saddlebag mounting bracket forward bolt will not thread in on either side

[Shydog]

Hey all, I have an 2000 interstate and last winter removed the saddlebags, mounting brackets, and shocks just to clean those up. Just installed my sportrac 3 that relax recommended, after using Bel-Ray where needed. Done the fender nut mod, running a carriage bolt through from inside out. That worked out well. Then tried to install the saddlebag mounting bracket and was unable to get either side front upper bolt to start. Tried removing top shock bolt and lifting on rear of trunk trying to get the bolts to start. I did first raise the fender and installed the carriage bolt without any problems, but cannot get the front bolt to start. Bolt will gone in until their's about an inch or so left, but will not tighten up. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong? What is inside that front mount on the rear fender? Is there a nut out of line or what? This is my first experience with working on the valkyrie and learning as I go and also picking up information here. 

Dave

[Michvalk]

I had a heck of a time getting mine to line up as well. I took a phillips screwdriver and pushed it through to get everything to line up. took a few tries,but, finally got them to start.

[Denny47]

I use a short piece of wooden broom stick as a pry bar between the tire and fender to pry up a little to line the holes up. Seems like my fender always needs to go up just a hair. Then do as Michvalk suggests and line up with Phillips

[Shydog]

was just on the chatline and they suggested installing the front bolts first and see if that works, then the rears one. will give that a try in the morning. thanks to all

[BigBad1]

There is a nut inside a cage on the inside of the fender. you should be able to reach under the fender and move the nut inside the cage while inserting the bolt until it is lined up. Also, you said it goes in except for the last half inch. Do you have your spacers installed between the fender rail and bag support?

[9Ball]

some have had better luck by filing a radius on the end of these bolts.  Just taper the tip of the bolt slightly and it may help you get the bolt to start threading.

As others have advised, sometimes you have to pry the fender a little as it warps a bit when the bolts are removed.  Try slightly loosening the other bolts to give you a little better flexibility while trying to start the bolts.  The tip about reaching inside to guide the captured nut also helps.

It's just a frustrating job....next time, only do one side at a time and you will have less trouble.

Good luck.

[mmurffy03]

after I had a similar situation with 2 longer bolts for my bags I had a flash try to see if my old bolts would catch the threads properly and they did it turned out the first few threads on the new longer bolts were a bit off got out the tap n die set oiled up the bolt cleaned the threads up and they went rite in no problem but you couldn't see the problem with just looking at it

[Shydog]

Thanks to all the suggestions, I finally got the bolts to thread in, and everything back together. The new Vredestein Sportrac 3, 205/60/16, that I had mounted by a local tire shop, really looks sharp on the rear of the Valk. I'm going to attempt to post a photo of it.

                                       

I still need to remove the gas tank and replace the air filter, and then change the windshield, before I get out for a ride. And I'm thinking of changing the front E3 for one of the bias ply rear tires that are being used by other darksiders. I'm ready to ride!

[Hoser]

Is that a car tire, looks rounded like a bike tire.  More info on the tire?  Hoser

[Michvalk]

Take care to make sure that when you put the fuel tank back on, that the vent tube has no kinks. The vent tube has a vacum break about half way down that looks like a tee fitting with nothing hooked to the third leg

[Shydog]

Would it be possible to raise the front of the gas tank without taking it off to be able to change the air filter?     The Vredestein Sportrac 3 is a car tire made in Holland and available at Tiresbyweb.com. A member here from Norway has it on his Valk and highly recommended the tire, so I ordered one. Haven't had a chance for a test ride yet. The tire does have a rounded profile.

                                                               

[Denny47]

Be better to just remove the tank. Several screws to remove to take top off and then re-install. You could also damage your petcock, vacuum line or fuel line if you lift the front of the tank to high. There is also an o-ring type gasket between the filter and cover which needs to be in the groove. Don't forget the Phillips head screw inside the petcock knob if you have the OEM petcock.

[John Schmidt]

Shydog, all the pictures show up except the one showing it mounted on the bike....taken from the rear. I'd like to see that one again.

