- WRONG!! I found that the lock washers that were supposed to hold the front fender bolt in place didn't really do any locking and just turned with the bolt when unfastening them. So, I had to wiggle my hand and needle nose pliers into the small area between the inside fender and the tire to hold the lock washers in place while I used the torx socket to get the bolts out- not easy to fit in there. Eventually the job got done, but again, another example of the MoCo making what should be a very easy task as difficult as possible.
Maybe it took so long because you were removing bolts on the front fender to put a sissy bar quick release mounts on the rear. I can see where that would make it take a bit longer.
We know you were talking about the front bolt on the rear fender.
Here's one of my favorite little "custom" fabrications anyone can do with a hack saw:
With all-thread (5/16" with 18 thread pitch), bungee nuts (5/16"x18) and some red Loctite (high strength), I made some bungee bolts that secure the docking hardware.
Take the all-thread rod and thread on four spare nuts. Two of them about 2" from the ends (one each end) and two of them in the center of the all-thread. Apply red Loctite to the ends of the all-thread. Screw the bungee nuts to the ends of the all-thread and tighten them at the same time. Use the bolts that come with the appropriate docking hardware kit to determine the length of the newly assembled bungee bolts. After cutting the all-thread, remove the spare nuts. This will repair the threads after the all-thread has been cut. A file may be used to clean the ends a little more. Repeat, and you have four bungee bolts. Blue Loctite (medium strength) when installing them on the bike. I think some people simply install the docking hardware bolts in from the back so that the threads stick out from the fender strut and then install the bungee nuts (you can't use the shouldered bolts that come with the docking kit because they have to thread all the way through). The backwards bolt method was too easy, so I had to make a project out of it (plus, I wanted to ensure the bolts were long enough).
I had some powder coated black, but I didn't like the black so I went with chrome.
We know you were talking about the front bolt on the rear fender.
Here's one of my favorite little "custom" fabrications anyone can do with a hack saw:
With all-thread (5/16" with 18 thread pitch), bungee nuts (5/16"x18) and some red Loctite (high strength), I made some bungee bolts that secure the docking hardware.
Take the all-thread rod and thread on four spare nuts. Two of them about 2" from the ends (one each end) and two of them in the center of the all-thread. Apply red Loctite to the ends of the all-thread. Screw the bungee nuts to the ends of the all-thread and tighten them at the same time. Use the bolts that come with the appropriate docking hardware kit to determine the length of the newly assembled bungee bolts. After cutting the all-thread, remove the spare nuts. This will repair the threads after the all-thread has been cut. A file may be used to clean the ends a little more. Repeat, and you have four bungee bolts. Blue Loctite (medium strength) when installing them on the bike. I think some people simply install the docking hardware bolts in from the back so that the threads stick out from the fender strut and then install the bungee nuts (you can't use the shouldered bolts that come with the docking kit because they have to thread all the way through). The backwards bolt method was too easy, so I had to make a project out of it (plus, I wanted to ensure the bolts were long enough).
I had some powder coated black, but I didn't like the black so I went with chrome.
Nice. It's always a good idea to have extra bungee spots.
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