This thing is a bitch. Seems simple right? Three bolts. Not. Are you supposed to remove the bolt completely in the center of the fender first? The whole bracket seems to be 1/8 too wide to fit inside the fender. I will go with some persuasion, but not willingly. Help Please.

 

I installed the bumper eliminator from HD, not sure if was a HD part. Removed bumper and replace eliminator bracket, no pain, no fuss. I also added the chrome fender extension with a tri bar light at the same time. Sorry I can't help with your issues, I did mine 3 years ago and can't remember step by step, but I do know it went on with no problems.

 

Got it installed today, fortunately I broke off the stud in the fender, taking off the bumper. After drilling out the remainder of the stud , the bracket was able to rotate down into the proper position. I replaced the stud with a very flat headed bolt and finished it up. The HD design is much better than the DRAG specialties part that I bought. I had to fight mine to get it in the fender cause of the square corners. The Harley part has clipped corners, much easier, I imagine. Ironically the Harley bracket isn't much more, I would not have guessed that. We live and we learn, sometimes the hard way.

 

The important thing is that you got it done, looks soo much cleaner without the bumper.

 

In this case, buy the Harley part, or one that looks just like the Harley part.

 

I went with this one. Eliminates the bumper, but not the bracket.

 

That's a good look ... but it doesn't fit 2009 and later.