An easy question for the nut cage modders who then used carriage bolts.

[wiggydotcom]

I just bought 5/16 carriage bolts in a 4 inch length in preperation of doing the nut cage modification.
My question is, did you guys do anything with the square shoulder on the carriage bolt?

1. Leave it intact and let the shoulder be the mating surface with the fender?

2. Grind it off so the head of the carriage bolt is the mating surface with the inside of the fender?

3. None of the above...but something different?

Thanks for your answers!

Sometimes it's the simple stuff that makes one go "hmmmmmm".

[John Schmidt]

Left it alone. When you tighten the bolt down it will tend to pull that square underneath section into the existing hole in the fender.

[da prez]

  Did you know that an unmarked standard carriage bolt is a grade three. As a minimum, I would not use less thana grade five bolt. If you are on a standard, with no load attached to it, it will be O -K.
  I used a grade eight standard bolt and removed some head thickness. I also have a hitch and just put on OEM bags.  You can get a better quality carriage bolt from most suppliers. Go online and check the grade standards fyi.
  Just my two cents worth (before taxes).
                                                           da prez 

[HayHauler]

I was a little anal about this because I pulled a pretty heavy trailer that was mounted with these bolts.  I went to the hardware store and bought me some grade 8 bolts, shaved the heads down, and inserted them in from the inside.  I mounted everything up and ground off the excess bolt sticking through the nut on the outside.

If you're not planning on pulling a trailer, carrige bolts will do just fine.  Like John said, that square shoulder will keep the bolt from turning and will get pulled into the hole.




I trimmed the heads with a Dremmel, but any grinder and a vise will do.



Good Luck,
Hay  
Jimmyt

[R J]

I don't remember on my carriage bolts, but I think they were like grade 5 or something along that nature, real carriage bolts, ones with the rounded top..

Left the little tits as I call them on the inside and sucked it down, cut the bolt flush with the head an popped an acorn cap on it.   Was going to use a acorn nut, but I had too much bolt and popped the top when I tightened it up.

I had some nylon aircraft nuts and stuck them on with the acorn cap.   Pulled my trailer a little bit with it and no problem.   I should say my son pulled the trailer.

He and his bride, took a weeks trip to Florida, and you all know how women can take everything except the kitchen sink.   Well Amber was no different.   When she got back home, she did admit that they could have filled the saddlebags and gotten by.   I asked her if Rex got a full saddlebag and she said yes.   there next week long trip, they only used the saddlebags and my old sea-bag for dirty clothes hung on the passenger back rest and the little worthless rack on the rear.

[wiggydotcom]

Thanks for all your answers. I forgot to mention I do have an Interstate and will put the head through from the inside of the fender. I like the idea of not having to grind the square shoulder.
I was just worried that in the process of sucking it into the fender, I might crack the fender itself.
And thanks for the reminder on the bolt grade. I won't be pulling a trailor in the near future but will have the weight of the bags to consider so I'll get at least a grade 5, if not 8.

Thanks again,

Wiggydotcom