OEM Saddlebag gaurds

[greggh]

1998 Stnd,
I have the OEM bags installed and a set of Guards to match them.
The bolts for mounting Them.
I have searched Honda's Microfich and have had no luck finding those bolts.

Anyone know what bolts are needed and the size and thread pitch and length.
I know where they mount, just not certain of the thread pitch and size and length.
Would like to stay to a chrome finish.

Any help please,
Thank you, Greggh

[Ramie]

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Manuals/BagRails1.pdf

[greggh]

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Manuals/BagRails1.pdf

Perfect!!

Thank you!!

[RonW]

Don't forget spacer (4), under here. The bolt (7) might have to be longer too, dunno for sure since I had the saddlebag guard rails on with the bags when I bought the bike. If they're aftermarket guard rails, the alignment probably be off. I slotted the hole in the appendage that Bolt 7 goes through after struggling for 70-80 hours and 40 something minutes. Tried to pound the appendage in the x-y-z axis or combination thereof, but it never did align. If you do slot, use a felt pen to mark the direction of the proper axis. Going by memory don't work when you're looking up and then you have to bolt back the saddlebag rails to re-mark the bullseye by trial and error again. If the saddlebags are oem, probably not a problem. Bolt 8 is another snag. Spacer 4 is around 7/16-inch long and the O.D. can be up to an inch in diameter or even square and still fit. The I.D. can't be larger than the welded nut that it stacks on. If the spacer is larger it's less likely you'll forget about it when you remove the bags to wash the bike. The oem spacer falls on the floor and the size of it makes it hard to find. It's an advantage to leave Bolt 5 and Bolt 6 loose to give you wiggle room, but after going through all that rigmarole aligning Bolt 7 and Bolt 8, there's always the possibility of forgetting to re-tightening 5 & 6.

[Factor]

Don't forget spacer (4), under here.

So that's why everything went "PWWAANGGG" when I took the #7 bolt out. I'll have to slip in a replacement spacer when I put it all back together.

[greggh]

I have searcher the Honda micro fiche and find some of the bolts by the part number but not everything.

Is there a better place to search and buy?

[Jess from VA]

First, go to Shoptalk, over on the right, and hit the two links for the OE Hondaline bag rail instructions.

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Manuals/BagRails1.pdf
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Manuals/BagRails2.pdf

There's a parts list including all the bolts and sizes (though it only says spacer, for underneath.  I went to a hardware for a few stainless pieces, with stainless washers and bolts in lieu of Hondaline chrome flange bolts.  I have a mixture of each on my bag mounts, and it is unnoticeable, unless you are looking for them.  I bought three length spacers and one of them was good. Closer to a quarter or third inch than half inch.)

It's been years since I did this, but what you don't want to do is reuse the existing length chrome flange bolts, after you add the bag rails to the mount points, because these existing bolts now no longer tap all the way through the mount points; they are too short and only tap a bit, and lack strength in a tip over or fall and slide.

If you open a parts fish on the OE bags and mounts, you can discover the length of the relevant bolts.  If you compare those to the Hondaline bag rail parts list, you will discover several of the main sturdy mount bolts are like a quarter to half inch longer (than the OE bolts) to fully tap at the mount points, after adding the bag rails to the equation.

With the correct length bolts installed, you can have the bags off, and jump up and down on the bag mounts and rails, and they are not going anywhere.... though the bike might fall over.

The only other thing I recall from my installation is that I turned the clip-clamps used to secure the hardware that wraps around the back end of the rails, around-or upside down as they were easier to mount that way, and again are not visible unless looking for it.

Once you have your parts list and right sizes, you find a good hardware that stocks stainless.  Not Walmart, and maybe or maybe not not Home Depot.  I went to an old school hardware store that had it all.

It could be done on line too, but I took my OE flange bolts in with me to double check what I was getting.  

[greggh]

My thoughts are in line with your post.
My biggest concern was/is that spacer, getting the proper fitment.
Ace hardware offers a good variety of metric stainless.
Had plans to take the original bolts with for comparison.
Wish me luck.
Thank you!!

[Jess from VA]

It's not that bad. 

The last thing is this.  As you bolt everything up, leave everything pretty loose.  Get everything started, then go around 2-3 times tightening up.  This will give you a nice tight lash up all aorund.

I always like to use a dab of copper antiseize on everything, but esp the big important mount bolts.

[RonW]

My biggest concern was/is that spacer, getting the proper fitment.

The spacer could be 5/16 to 7/16 inch long it really don't matter as long as it clears the lip on the underside of the heat shield. Really, the longer the better within reasonable limits. The appendage that the nut tightens down has enough flex. The I.D. of the spacer and maybe the wall thickness are the only important dimensions. I don't talk about the spacer outside the valk forum. That said, perhaps powder coat the spacer with florescent orange for gps. It's not a lot of work to replace the spacer. It just takes too much time. In the second pic, I like to round off the tip of the bolt, perhaps an acorn nut. It always scrapes your fingers when you wash or wipe down the muffler tip.

[greggh]

Great advise and much needed information from all!!
Thank you hoping to mount them this weekend.
Hope my rear fender guard does not impede with the mount?

Thanks for all the input.
Greggh

[desertrefugee]

I have searcher the Honda micro fiche and find some of the bolts by the part number but not everything.

Is there a better place to search and buy?

Ace Hardware

[hubcapsc]

I used a #10 socket for that spacer for a while...

-Mike "I think it was a 10..."

[greggh]

Bag Guards on and perfect fit!!
Thanks to everyone for their help and input!!
I would post a pic.... but I don't know how to post here.

[baldo]

I used a #10 socket for that spacer for a while...

-Mike "I think it was a 10..."