Rear Mudguard Spacer?

My tail light/license plate bracket has fractured in half and while researching parts list, found out I'm missing the spacer shown here as number 30:



What is the purpose of this spacer? As shown, it appears to be below the mudguard, sandwiched between the nut and the special drilled/tapped bolt for the rear hoop strap & fairing attachment. I can see no purpose for this spacer. I currently have a washer & lockwasher between the nut and mudguard, and nearly all the threads of bolt are covered up.

Tornado said:

What is the purpose of this spacer? As shown, it appears to be below the mudguard, sandwiched between the nut and the special drilled/tapped bolt for the rear hoop strap & fairing attachment. I can see no purpose for this spacer.

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That is its correct spacer position. Without it, it would not be possible to use the drilled and tapped bolt because nut 12 would tighten around the weaker drilled and threaded section, therefore, the drilled bolt would be prone to breakage.

L.A.B. said:

That is its correct spacer position. Without it, it would not be possible to use the drilled and tapped bolt because nut 12 would tighten around the weaker drilled and threaded section, therefore, the drilled bolt would be prone to breakage.

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Interesting. Guess I'm not the fastener engineer I wish I was. Will order the spacer for proper assembly.

Tornado said:

Interesting. Guess I'm not the fastener engineer I wish I was. Will order the spacer for proper assembly.

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Sometimes you just have to look backwards to see forwards

That's one of those confusing things that's very sensible the instant you know why but dumb the instant before. You're not the first to ponder that spacer

Tornado said:

Interesting. Guess I'm not the fastener engineer I wish I was. Will order the spacer for proper assembly.

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The spacer is missing from my Mk3 but instead has a stack of washers above the mudguard that raises the drilled bolt head to what seems a better position for the tail lamp fairing to seat against.

L.A.B. said:

The spacer is missing from my Mk3 but instead has a stack of washers above the mudguard that raises the drilled bolt head to what seems a better position for the tail lamp fairing to seat against.

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I do the same. I hold the fairing in place and push up on the loose special bolt to see how much it moves. Then put washers under it on top to lift the special bolt and fill that gap and finish with washers underneath. The fairing can then be tightened without flexing it.