Replacing Police "Hockey Puck" Bag Latches (PICS!)
#11
08-07-2011, 06:30 PM
#12
08-07-2011, 07:00 PM
On our Department's Police Harley, if you pack the saddlebags to where they want to bulge (like when traveling), the latch does not want to hold the lid. I have been somewhat successful in bending the bracket mounted inside on the lower bag, but the lid rim does not seal at all when stuffed full. Those hockey puck latches were meant for one handed operation either while riding or while on a traffic stop where you don't want to tie up your gun hand. The bags are fine for police work but for touring use they suck. I have had to twice ride our bike through 3 states on a yearly escort (#3 coming up shortly) and packing everything I need for 3 days on a Police Harley is a real challenge. You definitely have to use the key lock on the lid or it will easily fly open when packed full.
#14
08-07-2011, 07:16 PM
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#19
08-08-2011, 01:00 AM
#20
08-08-2011, 09:14 AM
Extreme HDF Member
Nice write-up. Let us know your long term experience with the Squadfitters latches. A buddy used them w/o success; they popped open frequently and defied his efforts to adjust the bracket to prevent this.
An ebay seller (IIRC californiacustomparts) sells Southco flush mount latches with a nice bracket to protect the bottom of the latch from damage in the event the latch is compressed by bag contents. I believe the latches he sells are the same I used and sold; Southco p/n M1-2A-13-1 IIRC. They are marine rated latches and showed no evidence of wear in the 3+ years I had them on my bike. These latches use a 1 1/4" hole so the OEM 1" hole needs to be enlarged.
Southco also sells a marine rated all metal latch (very similar to Squadfitters), Southco p/n MP-05-312-11 that uses the 1" OEM hole.
You can go to Southco's website and check-out these latches. The M1 latch is also available in black which may be of interest to those blacking out their bikes.
Also, I've read of a couple of guys who used the HD tour pak hinges to replace the strap hinges on the police bags, and they worked, but the lid didn't seal the same as it did w/ the OEM hinges. Another alternative may be the very nice stainless/chrome hinges sold by Dickelk@aol.com. He offered tour pak (before HD offered the Premium hinges) and police bag hinges (they were slightly different depending on the application), but I don't know if he still offers them--worth an email to find out if you're looking to replace the OEM strap/rivet hinges.
As good as the police bags look with the replacement latches and as convenient as they are to operate one-handed while sitting on the bike, the riveted metal backing plates used were an eyesore to me, so when I had my police EG repainted I sold the police bags and replaced them with civilian bags.
Again, nice write-up.
Carl
An ebay seller (IIRC californiacustomparts) sells Southco flush mount latches with a nice bracket to protect the bottom of the latch from damage in the event the latch is compressed by bag contents. I believe the latches he sells are the same I used and sold; Southco p/n M1-2A-13-1 IIRC. They are marine rated latches and showed no evidence of wear in the 3+ years I had them on my bike. These latches use a 1 1/4" hole so the OEM 1" hole needs to be enlarged.
Southco also sells a marine rated all metal latch (very similar to Squadfitters), Southco p/n MP-05-312-11 that uses the 1" OEM hole.
You can go to Southco's website and check-out these latches. The M1 latch is also available in black which may be of interest to those blacking out their bikes.
Also, I've read of a couple of guys who used the HD tour pak hinges to replace the strap hinges on the police bags, and they worked, but the lid didn't seal the same as it did w/ the OEM hinges. Another alternative may be the very nice stainless/chrome hinges sold by Dickelk@aol.com. He offered tour pak (before HD offered the Premium hinges) and police bag hinges (they were slightly different depending on the application), but I don't know if he still offers them--worth an email to find out if you're looking to replace the OEM strap/rivet hinges.
As good as the police bags look with the replacement latches and as convenient as they are to operate one-handed while sitting on the bike, the riveted metal backing plates used were an eyesore to me, so when I had my police EG repainted I sold the police bags and replaced them with civilian bags.
Again, nice write-up.
Carl