Hi, sorry to bug you. Of course I'm stuck on the very first step.
I was wondering if you remember when you mounted the base that will accept the feet to the side rails if you had to remove that little Black bolt underneath the cap. I got the cap removed just but instead of a hex nut as shown there is a little black molded nut. My mounting instructions say I should have to remove a hex nut for a Kona gen 1. No hexnet there but a molded black cap. Without removing that, when I use the flat washer and spring washer underneath the adapter that will accept the bolt for the mounting system there just doesn't seem to be enough thread. If I don't use the spring washer I'm fine! Just not sure if I'm supposed to remove that black molded factory nut somehow. If you have any memory of this I sure would appreciate it! TIA!
No problem. It is always nice to be able to ask for advice before doing a project (or during) so that you don't mess up. Yes, the directions were very poor. This is what I did (not sure if it is right but it worked perfectly). I popped out the caps (I wasn't sure how they came out and forced the first one a bit before realizing all you had to do was use a paper clip and they pop out). Then I removed the nut that was beneath it. You are calling it a black molded nut but I'm sure they are both the same, just use a deep socket (I think #10) and remove it. My kit came with a spring washer, small flat washer and big flat washer and also the "long" nut that the rail bolts screw into. I put the flat washer on first, then the "long" nut but didn't bolt it down all of the way because, as you said, the bolts don't reach it. I then put the spring washer onto the bolt, then the small washer, then put it through the mounting foot (3 pieces) and now it will reach the "long" nut. I then tightened the bolt to a snug fit.
At first, I, too, tightened the "long" nut but the bolts would not reach. Even though it was not down all of the way, as long as it grabbed a few threads, I'm assuming it turned even more once I was tightening it. After about a month of driving, I will test them again to be sure they are still tight but I don't think they are going anywhere.
Good luck!