A better bag mount?
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Appleton WI
A better bag mount?
I've had my 86 Electra Glide Classic for 6 weeks now and have most of the bugs fixed. The bag mounting system (factory pins) is easy to use and makes removal a snap, but the bags are loose and the rattle ( a lot ). Is there a better or more secure mounting system available other than bolts, rubber washers and nuts?
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 18
From: Beautiful SW Missouri Ozark Mountain Country
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I use one of the factory twist fasteners and one allen bolt with a speed nut.
Here is the inside of my right bag.
And here is the speed nut on the back side. I used rubber fender washers and when I took this pic, I was using tire patch cement and it didn't work too well. Now I have contact cement and it is holding up well.
I do it this way, because one morning when I got to work, I was getting my lunch out of the left bag and noticed that one of the twist locks had come out. I was worried about losing a bag, so this seemed like a viable alternative.
I've had my 86 Electra Glide Classic for 6 weeks now and have most of the bugs fixed. The bag mounting system (factory pins) is easy to use and makes removal a snap, but the bags are loose and the rattle ( a lot ). Is there a better or more secure mounting system available other than bolts, rubber washers and nuts?
Here is the inside of my right bag.
And here is the speed nut on the back side. I used rubber fender washers and when I took this pic, I was using tire patch cement and it didn't work too well. Now I have contact cement and it is holding up well.
I do it this way, because one morning when I got to work, I was getting my lunch out of the left bag and noticed that one of the twist locks had come out. I was worried about losing a bag, so this seemed like a viable alternative.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,199
Likes: 3,087
From: NW AR
Yeah, that twist lock system was not a good idea. Slightly better than the crap that was on shovelheads, but still had problems. I fixed mine with a 1/4"x 20 phillips head screw and a bent plate on the fender side with a nut welded to it. I should have done that on Day 1, not after almost 20 years. I have not had a single problem with it since.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I replaced my twist-locks with similar threaded clips to the one Gunslinger shows, with domed allen head screws. I use shallow rubber washers between bag and mounting, with a dab of blue loctite on the threads.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 344
Likes: 4
From: California
The twist fasteners are called Zeus fasteners and have been used on airplanes and race cars for years. You can tighten the connection by spreading the spring a tad with a flat blade screw driver and using a flat rubber washer can help take up some of the slack (oem equipment on my 01 RK) Also make sure that both rubber 'bushings' are present on the bottom of the bag the bushing can fall out when removing the bag and go unnoticed.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,199
Likes: 3,087
From: NW AR
They are not Dzus fasteners. They are Cheap Crap Fasteners. Dzus fasteners lock in on a wire like piece. These have little ears that try to grab a thin piece of sheet metal that gets loose.
Last edited by Dr.Hess; May 20, 2012 at 01:25 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 18
From: Beautiful SW Missouri Ozark Mountain Country
Exactly!! I owned a front engine dragster full of Dzus fasteners. NOT the same thing.
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