Hondaline OEM trunk guard rail fitment issue

[MP]

I got the NIB Hondaline trunk guard rails. Am in the process of installing.  When I put them together, with the little piece at the back, and hold them up to the trunk, they do not fit.

If I hold one side in place, the other side is 1-2" away from the trunk.  If I separate them, and hold them in place, it looks like I need to take about 1/2" off each side to get the bars up against the trunk.

Am I doing this wrong?  Anyone else had a problem fitting them?  I took them out of the blister pack, so I know they are new, and Honda OEM.

Thanks.

MP

[Joe Hummer]

Are you trying to mount the trunk rails to your bike first?  Do you have the Standard Fender Rails?  In order to put the IS trunk on your Standard...you must use the IS Fender Rails. 

Hope this helps.

Joe

[MP]

No, it is a 2001 Interstate.  I removed the trunk from the IS, took the liner out, and when holding the rails up to the trunk, they sure seem at least an inch too wide.

These are the chrome guard rails that go around the trunk, not the rails that mount the trunk to the bike.

I do not see how I can make it fit, without cutting at least 1/2" off each pipe in the middle.  Any ideas?

MP

[Joe Hummer]

Sorry...it was early when I replied to the message.  I understand now what you are talking about.  Sorry, I don't have an answer. 

Joe

[DFragn]

I don't know for sure, but aren't those held off the trunk with [furnished] chrome spacers. Just guessing!

[Cattman]

Mine have been on forever, but I seem to remember that it took 2 of us to hold and mark the spot to drill them and the center piece floats between the two until they are bolted on and it is tightend last.

[MP]

The spacers are welded on the guards.  Also, to get them together, would take a lot of squeezing.  More pressure than I would care to do.

MP

[BF]

Perhaps there's someone around your area that has 'em that will let you take a look at theirs.  I wouldn't cut anything untill you at least compare them with somebody else's. 

[Oyeaa]

I installed my Hondaline OEM trunk guard rails and I ran into the same issue.  I had to cut it down at the tube seam is in the back and then re drill the hole for the 10 mm bolt to pass through.  Take your time.  There is a huge tear down process to get the trunk lower shell separated from all the rest.  Cover the lower shell with a lot of tape to prevent scratching it.     You will spend a fair amount of time trying to decide exactly where you are going to drill the holes because there are no good directions on where to drill them.  I felt that if I had not cut down the tube in back trying to "pull it in" with the mounting screws would have popped big holes in the shell when the screws pulled through.  I do not remember how much I cut off, sorry, but you will want to decide this after you decide on hole placement and loosely mount them, and based on how they look decide how much to cut them down by, mark them and then take them off again and cut them down. Repeat as needed I was probably over concerned about taking off too much material and having a gap, so it took me three tries to get them short enough to fit with a minimal amount of drawing in with the mounting screws.  Maybe an inch of total material cut off for me.

I thought that I took a bunch of pictures of the installation process but can only find these.  I used the yard stick across the front of the trunk so that I had a solid reference point to measure from for the hole placement on each side so that the trunk hole placement was symmetrical.








Project completed pictures here.

http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u11/VALKYRIEINTERSTATE/2000%20Blue%20and%20Silver%20Interstate/?start=all

[MP]

I am glad someone cut the pipe too. Looked to me like 1/2" needed to come off each side.  SmokingJoe sent some pics using BIG clamps on the bars to draw into place.  Seemed like a lot of pressure to be on the plastic sides all the time too.  But, he did it on HalfBreed, and they are working good.

Thanks for the pics and info.

MP

[OverdueBill]

I got some bolts that were as long as would fit in the rails.  Some bigger washers on the inside and some of the pretty chrome washers like were used under the top trunk rack for outside.  Taped it all up with painters blue tape.  Marked it and drilled.  Used many four letter words, wished I had a helper, and pulled it in place.  Acutally lined up about the same on the pinstripe on both sides.  Solid color trunk with no stripe would be easier.  No reference marks to point out errors.  The tear down and re-assembly were the  bad part.  Also re-routed rear speaker wires and put in new Polk speakers.  Did the tail light mod to make them both brake, run.   Fun day.