Anyway to I.D. Shovelhead fender struts?

[46international]

I have a '76 shovel and it is NOW a FL model it started life as a FX, I would like to replace the rear fender struts but I have no idea if the ones on the bike are FL or FX to tell the truth I don't know if they are '76 or some other year.

[46international]

found these maybe they will help. not all the holes are used, the rear most hole is used the next one up is not used the one in front of that is used. I have replaced the fenders with steel ones and has new paint so I don't want to drill new holes. I know you can't see much with that strap in the way.

[dbkp]

FX fenders are narrower than FL, and do not have a hinged section to secure. FX struts are shorter, and angle in closer together. Over the years there are other subtle differences, but dimensions remained the same except for the later FXWG ducktail fender

[magnum45pete]

my 79 FLH was almost bog stock & didn't have a hinged rear fender,...

[46international]

Originally Posted by dbkp

FX fenders are narrower than FL, and do not have a hinged section to secure. FX struts are shorter, and angle in closer together. Over the years there are other subtle differences, but dimensions remained the same except for the later FXWG ducktail fender

so since I have an FL style fender on the bike, I must have FL struts, right? Then the only thing I need to know is what year I have. And the fender I have now is the hinged style. I don't know if it is a stock H.D. fender or after market, but is is thicker than some of the el cheepo aftermarket ones I have seen.

[dbkp]

Harley did away with the hinged rear fender in the late 70's I think. The dimensions remained the same. I have some old FX fenders around, I will measure one and get you the width. I'll see if I can get some pics of the differences in the struts.

[46international]

Originally Posted by dbkp

Harley did away with the hinged rear fender in the late 70's I think. The dimensions remained the same. I have some old FX fenders around, I will measure one and get you the width. I'll see if I can get some pics of the differences in the struts.

That would be great, some hole measurements would help also

[dbkp]

Well now that I see the pics larger, I see that the tape measure is unreadable. I will measure again and let you know for sure the spcs. 3rd pic shows the deeper offset. It does not look like it in the pics, but the end of the tape is in the center of the hole. I know that the length from the center of the middle hole to the center of the hole near the taillight is 9 1/4" and I believe that the length from the relief(first) hole to the last one ( by taillight) is 16 1/2" The 2 small holes near the back end are for signal light mount. This is an earlier fender, that is smooth the entire length of the mounting area. The later ones had a square raised area on the fender at the center hole, and no welded in round spacer in the strut at that point. I forgot to measure the width of the fender. My apologies, I will do that tomorrow. KP

[46international]

Thanks for the help, like you said, can't read the tape. I'm not sure what the rear fender that I'm using came off of, it was a swap meet item and had way too many holes drilled in it. It is a FL style with the hinged rear part but I don't know if it is a stock H.D. item or not and I don't know what it was bolted to. After welding up all the unneeded holes I had to drill more that lined up with my struts. I know I could reuse the rear most hole, the one on the hinged part of the fender. anyway, thanks for the help

[joe49]

Is this a secret build so you can't show any pictures of what you have?

[dbkp]

remeasured. Middle hole to end hole 9 1/4", strut support hole(not shock hole) to end hole 16 1/2" width of FX fender 6 1/2"

[46international]

thanks I'll check out what I have

[46international]

ok, this is what I have.

rear hole---3 3/4"---#2 hole--71/4"---#3hole----7"---#4hole---#5hole---3"--shock hole


The best I could measure is that the strut "hips" up about 1 1/2" just behind #5 hole.

I do have a hole between the rear hole and #2 hole but that is just for the light and I can drill one for that.
Just so we are talking about the same thing, my fender is the wider FL style fender that has the hinge, the "rear hole" goes into the hinged part of the fender to hold it closed.

[46international]

Originally Posted by joe49

Is this a secret build so you can't show any pictures of what you have?

I did, see the photos I posted, that is my bike but a lot has changed, not the fender struts, not yet anyway. I'm trying to I.D. what those struts are so I can replace them with some chrome ones without drilling the newly painted fender. I may not have been clear, sorry

[joe49]

Originally Posted by 46international

found these maybe they will help.

I took this to mean just a internet pic not your bike.

[dbkp]

top dresser, bottom shorter one FX

[46international]

Yes, after seeing what you have and looking at catalogs/ internet, it looks like there is only two struts that fit shovelhead era FL bikes, one with extra holes and one without but the hole spacing and profile is the same, so, either I drill a hole for the rear turn signals or plug the other unneeded hole with a stainless bolt. Either way will work.

Thanks for the help, Guess we can put this to rest if I'm assuming correctly.

[dbkp]

a little late I suppose, but the total length on the dresser support is 22 1/4" and on the FX 20 1/2". Out side of different holes for signals , and sissy bars, I think the basic FL struts are the same for the hinged fender, and the non hinged fender

[46international]

great, thanks for the help