Have purchased Southco push button latch (M1-2A-15-1) to replace the puck on top of saddlebag. Can anyone give any info on what has to be done ,dimensionwise, to the lock bar inside the bag? Thanks

 

I had cop bags on my previous RK, I had to lower them about 1/2 inch, can't remember exactly though. I really liked the push buttons over the pucks.

 

Looks like they have to be extended out also. I was hoping someone has done this and could give me some info. Thanks

 

The Southco website has good drawings for installation. The hole in the lid needs to be enlarged to 1.25" from the OEM hole that is ~1.00".

After you have enlarged the hole in the lid, close the lid and take a tape measure and stick it down the hole 'till it hits the top of the bracket (that thepawl in the latch"catches." Read the measurement from the top of the bracket to theinside edge of the hole; call this measurement "A."

Then install the latch mechanism in the lid, securing it with the black plastic nut,and measure from the inside of the lid to the top of the "pawl" in the mechanism. Call this measurement "B."

Subtract measurement A from B and this gives you the distance (call this "C") that the bracket must be lowered. Remove the two screws that secure the bracket in the saddlebag, measure down "C" directly below the two existing holes and drill two more holes; elongate the new holes slightly top/bottom to provide a small amount of up/down adjustment. Reattach the bracket using the two new elongated holes you created.

With the bracket installed, apply pressure to its top to push it inwards slightly. This is done because the diameter of the barrel of the new mechanism isgreater than the old mechanism and if the bracket is not bent slightly inboard the new latch mechanism will strike the bracket when closing the lid--possibly breaking the bottom of the new latch. But don't push the top so far inboard that the pawl can't reach the bracket lip.

Once the top of the bracket has been moved slightly inboard,gently close the lid to determine if the barrel of the mechanism clears the top of the bracket and the pawl "catches" the bracket's lip. If thebarrel of the latch mechanishm hits the bracket, open the lid and push the top of the bracket to move it slightly more inboard and repeat the test until the lid closes without the barrel of the mechanism hitting the bracket and the pawl "catches" the bracket.

Next, check to see if the lid closes securely. If the lid is loose up/down, the bracket needs to be lowered slightly more (using the oblong shape of the new holes to allow the adjustment); if too tight, raise the bracket very slightly.

I have the M1-2A-13-1 latches on my '04 TPI and they have worked well for two years.

These latches last a long time with proper installation and provided the bag contents are not so full and uncompressible that the bottom of the mechanism iscompressed by the bag contents--if that happens the bottom of the mechanism beneath the pawl will crack/break.

 

The top of the bracket does not extend over to the hole in the lid. It lacks about an inch and a half. You can look thru the hole and not see the bracket. I'm thinkin a new bracket must be made.

 

[:-] where can i get a set of them?

 

Here's a good post. It's where I got most of my info for the push - button conversion on my 02.

 

Midnight rider: Take a picture of the bracket and post it or email it to me via a PM. I've sold appox. 30 sets of the Southco latches on Ebay providing written instructions that were a longer version than provided above, but the same process--never had an email or query from a purchaser regarding the installation and I am sure I would have if the instructions were faulty. SOOOOO, I am very surprised to say the least that you may have something that won't work as described. Granted, I use and sold the -13 model and you have the -15 version, but the only difference is in the pawl; all other aspects of the latches are the same. Post or send a picture if you can.

 

Greetings,

Try these. they are made out of metal, not cheap plastic and they work.

http://www.squadfitters.com/catalog/...button-latch-k

 

After drilling out the lid hole, unbolt the latch. line up the bottom hole of the latch to the top hole in the bag, drill a new top hole and mount it.