Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Sissy Bar Bolt

I just got a new sissy bar and luggage rack last week. Everything installed fine except for one of the bolts that goes into the fender doesn't want to go in all the way. I tried hitting it with some WD40 and went and bought another bolt and it still won't go in all the way. It seems plenty secure with the 3 bolts tightly fastened and the 4th tightly fastened but not in all the way (it goes in a little more than half way I would say). It's one of the long bolts. Do you guys think this is secure enough and do any of you have any suggestions on how to get the bolt to screw in all the way?

You didn't cross-thread it, did you? Do you have or can you borrow a tap and chase the threads? Can you try a different bolt in that hole?

No, I used a bolt with the same thread. I'm not sure If I can use the next-largest tap to chase new threads. Does anyone know if the hole in the brackets for the sissy bar will support the next largest bolt?

I just put one on myself and one of the bolts was tight.I just wd-40ed it and put it in. I would say the threads in the fender were the problem cause after getting it in I took it out and looked at the bolt and the threads were fine so I just put it back.
later Tim

Don't mean to state the simple and obvious, but do the threads end about halfway up on that bolt? I know the ones I got with my new sissybar from Triumph were way too long, so I bought some shorter ones from the hardware store.

I swap out my sissybar a lot, so every few months I put some anti-sieze on the threads which helps them go in easier.

The original bolt I took out was very difficult to remove and was a little rusted. I WD40'd the ****** out of it but still doesn't work. The bolt on the oppisite side is fine so I think the thread in the fender is messed up. Still not sure where to go from here. I don't know much about taps. Can I get a tap that is the same size to try and clean it out?

Yes you can. You should be able to buy just the tap and a handle to use it with. Try Sears, or even your local hardware store should be able to hook you up. Here's the tap handle I like to use for small jobs like this one...should be only $5 or so.



Just put a little oil on the tap cutting threads before using, and make sure you go straight in and not at an angle.

Thanks Derek, seems simple enough....famous last words right;) I'll give that a shot.

When chasing a thread I start the tap by turning it in reverse until I feel the first thread landing click into place in order to prevent cross threading. Easy does it and use some lube to carry the loose bits back out with the tap.

I guess I could use this. Pretty cheap, http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39384. Thanks for the link Larry. I believe that bolt is an 8-1.25???

8mmX1.25 thread pitch is correct. That's not a bad kit for (very) occasional usage.

I had to run a tap through 2 of my fender holes. I don't think they were threaded all the way.

mike