how to mount saddlebag guards ???

[kc5tf]

98 Honda Valkyrie --received saddlebag guards for Christmas---no instructions...any help greatly appreciated

[bill-jr]

Shop talk ....
Has a step by step on how to install.....

[Jess from VA]

Whether original OE Honda or aftermarket, install everything completely loosey-goosey (like barely threaded), and only after everything is fully installed, then go back around and snug it all up.  The trickiest part is the shorter connections around and underneath the back fender.  And I seem to recall that I (and many) made our connections to the main bag rails upside down (or backwards) from the way the instructions said to do it (it's easier and more intuitive, and the fact bolts/nut show more is irrelevant because it's all buried down low behind the bags).

PS: this is always a good time to clean up the thin heat shields under the bags.

Another thing:  if you didn't get new correct hardware, the existing bolts (reused)(I think M8s' part no's 5 & 6 in the instruction sheet) will hold the rails in place OK, but these heavier grade bolts are made to take big impacts in a bad accident, and after adding the bag rail mounts to the equation, those original bolts are now too short, and will not tap fully through the appropriate frame bosses (they'll only tap three or four threads deep before tight).  Those heavier grade bolts with rails should be a quarter or third inch longer than the OE bolts to fully tap, and if you need to go to the hardware to get proper length stainless (or back to Honda for the correct length chrome flange bolts) it's worth your time and expense to do so, for a proper strong lashup.  You could use the existing bolts to get started, but replace them with the longer bolts when you get them.  Also, I got no part no. 4 collars with my rails (and the parts sheet gives no length, and I ended up buying a couple different lengths, one of which was correct).  

The original Honda OE instructions on bag rails (in Shop Talk) also contain parts lists that have the correct length bolts identified.      

[gordonv]

Also Norway Valkyrie, your 1st source for manuals, then Shop Talk for DIYs.

http://valkyrienorway.com/download.html

[RonW]

 --received saddlebag guards for Christmas---no instructions.....

kc5tf, I don't know how far along you are with your installation but here's some notes. Most of the pics are from my Valk files which I took earlier while working on the bike. Odds are that your saddlebag guards are from an Ebay vendor, not Hondaline originals. My second set of saddlebags guards were knockoffs from Ebay. I had problems lining up the appendage (below). There are several Ebay vendors that sell identical products. They all post the same stock pics & just happen to be located in Dallas, so I assume they're the same entity. Same problem, irregardless which vendor. Or, maybe you didn't have a problem lining up the appendage at all.





Bolt 7 above which secures the appendage goes through a hole on the bottom of the inner saddlebags (red arrow) .....



..... and screws into a welded nut on the saddlebag bracket. Nut 9 (diagram above) screws onto the shaft of Bolt 7 that protrudes out of the welded nut securing the appendage.




The appendages on mines were this far out of alignment. Had to slot the hole, actually enlarged the hole from slotting it in multiple directions as trying to align it turned out to be like hitting a moving target.




Genuine Hondaline® saddlebag guards would have included Spacer 4.




The reason for the spacer is that where the appendage tucks under the heat shield, the heat shield has a lipped edge, next 2 pics. The appendage would rest upon the lipped edge leaving a gap when tightened down. The spacer is approximately 5/16 inch long. If the spacer is a little longer it won't matter none. In fact, a little longer would mean that you have to bend the appendage less when tightening things down with Nut 9. The O.D. of the spacer could be as large as one inch.






Bolt 7 has to be longer than the exiting bolt due to the spacer. The Hondaline instruction sheet says the bolt is 47mm long. The Oem parts page quotes the same bolt as 28mm since that would be without the saddlebag guards. Just the saddlebag brackets.

[Ramie]

BF had a post on the after market guards and what he had to do to make the fit.  Mainly creating a short extension out of stainless steel tubing to make them fit properly.  I had to do the same, you can't see his pic's any more at least I can't but you should get the idea if you run into a similar problem.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,65481.0.html

[The emperor has no clothes]

BF had a post on the after market guards and what he had to do to make the fit.  Mainly creating a short extension out of stainless steel tubing to make them fit properly.  I had to do the same, you can't see his pic's any more at least I can't but you should get the idea if you run into a similar problem.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,65481.0.html

It’s been a while and I might not remember it correctly. But I think BF did that because he was using non OEM bags.