Grab Rail Bolt Alternative

[StrikingViking]

Has anyone sourced an alternative for the OEM chromed flange bolts (M8x68) that secure the bag mounts to the grab rail / rear fender on a Tourer?  Shown as #10 on the parts diagram.

https://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/a/hon/506cb673f870023420a41852/rear-fender-grab-rail

Other than ordering from Germany (at $10 a bolt, before shipping), all the usual North American suppliers seem to be out (on the parts diagrams you can only scroll down to #9... nothing after that)

Just last year I replaced the front set (M10x70) because they were getting corroded, and I'm kicking myself that I didn't purchase the rear at the same time for when I removed them I can see that they have been previously cross-threaded and the threads are pretty much cheesed.

Ideally I'd like to retain the flange-bolt-chrome look for continuity... which is why I'm asking if anyone has been able to find a suitable substitute.

Thanks!

[hubcapsc]

When I first got my Valkyrie, Rattlebars was still going. I got a "quick release" bag
kit from them. It mostly amounted to nicely done little threaded rods with nuts on each end
to replace the bolts.

That way you can take the lower bag bolts out, the nuts off at the top, and the bags are
still hanging there on the two top threaded rods. Just lift the bags off and set them back
on. I take my bags off and my rear fender section off to change tires, so I think the
arrangement is awesome... works with bag rails...



-Mike "just an idea..."

[Hook#3287]

https://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/p/honda/90115-mz0-700/bolt-special-flange-8x68

[Bigwolf]

My Valk has the nut cage mod and I replaced that bolt with a 5/16 grade 8 bolt from the inside out.  I bought chromed deep set acorn nuts to go on the outside end of the bolts.  It worked well with the bags I had but  I can't run those acorn nuts now because the saddlebags I have now sit too close.

Bigwolf

[sandy]

Here in the US, we have ACE hardware stores. They sell lengths of allthread in metric threads. You could install that and put a chrome nut on the outside. Use locktite on the inner threads, but not the outer nut.

[John Schmidt]

For the rear bolts, just get a couple carriage bolts and run them from the inside out. The square shank underneath the head will pull into the fender enough so it will hold it from turning. Then apply a locking nut on the outside against the fender rail, hang the bag mounts and put a shallow acorn on to hold it in place. For the larger front bolts, just pick up a proper sized metric bolt and run it in, hang the bag mount and cut the head off along with any excess length of bolt. Slap an acorn on that also and next time when you want to remove the bags, remove the acorns on all four bolts and remove the bag mount in one piece. You won't have to mess with the bolts.

[StrikingViking]

https://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/p/honda/90115-mz0-700/bolt-special-flange-8x68

Weird... this is item #10 on the parts schematic link that I posted, except that it isn't on the parts schematic link.  Thanks for finding it!

[StrikingViking]

Here in the US, we have ACE hardware stores. They sell lengths of allthread in metric threads. You could install that and put a chrome nut on the outside. Use locktite on the inner threads, but not the outer nut.

Ah, yes... ACE is the place with the helpful hardware man (or "folks") as they have now changed the Ad.  Great idea... we call that ready-rod in the great white north.  Another option... thanks!

[StrikingViking]

When I first got my Valkyrie, Rattlebars was still going. I got a "quick release" bag
kit from them. It mostly amounted to nicely done little threaded rods with nuts on each end
to replace the bolts.

That way you can take the lower bag bolts out, the nuts off at the top, and the bags are
still hanging there on the two top threaded rods. Just lift the bags off and set them back
on. I take my bags off and my rear fender section off to change tires, so I think the
arrangement is awesome... works with bag rails...



-Mike "just an idea..."

Cool... so I'm noticing that your actual saddlebag support framework isn't in the photo. Was removing this (pictured) part of the modification or are they still part of mounting your bags but just not in the photo?

[StrikingViking]

Bigwolf & John... great idea. Thank you!

[hubcapsc]

When I first got my Valkyrie, Rattlebars was still going. I got a "quick release" bag
kit from them. It mostly amounted to nicely done little threaded rods with nuts on each end
to replace the bolts.

That way you can take the lower bag bolts out, the nuts off at the top, and the bags are
still hanging there on the two top threaded rods. Just lift the bags off and set them back
on. I take my bags off and my rear fender section off to change tires, so I think the
arrangement is awesome... works with bag rails...



-Mike "just an idea..."

Cool... so I'm noticing that your actual saddlebag support framework isn't in the photo. Was removing this (pictured) part of the modification or are they still part of mounting your bags but just not in the photo?

The bag supports are under the bags in my picture. From memory (I've done it many times   ) I sit
behind the bike and remove the part that ties the bag supports together (and the part that ties the rails
together if you have rails). Then there's two bolts to remove down low on the bag supports,
and two up top. The two up top are the ones that get replaced by Rattlebars threaded
rods...

Here's a picture that shows the front two, the rear two come off when I take the rear fender
section off, but by that time the bags are set to the side and the "quick release" has
done its job.



-Mike

[Hook#3287]

https://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/p/honda/90115-mz0-700/bolt-special-flange-8x68

Weird... this is item #10 on the parts schematic link that I posted, except that it isn't on the parts schematic link.  Thanks for finding it!

I think Honda used the  same graphic from the standard  for the rail .  The tourer graphic of the bags  supersedes the standard rail graphic.