| Author | Message | ||
     Greatlaker |
Someone who knows I own a few Buells has put me in touch with a neighbour who owns a '97 S3 with factory saddlebags on it. The hard fiberglass beach ball with corners type bags. The bike hasn't been ridden in about 10 years and has sat in a garage. The bike has some high mileage on it. The owner can't open the locks on the saddlebags to open the bags to take them off the bike. According to the owner the locks just stopped working and he gave up trying to get the bags off and then he bought a BMW. So I tried lubricating the lock and key a bunch of times. Soaking the lock in various anti seize products. I came very close to just cutting the bags off the bike but the owner wants to try and keep the bags and rack on the bike preserved. I have wasted four hours on this thing trying to figure it out and help the owner. Anybody have any suggestions? I am tempted to just buy this thing so I can have the satisfaction of smashing these bags with a baseball bat. Can a locksmith get these barrel key locks open? | ||
| Phelan |
A locksmith may very well be able to help you there. Are you sure he isn't using the wrong key, or lost the original key to the bags? Very few sets are matched to the ignition. It may be worthwhile to see if a locksmith can make a key to fit. | ||
| General_ulysses |
If they are Hepco Becker, they have a matching number on the lock and key. If the numbers don't match, you may find someone selling a key with the right number on ebay. Otherwise, you can drill out the lock tumblers and force the lock cylinder to rotate, hopefully without damaging the lock cylinder. Then take the locks to a locksmith and hopefully they can provide new innards and keyset. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=Buell+keys&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xhepco+becker+keys.TRS0&_nkw=hepco+becker+keys&_sacat=0 http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p 2050601.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC0.A0.H0.XBuell+keys.TRS0 &_nkw=Buell+keys&_sacat=0 (Message edited by General_ulysses on July 15, 2015) | ||
| Ebutch |
I,ved paddle bit drilled a 1 1/2" hole through next to lock of bag to disassemble latch. Then patch it with bondo and paint. | ||
| 1313 |
Those who don't know history are condemned to repeat it - or something like that. Early S3 latches are known to fail keeping one from opening the bags. I have the same issue with one of the bags on my 1998 S3T Defender. There's a 'spot' that is supposed to be minimally invasive to drill to get the bag open and allow replacement of the latches, resolving the 'stuck shut bag syndrome'. Unfortunately I have not researched it that fully, but the info is definitely on Badweb somewhere (and likely an old Battle2Win magazine). It won't answer all of your questions, but it will help you get there: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/697186.html HTH, 1313 | ||
| Blks1l |
As mentioned by 1313 there is a procedure to drill a small hole in the latch itself to release the linkage, but you would have to do a search for it, I am pretty sure I have seen it on here. | ||
| Bikerrides |
Greatlaker, I had the same problem not long after I bought my S3T a few years back. Go to the link below and page down a couple times. There is a good picture of where to drill a hole in the latch to open the bags. I used a sheet metal screw to plug the hole I drilled until I could get new latches. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/671637.html Good luck! | ||
| Ebutch |
Sorry about wrong fix,that is S2 style bag.But found S3 bag latch I worked on.Lift Bag latch there is a Philip screw under opening latch drill 1" hole center next to screw.Stick screwdriver in hole you can open it .White mettle paddle is broke on key lock shaft! | ||
| Twobuells |
 | ||
| General_ulysses |
Another option might be to get the bike running and then drive it to a locksmith. At least that way you save the house call fee. | ||
| Greatlaker |
Well the locksmith made a house call and he got the first bag opened in about 8 minutes. The second bag was a little tougher but it opened up about 15 minutes after the first. After removing the inner bags from both saddlebags we then closed up both bags and locked them and reopened them with the key which previously did nothing. Locksmith thinks the inner bag handles fouled the locking mechanism on both saddlebags. We then tried shoved the inner bags back in and tried to get the bags to screw up again but couldn't get it to happen. The bike owner had the inner bags stuffed with clothes and camping gear. Very bizarre. The same key for the ignition is the same key that works for the bags. The house call for the locksmith was $80.00 so not too bad. The owner is in his 70's now and wants to get rid of the bike. Worst bike he has ever owned he thinks. He rattled off a list of all the warranty and recall work done on the Buell. He bought a BMW R1100 to ride when the Buell spent months in the shop. He did manage to put about 50K miles on the bike but when the bag thing happened he just stopped riding the Buell altogether. Pretty funny guy. He has a house on the ocean in Uraguay he designed and built and rides down from Ontario in October. His bike prior to the Buell was a Laverda RGS that he put 300K kilometres on. I had heard of Laverda before but had no idea what an RGS looked like. I guess it was a pretty cool bike back in the 80's. | ||
| Johnod |
If he's selling let me know, I see you're in Windsor, I'm near Chatham myself, so not far away at all. | ||
| Greatlaker |
Johnod. I just dragged the bike back to my place and gave it a spit and polish this weekend. The battery needs to be replaced and I'm going to send the carb out to get sonically cleaned. I'm trying to assist the owner in getting the bike going again so it can be sold finally. It looks pretty good from about 10 feet away. No rust on the bike. The fluids have to come out and be replaced. The tires look ok but I wouldn't want to ride on them. Rear shock leaks and the left fork seal is buggered. Two or three weeks I hope to get her set up. Found a guy in Ontario who says he can fix the rear shock so thankfully that issue can be addressed.  | ||
| Phelan |
Lot of nice parts on that bike. Looks good. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Reeeeally pretty bike. Just a reminder that most of the engine oil is in the engine after it was sitting for so long. Run it for a short amount of time before you drain out the old stuff. | ||
| Easy_rider |
Awfully nice spit n shine!!! I've yet to get my exhaust to look that good! |
