Need help with fender bolts - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

BEK · 10-14-2007, 12:10 AM

Well - after wasting 5 hours on this - I need some help.

I decided to finally install the recently purchased hard bags. It was going OK - not great - usual tribulations. I took out the right fender bolts (one at a time) and installed the brackets to measure for the bags. No problem. Took off the brackets and re-installed the fender bolts. Mounted the brackets to the bag. So far so good. Re-checked the alignment of the fender bolts with the bracket bag combination. Good fit. Took out the fender bolts (one at a time) to install finished product. Rear bolt out and back in - fine. Front bolt out - and won't go in.

The alignment looks close. Screwdriver goes right through. Took rear bolt out - no luck. Put rear bolt back in - nothing. Pushed and pulled everything that can be pushed or pulled - no luck. Now I'm concerned my efforts may have mangled the leading threads on the welded nut. The bolt theards fine from inside the fender.

Only thing else I can think of to do is go buy a long thread tap and re-tap the welded nut. I think it's a long shot.

Anyone have any ideas, hints, or suggestions?

outlaw · 10-14-2007, 06:22 AM

if the bolt goes all the way thru from inside the fender then you are fine. i will tell you that close is not good enough for a bolt. it has to be damn near perfect. you may need to have someone manipulate the steel bracket from inside the fender while you try to start it again. if that don't work, put a bevel on the bolt with a die grinder. needs to be a pretty good bevel. the tap should be your very very last choice because it does go thru all the way.

Ext1jdh · 10-14-2007, 07:33 AM

I had the exact same problem. Here's what I did to remedy the situation.

Get your plug-in drill and use a drill bit to open up the hole on the inside a little bit. This sucks so be careful not to drill through your tire. I say use a plug-in drill cause my battery powered drill doesn't have the power to do it.
Then once there's some more room on the inside nut, put your bolt in there with the proper driver on your drill and power that sucker in.

tallannie · 10-14-2007, 10:33 AM

....eeek... drill the welded nut?

Uh... I had the same problem and took mine to the dealer. I pleaded 'dumb woman' ( it was a tough sell, but sometimes ya gotta use it.... ) and the very nice man finished it for me.

My husband later had the same problem on his VTX.... he went to his dealer and told them I did it...

Actually he put a nut on the bolt... put them in a vise...and then used a big file to taper the tip of the bolt a little bit all the way around. You dont need much of a taper. He cleaned out the threads (by unthreading the nut).... and then drove it in. I think this has a 50 / 50 chance of destroying the inner nut threads ....however his has held.

Petcop · 10-14-2007, 10:50 AM

I used beer, lots of beer while messing with the same project. Worked like a charm!

Don M50limited · 10-14-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petcop

I used beer, lots of beer while messing with the same project. Worked like a charm!

Was that to lubricate the threads or the mechanic

Patience and muscle will get it back in there. The taper on the bolts sounds like a good possibility if needed, just be sure the bolt is lined up STRAIGHT when you start spinning it so it doesn't cross thread into there.

BEK · 10-14-2007, 11:34 AM

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you

I beveled the end of the bolt just a bit, and it threaded right in
On to the left bag!

tallannie · 10-14-2007, 05:36 PM

cool ! yer welcome :

Ext1jdh · 10-14-2007, 09:30 PM

So long as it works then rock on. Don't ever try to take it out though.

digitalbroccoli · 10-15-2007, 02:09 AM

I've had mine off and on 4 or 5 times now, and I've had the same issue a couple times with both of the fronts. Believe it or not, I solved it by having the wife sit on the seat. It leveled out the fender/bracket and lined it up perfect.

Nico · 10-17-2007, 04:56 PM

Mine were hell to reinstall after I installed my sissy bar er.. female retention device.

I was cursing like a madman the holes really looked to be alligned, I just couldn't get the bolt to bite on the right (opposite of the kickstand) side.

I got said female to hold the bike upright and then I pressed up on the rear fender a little, they slipped right in. I think there might be some fractional difference in the allignment if you have the bike on the kickstand.

m50dude · 01-10-2008, 10:54 AM

I had the same problem. I had my wife "110 lbs" sit on the passenger seat while I ran the screw through the hole. Worked like a champ. I knew she was good for something...

Ext1jdh · 01-10-2008, 01:21 PM

outlaw · 01-10-2008, 06:20 PM

alby · 01-11-2008, 03:09 AM

try to have some one lift and twist your back fender as you put in the bolts i had to do this when i put my click saddle bags on my m50 and my wifes c50 the gaurds seem to twist a bit, try front bolt first then lift and twist as you do the rear

cyclesinct · 01-11-2008, 11:39 AM

I've used the same solution as Digital and m50dude. The bolt seemed like it should go, I wanted it to go, but the damn thing wouldn't. My brother-in-law was over one night so we looked at it and I just had him lean down on the seat and the bolt went right in. Remember, sometimes the best tool is the one you live with!

