With the new bike, I had them throw in the passenger backrest and docking hardware. Tried to pull it off yesterday and that thing was weighed on there right. There's about an eighth of an inch on the outside of the connection point. I got it off. Though it's just as tight going back on and the latches are really tough to move back into place. I changed the installation diagrams and they all appear to be I there correctly. Anyone else have this issue with a new backrest?

 

Do you have the key that unlocks it?

 

No key on it. It's just wedged on there super tight towards the middle. I presume I can just pull it apart next time I pull it off. But compared to any other QD backrest on my dyna or softail I've used, it's always been an easy on, easy off.

 

I should preface this by saying both sides are tight. Somehow "right" ended up in the title.

 

Mine has the locking mechanism on it.
It looks like it should just pivot off?

 

Yeah. Normally it slides on, the latch rotates around the quick disconnect hardware, and there's a stopper that holds it in place. To remove it, you lift up the stopper and rotate the latch back. Problem is its so tight, you can't rotate the latch by hand.

 

When you viewed the instructions, did you notice this?

 

^ There's that and also the mounting points can be flipped so that the thicker side is either on the outside or the inside creating the right spacing as well. Problem with having HD install the docking hardware is that, if you don't already have a backrest for them to test fit, they don't know how to set the spacing.

Looks like your latches are pressed against the inside of the mounting point leaving that excess space on the outside. Flip the mounting point around so that the thinner side is on the inside and it will free up the latch.

 

Thanks for that. I will look at it closer when I get off work. Unfortunately HD had everything and installed everything. I only noticed it was that tight 5 days later when I went to remove it. I will play around with it when I get off work.

 

A buddy had the same issue with his King. He used one of those wooden hand screw clamps to spread out the sissy bar piece. It goes on nice now. Check those locks for a smooth pivot. Adjust of necessary.