Re-Installing BRP hitch on newer bike

[SteveandBelinda]

I removed my BRP hitch off of my 2010 RT, and put it today on my 2014 RT Limited. There's only one problem. Rod that hold the hitch on, that goes through the axle, seems to be just a tad short. When I put the nut on behind the muffler, there isn't enough bolt sticking through the nut to put the cotter key in. End of rod just barely goes past the slots in the nut for the cotter key.
Do you think that it would matter if I tried taking off the washer underneath the nut on the side, and just let the nut ride on the hitch? Just hate to gouge and maybe take the paint off the hitch by spinning the nut to tighten. Or maybe better taking washer off of the left side instead.
Strange that there is a difference between the two bikes.

 

[IGETAROUND]

re-installing BRP hitch

Steve,

Are you certain that the side pieces are seated properly???

 

[billybovine]

Steve,

Are you certain that the side pieces are seated properly???

.

I would agree with that.

It has been reported that older hitches sometimes do not fit on newer on newer Spyders because the swing arm is slightly bigger. May need to do a little sanding of the shims to get side plates to seat flat against the swing arm.

 

[cptjam]

Fitment

Get a piece of threaded rod the same diameter and a few inches longer. Nuts and flat washers; use that to draw the hitch in tighter to the swing arm. Then replace with the hitch axle. In dozens of jobs with hitches, all interchange. See if the bolts are alright on the hitch, too.

 

[SteveandBelinda]

Got it. Now to the wiring harness install. Need some warm weather. Don't want to be pulling off tupperware in this cold weather.