sissy bar

[jpeleven2002]

bought a sissy bar off ebay, but the holes don't seem to quite match up.  Do i need to get someone to drill the hole bigger for me or can I do it myself, and, do i need to get a longer bolt? I saw an earlier thread that mentioned a longer bolt and spacers?  Is this true? 

thanks for your help

[Magnum Magna]

You may need to take some pictures.  With out pictures we can assume the wrong things.
Where are you at your profile does not say.

[Charles S Otwell]

There are those who can and will not stray from stock or OEM, which is perfectively acceptable. There also those of us who will modify anything if it meets our standards and suits our taste. If I need to make a aftermarket part fit I will do so without hesitation, But if I do I always try to modify the aftermarket part to fit the bike, in other words if something needs drilling try to make it the part that easiest to replace if worst comes to worse and you decide change it again. In most cases this would be the part your adding rather than part of the bike that is stock. that being said I have had to make several back rest and sissy bars fit and the material is usually easy to drill. The main thing is to make sure it's where you want it, protect the chrome and use bolts long enough to thread a full lock nut or nut and lock washer, but not too long so as not to rub or dig into something close. Chrome bolts are sometimes hard to find so I use SS Allen head bolts, I prefer the smooth button head type. There is a lot of folks on Moot willing to give a helping hand, depending on where you live there may be someone closer than you think. Good luck.

PS - I concur pics always help

[Lurkin]

What's not matching up, the mount plates to the bike, or the mount plates to the sissy bar?  If it's the plates to the sissy bar, try loosening the mount plates, attach the bar to the plates, then tighten everything back up.  That's of course assuming that it's not off by much.

If that's still not sufficient, you can drill the sissy bar.  I have done it, but that was in order to lower the sissy bar to match better with my Gunfighter seat, not to make a small adjustment.  Guess it depends on how much it is off.  Note that if you drill anything, you need to be careful to minimize the damage to the chrome, also where you drill will now be exposed to the elements.

Rod.

[jpeleven2002]

ok, I see how I gave you guys so little information.  Sorry.  Here's my next try:
I bought a sissy bar on ebay and it doesn't quite fit.  Pardon me if i don't use the correct terms when trying to explain.  I'm assuming the sissy bar brackets mount to the outside of the chrome part on the back fender.  The holes on the bracket don't seem to quite match up to the bolts on the chrome fender part. See the pics.  Any suggestions?  Can I drill this at home?  How do I protect the newly drilled part?  Do I need to get spacers or washers to go between the bracket and the chrome part on the bike?  Do I need longer bolts and where can they be had?

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[dgc67]

I am curious if the seller was no help at all.
You might need longer bolts,but only by as much as the thickness of the metal of the bracket.  I don't see why you couldn't drill them yourself.  I assume you would be making the hole oblong if you do, in which case you should consider washers.  Which would also add to your possible need of longer bolts.

[TLRam1]

Here is what the part looks like installed.

Is this what you bought? Should match up, do not pay attention to my studs as these were changed out to hold saddlebags.

Nice looking bike you have! 

[jpeleven2002]

To be fair to the seller, he did send me the length between bolt holes, I guess maybe I measured wrong?  Yes, it looks like I'll have to make the holes oblong.  Think I should go with maybe another 1/8 inch on the bolt, to have room for the washer and the bracket? Where can I get chrome bolts?

[roboto65]

Where are you located by the pics I say South somewhere ?

[Jerry G Turner]

You can get chrome bolts at ACE hardware but try the ones that are on it first I think they may be long enough

[jpeleven2002]

I'm in San Antonio, my friend!

Thanks Jerry, I'll see what I can find at ACE

[Lurkin]

The Ace in my neck-o-de-woods only stocks SAE chrome bolts.  I hate mixing SAE and metric unless it's an emergency.  If you Google/Bing/Yahoo "chrome bolts" you'll get some hits to find what you need online.  Be careful with reusing the stock bolts as you should have the lock nuts with the plastic "retainer" on the outside (in the wheel well), which means that the bolt needs to go through the entire nut in order for it to properly lock.

[jpeleven2002]

alright guys, I went and bought regular bolts at Lowes, since ACE didn't have any chrome ones, and attached the sissy bar this morning.  I'd still rather have chrome, but maybe I can find these later.  Here's some pics.  What do you think about maybe reversing the bolts, taking them through the inside and have a chrome acorn nut on the outside?

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[guywheatley]

On a different subject, I like that light bar on the front.

[jpeleven2002]

Thanks.  I wish I knew how to aim them . . .