OLAMUofA · 10-07-2008, 11:30 PM

Boy did I have a time with the fender bolts! Read all your thoughts, tried them all bar drilling and could not get the bolts back in when trying to mount saddlebag supports. I sat my wife on it, leaned with all my weight on it, tried to move the inside fender support brace, no dice! Finally, I asked two of my shop colleagues and the three of us together (!!!) with some cheater bars managed to pull back the inside support bracket to be able to put the bolts back in. Something obviously deformed when I took one of the bolts out ... No need for lock-tite on these brothers, they are IN there!

diamond_jim · 10-08-2008, 01:55 PM

Wow, you all have tried some amazing things.

I just loosened up the bolts up front that secure the support to the frame which gave me some movement on the supports and easy rear fender bolting. Then tightened it all up.

PerfectStranger · 10-08-2008, 02:21 PM

For those of us who don't have an extra body to sit/lean on the bike to get the holes to line up, here's something that I did to get alignment correct on the front bolts. These are the ones I've had trouble with.

Inserted a spare bolt from the inside of the finder. Just thread it in until you meet slight resistance. This bolt gives you a good handle to reach in and grab, allowing you to muscle the inside hole around enough to get a bolt started from the outside.

Matt

10-14-2007, 12:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
BEK Where Am I ? Joined: Apr 2007 Bike: 06 Gray M50 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 43	Need help with fender bolts Well - after wasting 5 hours on this - I need some help. I decided to finally install the recently purchased hard bags. It was going OK - not great - usual tribulations. I took out the right fender bolts (one at a time) and installed the brackets to measure for the bags. No problem. Took off the brackets and re-installed the fender bolts. Mounted the brackets to the bag. So far so good. Re-checked the alignment of the fender bolts with the bracket bag combination. Good fit. Took out the fender bolts (one at a time) to install finished product. Rear bolt out and back in - fine. Front bolt out - and won't go in. The alignment looks close. Screwdriver goes right through. Took rear bolt out - no luck. Put rear bolt back in - nothing. Pushed and pulled everything that can be pushed or pulled - no luck. Now I'm concerned my efforts may have mangled the leading threads on the welded nut. The bolt theards fine from inside the fender. Only thing else I can think of to do is go buy a long thread tap and re-tap the welded nut. I think it's a long shot. Anyone have any ideas, hints, or suggestions?

10-14-2007, 06:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
outlaw Fifth gear streak Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: Red '05 M50 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 1,375	if the bolt goes all the way thru from inside the fender then you are fine. i will tell you that close is not good enough for a bolt. it has to be damn near perfect. you may need to have someone manipulate the steel bracket from inside the fender while you try to start it again. *if that don't work, put a bevel on the bolt with a die grinder. needs to be a pretty good bevel.* the tap should be your very very last choice because it does go thru all the way. __________________ Last edited by outlaw; 10-15-2007 at 07:49 AM.

10-14-2007, 07:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ext1jdh Top Gear ! Full Throttle! Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: Sold Location: Elgin, IL, US Posts: 5,257	I had the exact same problem. Here's what I did to remedy the situation. Get your plug-in drill and use a drill bit to open up the hole on the inside a little bit. This sucks so be careful not to drill through your tire. I say use a plug-in drill cause my battery powered drill doesn't have the power to do it. Then once there's some more room on the inside nut, put your bolt in there with the proper driver on your drill and power that sucker in. __________________ I am lurking. I am likely to be eaten by a grue.

10-14-2007, 10:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
tallannie Can Ride And Chew Gum Joined: Dec 2006 Bike: C50 Boulevard Location: Hillsboro, Oregon Posts: 2,120	....eeek... drill the welded nut? Uh... I had the same problem and took mine to the dealer. I pleaded 'dumb woman' ( it was a tough sell, but sometimes ya gotta use it.... ) and the very nice man finished it for me. My husband later had the same problem on his VTX.... he went to his dealer and told them I did it... Actually he put a nut on the bolt... put them in a vise...and then used a big file to taper the tip of the bolt a little bit all the way around. You dont need much of a taper. He cleaned out the threads (by unthreading the nut).... and then drove it in. I think this has a 50 / 50 chance of destroying the inner nut threads ....however his has held. __________________ .... Just in Time moto-cookie delivery

10-14-2007, 05:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
tallannie Can Ride And Chew Gum Joined: Dec 2006 Bike: C50 Boulevard Location: Hillsboro, Oregon Posts: 2,120	cool ! yer welcome : __________________ .... Just in Time moto-cookie delivery

10-14-2007, 10:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
Petcop Puddle Runner Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: 2005 Red M50 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 366	I used beer, lots of beer while messing with the same project. Worked like a charm!

