Loose saddle bag locking latch screws

[Geezer]

Here’s my question: How is it some riders lost their latch, etc., and never noticed this over rotation condition? It’s quite obvious, and the screw is fairly long considering how small the area is. It’s not like it’ll fall out after unscrewing two threads. What’s up folks? Know your bike, and what’s different, and deal with it. Just sayin’. :blink:

I never actually lost the my lock, but I did find it sitting on top of the side bag one day with both screws missing. I had been using the side bags on a daily basis and even put something into that bag a few hours before the lock fell out, and there was no indication that it was loose. Don't rely on getting some advance warning.

 

[FJR Bill]

Months ago I looked at the lock screws and they appeared to be tight but I saw no evidence of locktite. So I simply put a piece of duct tape over the head of the screws. In my mind it would be difficult for the screws to come out against the tape. Not eloquent but I think satisfactory.

Bill

 

[FJRBluesman]

Months ago I looked at the lock screws and they appeared to be tight but I saw no evidence of locktite. So I simply put a piece of duct tape over the head of the screws. In my mind it would be difficult for the screws to come out against the tape. Not eloquent but I think satisfactory.

Bill

Brother Bill, Loc-tite them.

 

[bucky]

Everyone should read these posts and understand how the bags lock to the bike and how the keyed latch locks the carrying handle down which prevents the bag from coming off the bike accidentally. In the 18 months I have had my bike, this is the first time I ever took the bags off the bike. Took all of 5 minutes to take one bag off, and then see how when you move the carrying handle up and down moves that sliding bar up from the back of the bag that actually locks the bag to the bike. And now I understand how one could accidentally install the bag correctly in the 3 point mounting slots, push the carrying handle down properly (pushing up the sliding bar into its slot on the bike) seating everything in place and THEN make the mistake of not pushing the locking mechanism down far enough, allowing the metal latch bar to ride over the top of the notched slot (instead of under it). Doing this, you will lock the locking latch to the carrying handle, but this will not prevent the carrying handle from moving upward and as other posts say, if rough roads, or bumps jar the bag, the handle is free to move up (moving the sliding bar down which is then not securing the bag to the bike) and will not stop the bag from then just bouncing off after going over a bump or something.

Again everyone needs to take the time to fully understand how these bags attach and lock to the bike. And the simple mistakes that can be made thru haste or just not fully understanding things. It might just prevent a big $$$ disaster. What amazed me more than anything was how easy it is to NOT do things correctly. And even if your bag does not come off while riding, anyone can just take it off the bike as it is simply just sitting on the bike by the 3 point mounts.

By the way, the torx screws were tight on my bike (08 AE). I put duct tape over them temporarily and will get the security bit to take them out and locktite them. Better safe than sorry.

 

[ehc0720]

I took my bags off this weekend to check the screws and 3 of the 4 were loose. I got the security star set from Harbor Freight and re-did them with locktite. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Geno]

Just an FYI, my bike is 3 weeks old. Took the screws out today, and they were locktited with blue stuff. I know the dealer didn't do it, so someone at Yamamama must've read about it. See - your bitchin ' does make a difference!

 

[rfulcher]

My bike is an 07 with 45,000 miles. Last week in the middle of a 12,000 miles trip I opened my left side bag when I got to the motel and the latch fell out. Yep, both screws were missing. Lucky I did not lose the bag on the hwy and the latch and lock stayed in place. I took a screw from the right bag and used it on the left. Finished the rest of the trip with one screw holding each latch. I got lucky and was able to remove and install the one latch screw with pliers.

Now the latch screws have Loctite and a touch of paint on the screw head and latch so I can visually verify that they have not moved.

 

[FJRPierre]

Everyone should read these posts and understand how the bags lock to the bike and how the keyed latch locks the carrying handle down which prevents the bag from coming off the bike accidentally. In the 18 months I have had my bike, this is the first time I ever took the bags off the bike. Took all of 5 minutes to take one bag off, and then see how when you move the carrying handle up and down moves that sliding bar up from the back of the bag that actually locks the bag to the bike. And now I understand how one could accidentally install the bag correctly in the 3 point mounting slots, push the carrying handle down properly (pushing up the sliding bar into its slot on the bike) seating everything in place and THEN make the mistake of not pushing the locking mechanism down far enough, allowing the metal latch bar to ride over the top of the notched slot (instead of under it). Doing this, you will lock the locking latch to the carrying handle, but this will not prevent the carrying handle from moving upward and as other posts say, if rough roads, or bumps jar the bag, the handle is free to move up (moving the sliding bar down which is then not securing the bag to the bike) and will not stop the bag from then just bouncing off after going over a bump or something.

Again everyone needs to take the time to fully understand how these bags attach and lock to the bike. And the simple mistakes that can be made thru haste or just not fully understanding things. It might just prevent a big $$$ disaster. What amazed me more than anything was how easy it is to NOT do things correctly. And even if your bag does not come off while riding, anyone can just take it off the bike as it is simply just sitting on the bike by the 3 point mounts.

By the way, the torx screws were tight on my bike (08 AE). I put duct tape over them temporarily and will get the security bit to take them out and locktite them. Better safe than sorry.

+1 for this comment! When I left for CFR, I pushed down on my carry handle but it did not seem to engage the sliding bar fully in the up position, resulting in a very loose bag. I bungied everything up temporairely and went to CFR. There Jeff/Canucklehead looked at it and said he had taken one of these locking handles apart to see how they worked and there is some sort of cam/teeth mechanisn inside the locking handle and sometimes the little teeth slip a notch resulting in poor/no locking bar movement. His solution was to take a thin bladed screwdriver and carefully push the little exposed teeth down until it engages one notch further. Ta da everything works as advertised. (Don't push too hard and slip it 2 notches inadvertanly )

No doubt Jeff has this fully documented w pics somewhere on the forum. Maybe someone can find the link. Thanks Jeff!

 

[mcatrophy]

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No doubt Jeff has this fully documented w pics somewhere on the forum. Maybe someone can find the link. Thanks Jeff!

Like here?