by strong56KH » Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:00 pm
At least one or all of the >1966? Sportster versions were cad plated hex head bolts. That particular Rockford bolt sold on Ebay screws into the one welded on nut on the right side mount plate. On K and early Sportster, this bolt was a stud with a soldered on nut like the one I posted previously. The one below that,16236-52, was a also a parkerized stud with a soldered on nut. The parts book shows this feeding through from the left side, but this is not what I have observed. At least from 1955-1965, the stud feeds from the right side with the cad plated flex-loc nut attached on the left. I think this was done that way because the flex-loc nut on the right may interfere with the oil switch. The other three studs feed in from the left side, the two plate to frame studs tightened with flex-loc nuts on the right. In theory, a superseded part with the same number should work as well as the one that came with your bike. If your 57 XL was missing a 16235-52 back in 1980, then the dealer would probably have in stock the later Rockford version and that's what you would have used. Parts changed over time and the later versions are not necessarily incorrect. What interests me is how they came from the factory. Does anyone have what they think are the original plate to frame studs or bolts that were used to mount the K-model front engine guard? The ones I have are longer studs threaded on both ends and I'm not sure they came with it.