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

T

Tha Truth

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I had one break on my 92 FLHS once, but I had the rear bumper on.&nbsp\\; Only bagger out of 3 that one of these ever broke on.&nbsp\\; Now windshields are a different story. Went through 3 of them before I found out I had fairing brackets broken.
 
It can be a problem if it is assembled wrong.When putting things back together the bolts need to just slide back in, NO FORCING anything,or drawing it all back together with the bolts.All common sense stuff.I found out the hard way.For you nervous worry warts,don't waste a nights sleep worrying about it.
 
Have the bracket tig welded back together with stainless wire,you will not even see the weld when done.Don't forget put it together the right way!Good Luck
 
i've been with out the support and have a slightly differnet shape fender for close to 10k now and have no problems. i also regularly carry a lot of weight in both bags. maybe some are better than others. oh shit i probably just jinxed my self
 
I have broken both of mine and the other connecting parts on my RKcouple of things I found werewhile waiting for a replacement I went to my neighbors with a piece of steel I found and used his vice, his little round spinny thing (that sort ground and made it easier to hammer and bend the metal) to make a bracket of my own (the late night prior to a trip as no dealer had in stockI always ask the parts guy if they go through a lot of a part I'm purchasing as that sometimes is an interesting clue). I put some chrome paint on the finished productput a supporter piece?? on the chrome thing going up the fender that breaks. So I left on my adventurethe thing I did worked really really well, but I gave in and purchased new partssome things I noticed after that point were: be sure your exhaust isn't cracking at the manifold if you have the Y pipe arrangement rather than the true duals arrangement (happens and puts too much stress on the whole system!!! that would be all the way back to that fender!! be sure your Y&nbsp\\;exhaust coming out of the manifold is on the bracket meant for that purpose, be sure you have the rubber like support thing under your saddle bag. I had noticed from first 10,000 miles that the support thingy for the Y pipe looked like it was missing something and had asked endless mechanics and parts dudes "is this really what this should look like?" What I have finally learned is no matter how smart they are supposed to be if you think it isn't right keep on asking or looking it up in your service manual.
 
Well, i had both my fender brackets welded and then installed the hidden bracket before turkey dinner yesterday. Now being in michigan won't really have much chance to ride any time soon, but hopefully this will help. Its not a difficult "fix" but it sure is a pain in the a$$ having to remove docking hardware, chrome filler strips, etc, just to switch that bracket. Hopefully this is my last time
 
I replaced the left side on my 2001 Road King today. I also discovered that the right angle bend of the new support bracket was not at 90 degrees, so I got some stainless steel washers and used them at shim spacers between the bracket and the bag supports. I used 2 washers on the bolt closest to the wheel and 3 washers on the bolt closest to the bags. I don't know how long this will last, but I was afraid to try to bend the new bracket. I also went to a place in Tulsa that sells used parts and they told me that they can't keep enough of them in stock! I paid $63.00 plus tax at the dealer for the new bracket. I just keep my rain gear in the left bag because it is not convenient to access. I have the leather bags with the straps.This is my second Road King and I did not have any problems with the first one. I do have Rinehart true duals on the bike, but I do not see how they could contribute to the problem. I'll continue to monitor this post in case someone has a solution. Halfbreed
 
After years of riding the original shakers.....I have learned to shim and protect and loc-tite everything. I put the docking hardware on the '08 Road Glide the other day and was amazed at how stressed a few of the parts were at the rear fender. I ended up making a 30 job a day job. I pulled everything off and put washers and spacers and all that crap on. These rubber mounted engines really shake the bike at the extremeties. My old rigid mounted shovelhead doesn't shake this bad. These are real nice off idle and going down the road, but sitting still, they shake a bunch. I am really glad you that you figured out what was needed. Nothing that sticks out very far on a Harley won't have some kind of support to dampen the vibration. Ken
 
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Thanks for the info all. I just noticed my left one was also broken at the end of last week after hearing some extra rattling, especially at idle and low throttle. It took me a few inspections to find it because you have to move the saddlebag a bit, otherwise you can't even tell there's a break. I'm just about to order a new one up from Zanotti for $46. I've been keeping an eye on it, but I can't stop riding the bike since summer finally arrived in August!
 
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