Don't remove rear fender bolts?

[Sgt Mike]

Hi folks,
As you already know I just traded in my Vulcan750 on a new C-50 . I was informed by a VROC member not to remove rear fender bolts to install a sissy bar or saddle bags and recommended that I come here for more information. Can someone give the info that he's talking about. Thanks.

[Firedog]

These are words that I have followed since day one, so no experience here with problems, but...
If you take all (or more than one?) bolts out at once, the holes and fender are very difficult to line back up. Not impossible, just not fun.

Anything that you do should be able to be accomplished by doing one bolt at a time.

[dragbar]

Yes do them 1 at a time. You'll most likely have the most problems with the bolt closest to the seat. Get your back bolt in, and you may have to then, use an allen head or something to help "push" the fender and frame into alignment to get the front bolt to thread in easier.

[DS06C50T]

... and leave them loose (ie, not tightened down all the way) until you've reintalled all bolts. Once all bolts are back in, THEN tighten them down.

Just an addendum to the earlier 2 posts, which are exactly right!

Daryl

[Clintoysterwood]

I installed the factory tube type sissy bar and saddlebags. I took all the bolts out and had one hell of a time. I could not fiqure out how to get them started again. My trick, that I finally used and have now used several times is to forget the socket wrench. I used an box wrench, with atlas rubber faced gloves on. I centered the head in the box wrench and then pushed with all my thumb was worth as I tightened the box wrench. Each time they caught immediately and I was able to relax and just keep turning the wrench, once I was sure the threads were not crossed, I grabbed the socket. Of course the did not purchase the sissy bar at the same time as the bags, so I removed the bags and added the sissy bars, used this technique and did not have any problems the second time. But the first time, oh hell I had gone to the dealer several times to complain, tried to get longer bolts, everything. Without the gloves I could not get that extra tension and make the connection. The combination of rubber gloves and box wrench allowed the extra pressure without losing the feel of the bolt turning. It worked for me, hope it works for you. Clint.

[Rocken]

I Have 2 C50's His and Hers. I had no trouble at all putting saddlebags on my C50 but when I did the bags on my wife's C50 it was a pane in the but. I did it 1 bolt at a time and still had a hard time lining up the 2 bolts closest to the seat. Your going throw 4 layers then threading in to a welded in nut. I have hear of people taking them all out and spending hours of cussing trying to put them back.... I try to learn from others mistakes rather then make them my self... I wood hate to think how much worse it wood have been to do the wife's bags if I had taking the bolts all out at one time.....

[spanman]

Originally Posted by Clintoysterwood

I installed the factory tube type sissy bar and saddlebags. I took all the bolts out and had one hell of a time. I could not fiqure out how to get them started again. My trick, that I finally used and have now used several times is to forget the socket wrench. I used an box wrench, with atlas rubber faced gloves on. I centered the head in the box wrench and then pushed with all my thumb was worth as I tightened the box wrench. Each time they caught immediately and I was able to relax and just keep turning the wrench, once I was sure the threads were not crossed, I grabbed the socket. Of course the did not purchase the sissy bar at the same time as the bags, so I removed the bags and added the sissy bars, used this technique and did not have any problems the second time. But the first time, oh hell I had gone to the dealer several times to complain, tried to get longer bolts, everything. Without the gloves I could not get that extra tension and make the connection. The combination of rubber gloves and box wrench allowed the extra pressure without losing the feel of the bolt turning. It worked for me, hope it works for you. Clint.

I have a c 90 with a similar question do you use one bolt to hold fender sissy bracket saddlebag supports and saddlebag?I have rigid mount saddlebags I just bought thanks

[Clintoysterwood]

On the C50, one bolt goes through both the sissy bar bracket and the saddlebag bracket and the spacers and the saddlebags. Actually, two bolts each side, one forward one aft. I tried the remove one bolt at a time and that did not seem to help on my C50, it was the trick getting the bolt which always seemed 2 threads too short to start. Once started it was easy. As I said I even removed them once to add the sissy bar and luggage shelf. Definately not straight forward and no help from the dealer.

[Dave Nadeau]

First, I am new here and want to thank all the people that posted questions and answers... very helpfull!!
Second a little about me and my ride......back into riding after 32 years. Always owned english Triumpsh , Nortons Etc. Now I own a C50.
Heres how I got a C50 upt C50T standards cheap, I think anyway.

I stayed away fromn the big dealers and hit the smaller ones. After a 1/2 dozen or so I found a 05 left over for $6,149 otd.
Went to Onieda Suzuki that someone mentioned on this sight and bought everything that I needed. OEm windshield...pivitong backrest and saddle bags. With shipping it came to $1,030. So for about $7,200 I got me a new 05 Taht looks like a C50t with out the studs and whitewalls.

NOW FOR THE Saddle BAG install.......its really easy. PUT PRESSURE ON THE SEAT. For left one I used my fist to beard down and the bolt went right in. For the right one I sat backwards on the bike and used my left hand. No problems. Also did only remove one bolt at a time on the right side.
Figured this out after much cussing and the like.

[Clintoysterwood]

Sitting on the seat was about the only thing I did not try. I will add it to my tool chest if I ever remove the bags or sissy bar. Thanks for the experience. Clint

[Exit 63]

I have heard all the nightmares about this....But must say that I removed all the bolts at once when I put on my saddlebags, and had no problems putting them back on!!!!!
Lucky...I guess.

[joker]

same here, put the bike on a lift - 1 bolt at a time. No issues at all.

[Capt Cruiser]

I just did bag supports and bags last week. Tried one at a time, no way the bolt near the seat was going back in.

Loosened all 4 bolts, still wouldn't go in.

Removed the sissy bar from the brackets, no problem, all bolts went in good.

Mounted the bag supports and bags then mounted the sissy bar last. Worked great.

Lot's of cussing in my neighborhood that day.

[RampageRider]

Got the sissy bar in the mail today and following the wonderful advice of those who did it before.................. and now I'm taking a break before I end that bike's life. I put three bolts in with no sweat and the fourth left side behind the seat will not line up for nothing.

I'll let you know how it comes out or should I say goes in?

[RampageRider]

I have the bolt in now and what a pain in the @ss that was, I had to grab the chrome support under the seat and pull towards the rear, while at the same time push towards the front on the rear light assemble. While doing that in a quivering crushing position had the wife put the bolt in with the socket wrench.

Now that was team work!

[c50tiger]

a search on "fender bolts" will reveal a number of older threads on this topic....

[Rocken]

RampageRider

I'm glad I did not have that hard of a time... Like I said before my C50 was a snap but the wife's C50 gave me a little bit of trouble but no where near as bad as yours did...

I'm glad you got it in.......

[RampageRider]

What really amazed me was how easy the first three bolt went in, and then the fun began. I just wonder if it has to do with the angle the bike set while on the stand?

I would have been easy if the nut wasn't welded or attached to the frame section.

[Rocken]

I just did softbags on my brothers C50 and the first bolt wood not go in to save my life. I had to take a dremel and make the end of the bolt taper so I could make it line up. All the other bolts went striate in.... The trouble maker was the front on the right...

[Cruiser22]

After just going through this I have one tip that may help others out. The two bolts nearest the seats are the only ones that will probably give anyone trouble. After cursing, sweating and nearly rolling the bike down the driveway into oncoming traffic, I came up with an idea that worked great.

The problem was one of leverage and pressure as I can not get an allen wrench to turn without releasing pressure every 180 degrees. I cut off a 3/4 inch piece of allen wrench and loaded it into a socket allowing me to use a socket wrench...contant pressure, 1 minute later viola. Hope this helps.