Rear fender bolts on a 46

[macca]

I am fitting a rear fender to my bike I have a repo fitting kit & a parts manual & a service manual but having trouble as to what bolts go where.Some pics would be great especial around the oil tank

[duffeycycles]

Manuals have the hardware info in the back. I take the time to print the pages & add info. I don't have the rear fender in my computer but this is oil tank. img141.jpg

[exeric]

The back pages of H-D parts books often have the fastener dimensions based on the part numbers of standard hardware: such as the 0259 nut in Rogers attachment above. Parts like the oil tank drain plug - 2326-38 are proprietary to Harley-Davidson and they don't share that information.

[macca]

Yes I do under stand all that BUT it like the different part number for the top bolt that go thru the u clamp to the bottom bolt what the difference .No manual tell you

[duffeycycles]

You could have asked that. The 1947 & later upper bolt is a Harley special part & has a special head. Just search Harley 59802-47. Pre '47 does not use the special head bolt. The kit you have is probably for '47 & later. If you add things like safety bar & buddy seat spring mount, the upper bolt won't be long enough & you have to figure out what bolt you need. Rule of thumb is about 1-1/2 threads showing above the nut.

[macca]

Ok so what does the special head look like

[Kozy]

Ok so what does the special head look like

Harley Knucklehead Panhead Rear Fender Mount Clamp Bolts 47-57 59802-4 – Cimarron Cycle Works

[Jerry Wieland]

Ok so what does the special head look like

Macca

I am not absolutely sure but sometimes the only difference was a different hex size so that the toolkit did not need 2 wrenches of the same size.

Jerry

[duffeycycles]

This is from 1940 parts book. 3748-36 with large hex size - short head..4 used on frame clamp '36 knuck, '37-40 BT & probably to '46. ..
Harley Knuckle,Flathead,Pan, PARKERIZED 5/16-24 N.F. X 13/16" Hexagon Head Bolt. Part # 3986 or Old # 3748-- TJs Motorcycles

HD rear fender frame clamp bolt 36-40.jpg