Vl Fender Fitment

[37EL]

Does any one know how a late VL rear fender attach to the frame. It looks like it should bolt up at the bottom and at the bracket on the fender but the holes don't quite line up.
Chris

[Steve Slocombe]

The VL rear fender is secured in three places. At the bottom front of the mudguard where it's held to the gearbox forging with a 1" 066 bolt, nut, washer and lock. Then with two 061 1/2" bolts to the threaded frame section behind the battery box. I fit plain 0213 washers under these, not mentioned in the parts books, to save bruising the paintwork. The left and right stays are bolted to the frame with luggage carrier bolts 2821-30 even when the juggage carrier is not fitted. These take 0230 washers as spacers for the missing rack, then 0136/0265 nuts/locks, with the nuts on the outside.

In addition the two rear lower battery box fixings 061/0259/0117 pierce the fender twice, and the tail flap is held down with studs 3743-23 (not the later -39 ones with UNC threads), plus plain washers 0214, then nuts and locks 0117 and 0259. Remember these are painted with the mudguard, or those pesky AMCA judges will make a quarter point deduction.

That is probably the biggest rear fender Harley made, being designed for a 19" wheel, so expect some tweaking to get it to fit.

[37EL]

It looks VL but does not fit a VL frame. It has a butterfly reinforcement tab like the 36 big twin fenders, but it's not U or E series. It must be a 36 R fender. Thanks Steve,
Chris