Saddlebag LATCH issue help!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 921
From: Northern MI
Saddlebag LATCH issue help!
Ok... so for a year and a half everything works just fine. Today a double whammy. Got the fuel filter canister replaced, and come home to put saddlebags back on and left side wont latch???? If you try to force it, looks like it actually caving in the side of the bag? WTF??? Anyone had this happen before and what could it be?
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 1
From: New York
My right side saddle bag has always been troublesome. I rarely use it but when I did, it would close. This weekend, when up at Laconia, I had a heck of a time keeping the lid closed. As if a small adjustment was needed.
Low-n-behold, get home. All is good. Know it's still not right but works. Go figure.
Low-n-behold, get home. All is good. Know it's still not right but works. Go figure.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 817
This is sometimes an indication that the spring has broken; and the assembly is binding on the broken piece. The broken piece works it's way out, and everything works well again. The only problem is that if you don't lock the bag, the latch can vibrate enough to allow the saddlebag to pop open while you are riding.
It's pretty easy to replace the spring; if this is your problem, PM me for details on the fix.
It's pretty easy to replace the spring; if this is your problem, PM me for details on the fix.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 793
Likes: 112
Right away on my new 09 I had a problem with a hard bag closing and staying closed. It turned out that the fabric piece that stops the lids from flopping open too far was not folding into the bag properly. It was getting caught between the lid seal and lower bag, thus creating too much material in that area. My lid would not close easily,the latch seemed to be sprung and binding on the bag, I had to fight the key lock to lock or unlock, and the lid sprung open a few times. Check this as its easy, look for a wrinkle or pleat in the material. It should be free of any of these. You can also reach in from the front or rear as you close the lid and tuck the fabric material out of the way just to test or make sure that is not the problem! If it is wrinkled or pleated, you can remove it and iron it out, low heat better!
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
One of mine was doing this.
The lock tab was hanging up.
The lock tab was hanging up.
Last edited by 1flhtk4me; Jun 23, 2009 at 07:26 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 348
Likes: 7
From: Idaho
The lock tab on my 09 still does it once in a while. Take a knee and look from the rear of the bag as you try to push the latch closed. On mine you could see the lock tab catch on the latch mechanism. Back to the dealer for me. You may want to try a Dremmel sanding drum to take a bit of metal off.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 4
From: Long Island,New York
do a search on my posts...I had the same thing happen to me.....
bought it to the dealer and he showed me that the latch was bent.....very slight....but bent none the less.....he was able to straighten it out so I can at least lock the latch flush and ride around until the new latch comes in. It was $80 bucks....and I will just take the lock off the old latch and install on new latch....actually...I am not touching the new latch...the dealer said he will install it for me....
I may have been the one to have bent the latch to begin with...I installed a new lid and when I exchanged the latch off the old lid....that is when the dealer thinks I may have bent it.....so now he said I am "banned" from touchng the new latch....LOL
bought it to the dealer and he showed me that the latch was bent.....very slight....but bent none the less.....he was able to straighten it out so I can at least lock the latch flush and ride around until the new latch comes in. It was $80 bucks....and I will just take the lock off the old latch and install on new latch....actually...I am not touching the new latch...the dealer said he will install it for me....
I may have been the one to have bent the latch to begin with...I installed a new lid and when I exchanged the latch off the old lid....that is when the dealer thinks I may have bent it.....so now he said I am "banned" from touchng the new latch....LOL