SADDLEBAG GUARD RAIL SPACER DIMENSION

[RONNIEB]

When installing guard rails on saddlebags how big is the spacer (item #4 on instructions) that goes between railtab and bottom bag mount?

[hubcapsc]

When installing guard rails on saddlebags how big is the spacer (item #4 on instructions) that goes between railtab and bottom bag mount?

I used a #10 or #12 socket there for a long while.

There's some chrome spacers that look perfect in the drawer of odd-ball parts at Lowes
in the fastener section.

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

Ron, I got my set of used rails with almost no hardware, and had the same question, because the parts list only calls them collar spacers (or some such) with no length identified.  So went I went to buy my stainless hardware (with washers, instead of paying honda for chrome flange bolts), I bought two sets of spacers, around 1/2 and 3/4 inch (best I can remember).  I seem to recall the 3/4 was too long and the 1/2 inch good enough for government work.  Remember to leave everything very loose until the end of the instal.  Snugging stuff down, a couple mms won't matter, and there's always plastic/rubber washers.

Also, if you got no hardware, remember some of the main mounts can reuse the existing bolts, but after threading thru the bag mounts, they do not tap all the way into the bolt bosses (only grabbing maybe half of the threads).  For jump-up-and-down-on-the-mount (or slide the bike down the road on the guards) strength, you want to get the longer mount bolts (which are specified in the original parts list), not just reuse the existing hardware.

Somewhere between 3/8 and 1/2 inch is the best I can recall.  

[RONNIEB]

THANKS FOR INFO, HEADED TO ACE HARDWARE

[RONNIEB]

GUARD RAILS INSTALLED! Were salave items from wrecked bike of a friends,free. need toget longer bolts than described to hook up bottom brace. While lying on patio tightening hardware noticed brake pads were thin, bought bike in December and still shaking it down.So replaced all brake pads. Some funon a windy (40mph+) day.

[Jess from VA]

You cannot beat the price of free parts. 

Mine were $600 used, years before the more reasonable knockoffs became available.