Saddlebag support brackets - BROKE-its, BREAK-its, but not BRACKets...

P

PEACE!

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So, I'm about to install my THIRD left-side saddlebag support bracket in less than 5k miles...

These... 90718-79c (left, in my case) and 90720-79c (right, for ease of search)


It's on the left bag -- The one with rarely more than my gloves and a pair of glasses in it, low heat, etc., etc. Right on the bend at the bottom with the tab the two bolts go through.

What the hell is going on?!? Why are these things (that seem like really, really crappy metal for that matter) keep cracking on me? Does anyone else find themselves changing these things out? Any ideas to stop it from happening?

Why does it always happen the day before a big ride and no one has one in stock?!?
 
Heck, if it broke once, I could see it as a freak occurrence - Twice and it something freaky.

Three times? I have the last two - The one that broke yesterday and the one before. Found out my neighbor was handy with welding and tacked them back together for me while I'm waiting for another. I'll keep one of them in the bag, as now I *expect* it to break.
 
I can't tell from your sig pic, but I bet your not runnin' a rear bumper. It acts as a link between the two saddlebag/muffler brackets and withoutone you'll keep breakin' em. The baggers that don't come with a rear bumper have a hidden bracket fitted inside the fender to do the job.I think they're around 40 bucks.
 
!!! I need to find more on this...

I Googled "Harley-Davidson Rear Bumper" and actually came up with a photo -- I can see how that could take a lot of the pressure off that bracket - At this point, I have a chrome doohickey with an extra brake/tail light on it that I don't exactly want to lose -- But if there's an inner-bracket of some sort that I don't have...

Anyone have a part number by any chance...?
 
+1, possible support bracket missing under rear fender or you may have a rear frame issue. Visually inspect or have the dealer inspect it.

There is not a great deal of load on this part and it should not break.

The only other thing I can think of is that you might be over-tightening the bracket mount or items that go on it.
 
my rod king has both of them broken, theyer at the welder right now should have them back on monday, he says there junk metal, and the design should be changed. at 73.00 a pop they get expensive after a few of them.
 
Make sure when you install any part on a HD (pipes, brackets, etc) that you have no stress on them or the vibrations will eventually break them. All bolt holes and flanges should line up and not put a pull on them. The big problems used to be oil and fuel tanks. Guys would put them on and not shim them and break off themounts all the time. Then it was exhausts you have to tighten everythig down evenly and lastly they must be suppor4ted, if you are missing your "bumper" they will flex and break.
Hope this helps.
 
BRILLIANT!!!

3 different dealers never mentioned this...

I got the bike used, no bumper, no idea.

Just for fun, went to the dealer this morning to see if I couldn't order up one of these hidden brackets -- Not only did they have one in stock but they also had the replacement left side bracket.

I'll be in the garage for a while... Thanks, everybody!!!
 
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