Hard Saddlebag question

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Sep 16, 2008 | 05:25 PM

mduggan

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 161

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From: Middleburg, FL

Hard Saddlebag question

Before I ask this question, let me say that I change my own oil, I have read my owner's manual, cover to cover and I own (and have consulted) the maintenance manual for my bike. I bought the bike new in March and have just short of 10,000 miles on the odometer. Now the question. Sometimes when I close my right side saddlebag, it won't stay latched at all. Just hitting it on the side, simulating the throbbing (my bike doesn't vibrate) of the motor, will cause it to come unlatched. The bike is a 2008 Road Glide with the standard hard bags (of course). I have spent time looking at the mating surfaces of the latch and bag. When it closes wrong, it just feels a little different. It doesn't look any different, and I can't tell that I have done anything differently. I am genuinly confused. I know that I can lock the bag with the key every time that I close it and eliminate the problem, but that is a PITA on the average day ride. Has anybody ever had this problem? Anybody got any advise? I can't find any adjustment procedure in the manuals or on the latch. Any help is appreciated.

Sep 16, 2008 | 05:36 PM

IM744

Advanced

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 67

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From: Cumming Ga

I have seen this same problem and it frustrated the owner. It turned out to be the simplest of things and he was quite embarrassed. It was the lid holder fabric. It was catching in the latch and just keeping it off of the final resting position that it needed to be in in order to stay by itself. he had to learn to ensure that the fabric was moved when he closed the bags. I would check if there is a nice sharp fold in that first and if there is problem solved. If not you might have to shim that latch slightly so that it is a slight negative angle when you close it.

Sep 16, 2008 | 05:36 PM

Daytona Glider

Cruiser

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 100

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From: Central Florida

Same issue

I had the same problem, it is the canvas support connecting the lid to the bag, it gets in between the two and stops it from closing, push it in with your hand and voila, problem solved

Sep 16, 2008 | 05:42 PM

ybnorml

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 34,654

Likes: 36,249

From: outskirts of ba habba

Yep, this same problem had be befuddled
for a few days.....
Figured it out all on my own, so I treated myself to
a Friday off from work and a 400 mile lunch ride.
Life is good

Sep 16, 2008 | 05:42 PM

Avmech97

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 878

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From: Tellico Plains, Tenn.

My RG does something similar and I find that sometimes the hooks on the back of the lid don't always engage the clips on the back side of the bag. I always insure that the hooks are always engaged correctly and the problem normally doesn't reoccur although I usually lock the latch to insure that it doesn't happen again. Ride Safe!

Sep 16, 2008 | 06:19 PM

SG 1

Road Warrior

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 1,661

Likes: 2

From: Monroe, Louisiana

You read the owners manual cover to cover? Wow. I just scanned and spot read. Seriously though, mine has the crease in the strap, it gets caught between the lid and the top of the bag. Like Daytona said, with the lid tilted up a bit push it in and that should solve the problem.

Sep 16, 2008 | 06:39 PM

mduggan

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 161

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From: Middleburg, FL

I just went to the garage and checked it. Sure enough, that support strap has a sharp crease in it and is sometimes getting caught between the lid and the mating surface. Once again this forum is worth the price of admission. Thank you for the quick responses. And BTW, I did read my owner's manual cover to cover. I still keep it on the table beside me when I'm in the living room and sometimes re-read sections. I have a secret fear of my key fob battery dying and not being able to remember how to use my PIN to defeat the security system. Thanks again for the help.