1974 Mk3 rear mudguard

[Dodge]

The mudguard from my 1974 Mk3 is off being resprayed. The paint shop has a question: "There is a crescent shaped dent in the top of the rear mudguard - I'm guessing it shouldn't be there but if you can just confirm, just in case it's required for clearance of something!" I cannot recall what it should look like and without another one to compare I am at a bit of a loss. I vaguely recall that there may be a manufactured depression to accommodate the bottom of the seat. Lesson learnt - take lots of photos before sending parts off
Can anybody with a Mk3 (non desmo) help me out?
Roger

[blethermaskite]

There is no dent in my back mudguard under the seat, mudguard is original and I have owned the bike from new....74 blue and gold 350 mk3.
Cheers,
George

[Dodge]

Thanks George, attached is a picture!!
This is the dent/depression (circled in black)

[themoudie]

Aye Roger,

Similar to George, I have owned my '74 450 MKIII since 1976. My mudguard has been subject to the ravages of salt and corrosion and has been a buck for a GRP replacement that I laid up myself. It also was subject to several aerosol 'resprays'! However, you can see from the attached images that there should be no "flattened" area at the apex of the mudguards curve. Any flattening indicates weight on the seat and the bolts retaining the seat tabs and the mudguard tabs being slack, allowing the seat base to flatten the mudguard. This mudguard was fitted when I used this bike with a pillion, so a combined weight of approximately 21 stone (294lbs or 133Kg) on the seat.

If you should need detailed images of either end of the mudguard, let me know and I will post more images.

Good health, Bill