[Shydog]

I have a rough time trying to remember how to post a photo, but finally got it!


                                                          



                                                         

[John Schmidt]

Thanks Shy, I sure like the looks of that tire, how much psi are you carrying in it. Appears to be more rounded at the shoulders, how does it handle? And, does it have a stiff sidewall?

[Shydog]

You're welcome Stuffy anytime..

I've been under the weather since that tire was mounted and haven't taken a ride yet. I had seen it on the rear of Relax's bike when he posted something several weeks ago here. I contacted him about the tire and he advised it was a Vredestein Sportrac 3 made in Holland. He told me he was living in Norway and that the tire has given him great service, both on dry and wet roads, and that it had rounded shoulders, making it almost like a m/c tire. So I ordered one off the net and had it mounted at the local tire shop. I checked the air pressure after getting it mounted back on my interstate and they had put 40 lbs. in it. I ride 2 up all the time and will start out with that pressure to see how it handles. Relax had told me he liked 40, but had a softer ride at 34 or 36, so I may lower the pressure afterwards. I got the 205/60/16 which was $177 from tiresbyweb.com..Done the fender mod and used carriage bolts which worked out fine. Appears to be plenty of room between the tire and swingarm and upper fender. Once this darn dirt road dries up I hope to get out onto the highway and test out the tire. I'm expecting a great ride!!

[John Schmidt]

Thanks for the input, keep us posted on how it handles. I have to tear my final drive off for regular maintenance before long and want to replace the c/t I now have on there.

[flsix]

Shydog, every time I think I have a C/T picked out someone shows up with another one that looks good. This one has some great contour to the tread. Thanks for creating more confusion in my life

[Shydog]

Hey Stuffy, glad to add to the confusion. I'm the same way right now pondering which bias ply rear to add to the front of my interstate. The Shinko 230, Dunlop 404, Bridgestone Batlax 45, and the list goes on. What's a guy to do? I have to get rid of the E3 on the front now, but what to go with?

[gordonv]

I have mounted on my Shadow 1100 rear rim, that same brand of tire, but a Vredstein Comtrac, the taxi one, a little narrower.



http://www.tiresbyweb.com/tbw_tiresearchadv2.aspx?treadwidth=185&profile=75&rimsize=16&Winter=0&Pageindex=1&choice2=All

I like the tread that is on yours better. Sold my ACE T to my bro, but he doesn't want the CT so I don't know what I am going to do with it, since I now have a 88' GW.

[Bone]

My last 3 fronts have been the Dunlop 404 bias fronts. Decent milage and handles well for my riding style.

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

I heard alot about  using the Avon AM-26  130/90/17 Rear tire on the Front.Well I put the Avon Rear Tire on thr front of both of my Interstates and Both are Cracking Along The Sidewalls and this is not the first Avon Tire that has done this,so I'll give you a "WARNING"," STAY AWAY FROM AVON TIRES". Don't waste your time and money.They are Junk in my Opinion.
Bert

[Shydog]

Think I have narrowed it down to 4 different tires, Dunlop 404, Shinko 230, BS BT45, and the Pirelli Sport Demon, all in the 130/90/17 bias ply. The Shinko 230 looks like it may be fairly quiet and rugged,  the D 404 is highly recommended, BT45 I used to run on a goldwing with good results, and the Pirelli Sport Demon which has a good profile. How to choose from this group of tires is my problem. I may check with the tire techs at Iron Pony and get their advise on these tires and go from there. 

[John Schmidt]

Shydog, my sis-in-law lives in the Westerville area on the golf course...Little Turtle I believe it's called on rte. 161 just east of I-270. Whenever we visit up there I'm always headed for the Iron Pony, just to browse usually but spend something once in a while. They have some good deals every so often, I go in and check them out, see what the price is with tax. Then go out to the parking lot and call them on the cell phone and order it, usually don't charge shipping and no sales tax. By the time we get home, it's there and I don't have to lug it through the airport. And, if it's clothing I've already tried it on so know it fits. Kinda cheap, huh?