10-14-2007, 11:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
BEK Where Am I ? Joined: Apr 2007 Bike: 06 Gray M50 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 43	Thank you - Thank you - Thank you I beveled the end of the bolt just a bit, and it threaded right in On to the left bag!

10-14-2007, 09:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ext1jdh Top Gear ! Full Throttle! Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: Sold Location: Elgin, IL, US Posts: 5,257	So long as it works then rock on. Don't ever try to take it out though. __________________ I am lurking. I am likely to be eaten by a grue.

10-15-2007, 02:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
digitalbroccoli U.B's LoveChild Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 06 M50 in Bluuuuuuuuue Location: Sodus, NY Posts: 1,059	I've had mine off and on 4 or 5 times now, and I've had the same issue a couple times with both of the fronts. Believe it or not, I solved it by having the wife sit on the seat. It leveled out the fender/bracket and lined it up perfect. __________________ 06 Blue M50 - tattoo profiler and bags, pciii, hypercharger, cruzers, drag bars, lots of other goodies. 99 black bandit - winter project. mwahahaha.

10-17-2007, 04:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
Nico In Training Joined: Sep 2006 Location: NoVA Posts: 134	Mine were hell to reinstall after I installed my sissy bar er.. female retention device. I was cursing like a madman the holes really looked to be alligned, I just couldn't get the bolt to bite on the right (opposite of the kickstand) side. I got said female to hold the bike upright and then I pressed up on the rear fender a little, they slipped right in. I think there might be some fractional difference in the allignment if you have the bike on the kickstand.

01-10-2008, 10:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
m50dude Newbie Joined: Jan 2008 Bike: 2007 Suzuki M50 Location: austin, tx Posts: 15	I had the same problem. I had my wife "110 lbs" sit on the passenger seat while I ran the screw through the hole. Worked like a champ. I knew she was good for something...

01-10-2008, 01:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ext1jdh Top Gear ! Full Throttle! Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: Sold Location: Elgin, IL, US Posts: 5,257	__________________ I am lurking. I am likely to be eaten by a grue.

01-10-2008, 06:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
outlaw Fifth gear streak Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: Red '05 M50 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 1,375	__________________

01-11-2008, 03:09 AM	#15 (permalink)
alby Seat Tester Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: 07 red and black royal star and wife's 07 red&black c50 Location: Queensland , Australia Posts: 95	try to have some one lift and twist your back fender as you put in the bolts i had to do this when i put my click saddle bags on my m50 and my wifes c50 the gaurds seem to twist a bit, try front bolt first then lift and twist as you do the rear

01-11-2008, 11:39 AM	#16 (permalink)
cyclesinct Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Feb 2007 Bike: Boulevard M50 Location: Connecticut Posts: 703	I've used the same solution as Digital and m50dude. The bolt seemed like it should go, I wanted it to go, but the damn thing wouldn't. My brother-in-law was over one night so we looked at it and I just had him lean down on the seat and the bolt went right in. Remember, sometimes the best tool is the one you live with! __________________ '05 M50 black MAPAM backrest Corbin dual tour Highwayman Jumbo Straight Bags Johns Kit forward controls Debaffled exhaust

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10-07-2008, 11:30 PM	#17 (permalink)
OLAMUofA Newbie Joined: Sep 2008 Bike: Suzuki M50 (2008), Specialized Epic Marathon Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 16	Bugger! Boy did I have a time with the fender bolts! Read all your thoughts, tried them all bar drilling and could not get the bolts back in when trying to mount saddlebag supports. I sat my wife on it, leaned with all my weight on it, tried to move the inside fender support brace, no dice! Finally, I asked two of my shop colleagues and the three of us together (!!!) with some cheater bars managed to pull back the inside support bracket to be able to put the bolts back in. Something obviously deformed when I took one of the bolts out ... No need for lock-tite on these brothers, they are IN there!

10-08-2008, 01:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
diamond_jim Refrigerator Magnet Test Engineer Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: S4 Scatcat Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,622	Wow, you all have tried some amazing things. I just loosened up the bolts up front that secure the support to the frame which gave me some movement on the supports and easy rear fender bolting. Then tightened it all up. __________________ M50 tutorials, tips and how-to links DJ's new project bike

10-08-2008, 02:21 PM	#19 (permalink)
PerfectStranger In Training Joined: Sep 2008 Bike: 2007 Suzuki M50 Location: Willoughby, OH Posts: 125	For those of us who don't have an extra body to sit/lean on the bike to get the holes to line up, here's something that I did to get alignment correct on the front bolts. These are the ones I've had trouble with. Inserted a spare bolt from the inside of the finder. Just thread it in until you meet slight resistance. This bolt gives you a good handle to reach in and grab, allowing you to muscle the inside hole around enough to get a bolt started from the outside. Matt __________________ Geography is where it's at.