Saddlebag Grabrail HELP!

[Rider89]

Okay...I'm having a braincramp moment x 10.
I removed my saddlebags to remove a trailer hitch.
Now I'm trying reattach the bags and the front bolt that attaches the saddlebag bracket to the grab rail won't fit. It looks as if the front hole for the grabrail bolt is lower than the frame hole.
I'm not sure how to attach images, but there is a blow up of the rail here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9bex4eASoI_dEVZNEF0Y3dUdTg/view?usp=sharing

To recap, it's the bolt(s) that attached the saddlbag rail to the grabrail.

I have to be missing the obvious going on 29 hours with no sleep, but this should be simple, right?

Markujs

[Pete]

Best guess is that the fender has moved and hole and nut are no longer in alignment??????

[hubcapsc]

Okay...I'm having a braincramp moment x 10.
I removed my saddlebags to remove a trailer hitch.
Now I'm trying reattach the bags and the front bolt that attaches the saddlebag bracket to the grab rail won't fit. It looks as if the front hole for the grabrail bolt is lower than the frame hole.
I'm not sure how to attach images, but there is a blow up of the rail here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9bex4eASoI_dEVZNEF0Y3dUdTg/view?usp=sharing

To recap, it's the bolt(s) that attached the saddlbag rail to the grabrail.

I have to be missing the obvious going on 29 hours with no sleep, but this should be simple, right?

Markujs

You're probably doing everything right. If you have already tightened the other bolts,
that could be your problem. Just barely get all the bolts started and when you
get to the last one, you'll be able to get it to go... then tighten them all...

The bolt in the picture is the one that people do the "nut cage mod" on...
There should be a kind of a box inside the fender well holding the nut...
you should be able to reach up in there and feel the box and the
nut... maybe the nut fell out and is laying on top of your wheel or
something... or out of alignment like Pete said...

-Mike "hope I understood the problem..."

[John Schmidt]

And.....next time you feel a need to pull those bolts to remove the bag mounts, only remove one side at a time. There's enough play in that mounting frame to allow you to unbolt and slip off one side at a time, then run the bolts back in.

[GOOSE]

the bolt he is showing is the front bolt.  the fender mod bolt is the back one - right?

[Hook#3287]

the bolt he is showing is the front bolt.  the fender mod bolt is the back one - right?

Right.

[Fiat Lux]

I've had similar difficulties on a bike that modified in odd ways by a previous owner. The bolt you speak of is M10-1.25 on my bike and it now fits much better after I "chased" the integral threaded female socket by spinning a tap in and out a few times. Now it is easy to replace that bolt. Oddly the rear bolt and nut cage works just fine at 3/8 of an inch. Half metric and half SAE the way my bike is set up.
Fiat Lux

[longrider]

Another trick is to take the fender mount bolts and gently grind a short taper at the end.  This will help guide the bolt into the fender hole.  Be sure and use moly on the threads

[John Schmidt]

Better yet, just make a "quick drop" kit so you never have to remove those bolts unless you're removing the fender. Just remove a couple nuts and off comes everything, bolts stay put as studs. Problem solved.

[westnek]

Okay...I'm having a braincramp moment x 10.
I removed my saddlebags to remove a trailer hitch.
Now I'm trying reattach the bags and the front bolt that attaches the saddlebag bracket to the grab rail won't fit. It looks as if the front hole for the grabrail bolt is lower than the frame hole.
I'm not sure how to attach images, but there is a blow up of the rail here https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9bex4eASoI_dEVZNEF0Y3dUdTg/view?usp=sharing

To recap, it's the bolt(s) that attached the saddlbag rail to the grabrail.

I have to be missing the obvious going on 29 hours with no sleep, but this should be simple, right?

ive reached up under fender with a  small magnet to move nut into place as I spin the bolt into catch a few threads. Ive got soft bags on a standard.I am using thread stock now with nuts inside the bags so I just undo the nuts holding one and undoing the other I use as locks seems easier and the bag rail I have stays on the bike --hope you get it sorted out ,,been there



Markujs