Ironhead Flat fender with swingarm

[Big_e78]

I really like the flat trailer fender look, but I have a swingarm bike. I've seen some posts where people mount one to their swingarm. I've seem some pics where it looks cool, some where it doesn't. Are there any other mounting options with a swingarm?

[Ivan RoachCoach]

...trimming the "skirt" that hangs below the fender struts when it's mounted and radiusing what's left over at both ends.

Lowering the bike with shorter shocks will also work wonders on eliminating the ass-in-the-air dirtbike look of a stock IH.
Big Twin shocks are cheaper, stiffer, and come in more varieties than their Sportster counterparts.

[Big_e78]

I've already got some shorter shocks, really like the flat fender look though. Anyone else have any mounting ideas when using a swingarm?

[bobber58]

The end that goes down to the front of the swing arm, make an L shaped flange to either weld tot he fender and bolt to the swing arm, or weld to the swing arm and bolt to the fender, or bolt to both, then run hard tail style fender struts in the rear of the fender.

[einheit 13]

I used a piece of flat bar for a spring seat mount (drilled and tapped the horseshoe/shock mount) Then I cut a window in the fender so I could mount it to the flat bar. The rear is supported by the swing arm when I installed the struts. When I had shocks, I used spacer at the original lower mount (above the swing arm pivot) . On another bike, we removed the fender struts, drilled the fender and used the strut mount holes on the frame (tapped those and installed bolts from the inside) and also used the lower mount by the swing arm...

In this pic, you can see the mount under the seat.

[Big_e78]

Originally Posted by bobber58

The end that goes down to the front of the swing arm, make an L shaped flange to either weld tot he fender and bolt to the swing arm, or weld to the swing arm and bolt to the fender, or bolt to both, then run hard tail style fender struts in the rear of the fender.

I don't know how to weld yet, definitely on the list though. Would drilling a hole in the swingarm weaken it to the point of failure? I've also wondered about maybe a couple of conduit straps on the swingarm for the bottom mount then regular hardtail fender struts for the upper mount.

[old iron]

I used a flat trailer fender on mine. It was a perfect fit between the fender struts. The fender sat right on top of the nubs on the inside of the fender struts. I did cut and weld the fender a little to give me just a little more clearance at the front of the tire. I welded some thick washers to the inside of the fender. and bolted it on.

[Ivan RoachCoach]

...with your swingarm-mounted fender.
Are you getting any binding or warping from the bike going over bumps, potholes. etc.?
The two would seem to counteract each other, flexible vs. fixed mounting points, unless I'm missing something.



__________________
- SPORTSTER -
Kicking Big Twins in the motherf******g NUTS since 1957

CTFS/QCB
Viva Los Bastardos!!!

[jlongbrake]

Originally Posted by Ivan RoachCoach

...with your swingarm-mounted fender.
Are you getting any binding or warping from the bike going over bumps, potholes. etc.?
The two would seem to counteract each other, flexible vs. fixed mounting points, unless I'm missing something.



__________________
- SPORTSTER -
Kicking Big Twins in the motherf******g NUTS since 1957

CTFS/QCB
Viva Los Bastardos!!!

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I would think that you would need a hinge on the fender. The swingarm goes up when you hit a bump, so with a hinge the fender woundn't bend, and bind, or whatever other terrible things could happen.
Although this is theory. Looking for other input on this.

[steve-o-]

My no weld setup:

Right side at swingarm:

Left side at swingarm: